When you want to eat a little bit of this and a little bit of that, the easy food to order when you are out is economy rice.
One of the most common coffee shop food options, “cai fan” (economy rice), is also known to be the most convenient, affordable and easy Asian comfort food meals to enjoy.
Not only does it give many dish options, you can also pick healthier options, as compared to other more indulgent local food like char kway teow, laksa or chicken rice. Here are some of our favourite recipes of “cai fan” staple dishes, so you can cook them at home for your family.
Make this Chinese zi char favourite at home with spinach, wolfberries, and a mixture of century egg, salted egg and regular egg.
For a more child-friendly version of the fiery Sichuan mala fish, try one braised in the traditional Sichuan bean paste. More people in the family will be able to handle the heat and it will still be as delicious.
Another favourite commonly ordered to share at coffee shops, Chinese restaurants and zi char stores, this dish is best enjoyed with fragrant jasmine rice.

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Chilli Chicken Stir-Fry
The Sichuan peppercorn is known for the numbing ‘ma la’ feeling that is present in many Chinese dishes. Lightly toast it then grind to get the fragrant chilli powder.
There’s always a curry dish available in most “cai fan” stalls, and this version is a vegetarian option you can prepare easily at home.
The salted egg has been a trend in Singapore for a long time. This recipe features it in a sauce over crispy whitebait, which you can now find versions of in some economy rice stalls.
This refreshing, zesty dish is the perfect accompaniment for a bowl of steamed white rice. Serve it up for weeknight dinners or as part of a family celebration meal.
Love tofu? Whip up this light, simple and tasty dish made from a savoury flavoured soy and egg tofu, prawns and minced pork, and costs less than $10!
This recipe is a spin on the Okinawan dish of goya champuru, which is a bitter gourd stir-fry with pork and pressed tofu. It uses two kinds of bitter gourd – the white one and the mini bitter gourd – which gives you a jade-like colour combination.
Relish in the goodness of honey with a crunch using this fried Chinese honey chicken recipe, a dish found in some economy rice stalls.