Restaurants in Singapore are now becoming more affordable because of Covid-19. Yes, you read that right — you can now enjoy quality restaurant fare for $10 to $20. These prices were previously unheard of during dine-in times, especially with a 10 per cent service charge loaded on top.
But because of Covid-19, eateries can no longer compete on location, ambience and table service, so many of them are are rolling out compelling deals to win customers .
Some have slashed prices for a few signature dishes. Others dangle discounts of up to 30 per cent off their entire food menu. Many offer one-off prices for takeaways, passing on hefty savings from delivery commissions.
Here are nine delectable deals to snag while stocks last.
Both Meatsmith outlets offer four items – MS Cheeseburger, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Pulled Pork Sandwich and Beef Brisket Sandwich – at $10 every day.
The price is only for walk-in customers or pick-up with pre-orders by telephone. Otherwise, the items cost $17 to $20.
The MS Cheeseburger is excellent, with two flavourful patties of juicy beef brisket topped with melted cheddar cheese and pickles.
The house-made potato bun deserves special mention for its pillowy texture. I often throw out what remains of the bun after I finish the patty, but this is good enough to eat on its own.
Where: 167/169 Telok Ayer Street and 21 Campbell Lane
Open: 11.30am to 3pm, 4 to 9pm daily and 11.30am to 9pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)
Contact: 6221 2262 (Telok Ayer) and 9625 9056 (Campbell Lane)
You can get four of Moosehead‘s burgers and sandwiches with fries for $12 each, down from $16. For takeaway, you get an extra 10 per cent off.
The Fried Chicken Sandwich I try has a large piece of crispy fillet stretching out of the bun. Pickles and lettuce leaves cut the grease, while Japanese mayo and a home made sauce keep the sandwich moist.
The other $12 items are Reuben Sandwich with pastrami, sauerkraut and cheese; Moosehead Cheeseburger with caramelised onion and pickles; and BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich with coleslaw.
Where: 110 Telok Ayer Street
Open: 11.30am to 2pm, 5.30 to 8pm (Mondays to Saturdays)
Contact: 9833 4979
The main attraction at Le Fusion is the Braised Seafood Abalone Rice, which is inspired by mui fun, a Singapore dish that is like Cantonese-style fried hor fun, but with the noodles replaced with boiled rice.
For walk-ins and telephone orders only, the dish is now going for $19.90 instead of the usual $38 – almost 50 per cent off.
A real steal, considering the amount of seafood – a whole mid-sized Tasmanian abalone, two large prawns, two scallops, three mussels, squid and fried fish fillet – stacked on the rice and cooked to perfection. It comes with ample egg-thickened brown gravy, packed separately, so you can keep half for your home cooking.
There is also 30 per cent off takeaway orders for other dishes.
Where: 01-07/08/09 The Pier @ Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Road
Open: Noon to 10.30pm daily
Contact: 6363 9966
This Italian restaurant in Holland Village has a one-for-one promotion for all takeaway pizzas, pastas and main courses ordered between 11.30am and 4.29pm.
Deliveries are not eligible. You can mix items and pay for the dish with the higher price.
For dinner, there is a 30 per cent discount for takeout orders made between 4.30 and 10pm.
There is no stinting on ingredients. The Prosciutto E Rucola pizza ($24.50) comes almost completely covered with slices of Parma ham and topped with shaved parmesan cheese and rocket leaves.
My second pizza, Nera ($24.50), is even better – spread with delicious squid ink and mozzarella cheese and topped with prawns, squid and scallops, all cooked just right.
Where: 26 Lorong Mambong
Open: 11.30am to 10pm daily
Contact: 6468 1982
Tokyo restaurant chain Tsuta has extended its one-for-one ramen promotion till the end of this month.
For $18, you can choose two of six flavours – Shio, Shoyu, Miso, Tonkotsu, Kurobishio Tonkotsu and Mala Tonkotsu.
Tsuta’s noodles come with basic toppings of char siu and vegetables. Extras such as egg and wontons are charged separately.
My favourite is the Shio Soba, which best showcases the chain’s signature clam broth with its light salt seasoning.
Those who prefer stronger flavours can try the pork-based tonkotsu broths.
Applicable to delivery orders too.
Where: B2-29 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk and 02-242 Jewel Changi Airport, 80 Airport Boulevard
Open: 10am to 10pm and 11am to 10pm daily
Contact: 9243 5819 (Vivo City) and 9243 5820 (Jewel)
Online order: order.tsuta.com
Chatterbox offers a smaller menu for takeaway and delivery, but all dishes are priced at 40 per cent off.
That includes its famous Mandarin Chicken Rice, now going for $16.20 instead of $27.
The bummer is that, unlike for dine-in, you cannot choose between dark and white meat and there is no free flow of rice.
The rice is what I enjoy most about the dish. It is fragrant with chicken stock and the grains are loose rather than soft.
The chicken meat is firm and flavourful, though not as smooth as some famous hawker stall versions.
The Herbal Bak Kut Teh ($16.20) is excellent too, with meaty pork ribs in a light herbal broth.
Where: Level 5 Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Road
Open: 11am to 11pm daily
Contact: 6831 6288/6291
Online order: https://shop-orchard.meritushotels.com/en_SG/
This chain of casual eateries from China serving Yunnan food reopened for takeaway and delivery this month with a promotion for diners who sign up for its free membership.
Open to walk-in customers only, it offers a 30 per cent discount on the total food bill and is valid until June 21.
The menu has been stripped-down, but you can still find popular dishes such as Poached Chicken With Sichuan Pepper ($10.69) and Beef Stew In Copper Pot ($27.97). The chain has also come up with new items like La Mian With Pork Chop ($12.85), which pairs a bowl of noodle soup with a slice of crispy deep-fried pork.
However, its best-selling Steam Pot Chicken Soup, which is brewed in a special earthen pot, is not available.
Where: 02-217 Jewel Changi Airport and 03-07 Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive
Open: 11am to 9pm daily and 11.30am to 10pm (weekdays); 11am to 9pm (weekends)
Contact: 6908 3677 (Jewel) and 6970 9891 (Westgate)
This pork-free Thai restaurant in Park Hotel Farrer Park offers 30 per cent off its a la carte dishes for takeaway and delivery. You have to pre-order online as the hotel is closed.
At its usual price of $20, the Tom Yum Prawns were a tad pricey for three mid-sized crustaceans, but the dish now costs $14. You get a choice of clear or milky soup, which is delightfully spicy with a sharp zing from lime juice.
The Roast Esarn Chicken also costs a more palatable $11.20 for half a bird, down from $16. The spring chicken is marinated in a delicious spice mix and comes chopped up.
Where: Level 5 Park Hotel Farrer Park, 10 Farrer Park Station Road
Open: 11.30am to 10pm daily
Contact: 6824 8851
Online order: blue-jasmine-singapore.myshopify.com
This casual eatery by the Lo & Behold Group is offering one-for-one takeaway pizzas until the end of this month, but you have to pay with a UOB credit card.
The eatery is known for its artisanal pizzas featuring a thin but chewy crust.
The menu offers a mix of classic and modern flavours such as Buffalo Margherita ($24), with toppings of tomato, basil and buffalo mozzarella, and Pistachio & Pumpkin ($24), with pistachio pesto, pumpkin chunks, pecorino and provolone topped with rocket leaves.
Where: 01-04 Asia Square, 8 Marina View
Open: 11am to 9pm daily
Contact: 8299 4219
Online order: extravirginpizza.com
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Text: Wong Ah Yoke/The Straits Times