I stumbled upon Tanjong Pagar’s hidden vegetarian scene by accident last year. My office had just relocated to the area, and as a vegetarian on a tight budget, I panicked. The gleaming skyscrapers and upscale restaurants had me worried my lunch options would be limited to overpriced salads.
Boy, was I wrong.
After six months of exploring every alley and food court, I’ve compiled this guide on where to find cheap vegetarian lunch in Tanjong Pagar. Trust me – your wallet will thank you.
The Hawker Heroes
Maxwell Food Centre became my salvation during those first bewildering weeks. Just a 10-minute walk from my office, it houses some remarkable vegetarian treasures.
I’ll never forget my first bite of thunder tea rice at Zhong Xiang (Stall #66). For $5.50, they serve this fascinating dish where you pour fragrant herbal soup over a bowl of rice topped with chopped vegetables. The owner, Mr. Tan, once laughed at my shocked expression when I tasted his vegetarian laksa ($4.50) – I couldn’t believe something so creamy contained no meat.
“Secret is in the lemongrass,” he winked, refusing to divulge more.
They’re closed Sundays, which I learned the hard way after a disappointing walk there one weekend.
Just across from Mr. Tan’s stall, Tian Tian Vegetarian (#35) saved me during a particularly brutal deadline week. Their economic rice lets you pick three dishes for $5-7, depending on your choices. The aunty running it recognizes me now and always throws in extra tofu when I look stressed.
Amoy Street Food Centre became my Tuesday ritual spot after a colleague introduced me to Vegetarian Delights (Level 2, #02-126). Their vegetarian bee hoon set ($4.50) comes with the most convincing mock char siew I’ve ever tasted. The elderly couple who runs it closes by 3 PM, and they’re known to sell out by 1:30 PM during peak season.
Last month, I discovered HK Wan Tan Noodle (Level 1, #01-26) offers mushroom and vegetable noodles for $4.50. Though not a vegetarian stall, the noodles have this incredible wok hei flavor that I crave on rainy days.
Restaurants That Won’t Break Your Bank
Whole Earth on Peck Seah Street carries a Michelin Bib Gourmand title, which nearly scared me off until a friend mentioned their weekday lunch set. For $12.90, you get rice, vegetables, and one main dish. Not dirt cheap, but reasonable for a Michelin-recognized meal.
My trick? Arrive before noon. By 12:15 PM, the queue stretches out the door, and the service gets noticeably rushed.
Annalakshmi on Amoy Street operates on a “pay as you wish” system that initially made me uncomfortable. The first time, I awkwardly handed over $10 for their Indian vegetarian buffet, feeling both guilty and relieved. The volunteer server just smiled warmly. Now I adjust my donation based on my budget that week, usually ranging from $8-15. Their daal has become my comfort food on particularly difficult Mondays.
Grab-and-Go Lifesavers
Those 7-Eleven vegetarian onigiri ($2.20) have saved me during countless last-minute meetings. The Cheers store near my office recently started stocking tofu salad bowls ($5.90) that taste surprisingly fresh.
Real Food at South Beach Tower sits at the upper limit of this budget guide, but their vegetarian dumpling soup ($8.90) delivers enough satisfaction to justify the price. When funds are particularly tight, their baked sweet potatoes ($4.50) keep me going through afternoon slumps.
Food Court Findings
The basement food court at Tanjong Pagar Centre houses Greendot, where $8.90 gets you mixed rice with three dishes. Their vegetarian laksa ($8.50) doesn’t match Mr. Tan’s, but works in a pinch when I can’t make the walk to Maxwell.
Nearby, Stuff’d serves up vegetarian burritos ($7.90) that my Mexican friend scoffs at but I secretly love. The portions are generous enough that I sometimes save half for dinner.
At 100AM Mall’s food court, Simply Vegetarian offers economic rice starting at $5.50 for two dishes. The aunty recognizes me now and sometimes adds extra gravy without charging more.
The True Hidden Gems
My absolute favorite discovery came during a particularly dismal rainy day when I ducked into Tanjong Pagar Plaza market. There, in a corner of the second floor, Vege Pot (#02-26) serves vegetarian beehoon with mock char siew for just $4. The stall looks unremarkable, but the flavor is anything but. Madam Lim, who runs it single-handedly, closes shop by 2 PM, and she’s rarely open on Sundays.
In the same building, Jin Xuan Hong Kong Cafe (#02-20) isn’t vegetarian but offers a surprisingly good vegetarian HK-style curry rice for $8.50. Their stir-fried vegetable noodles ($7.90) have this smoky flavor I haven’t found elsewhere.
Survival Tips I’ve Learned
Last Chinese New Year, I discovered the hard way that many hawker stalls close for extended periods during holidays. Now I always have backup options.
I’ve started bringing my own container after noticing a $0.30 discount at several places. Small savings add up over months of workday lunches.
The Buddhist vegetarian stalls tend to be the most affordable. They also typically avoid using garlic and onions, which matters to some of my colleagues with dietary restrictions.
Some days, I splurge a bit using Burpple Beyond deals. Their 1-for-1 offers occasionally include vegetarian restaurants, effectively cutting costs in half when dining with a colleague.
Looking Back
When I first moved to this area, I worried about finding affordable vegetarian food. Now my problem is choosing between favorites. From the thunder tea rice at Maxwell to the humble sweet potatoes at Real Food, Tanjong Pagar has become a vegetarian paradise on a budget.
What’s your experience been? Drop a comment below about your own budget vegetarian find in Tanjong Pagar. I’m always hungry for new recommendations!
