The real heroes in Singapore are hawkers.

They serve a public need, make money the manual way via doing large volume sales and endure long hours on their feet -- all because the burden of feeding the masses affordably has been transferred to them.

If high class hawker food will never be your thing, here are some of the best deals around our island for your local cuisine quick fix.

And because we don't play cheat, the ones that are not difficult to find or do not qualify as a full meal (e.g. carrot cake, tutu kueh) have been disqualified from this list.

Oh, and anytime anyone complains about hawker food getting more expensive but have no qualms paying S$3.80 for a cup of bubble tea, give them the death stare.

 

1. 820 Hainan Chicken Rice

If you thought the days of $2 chicken rice were over, you're wrong. Their prices used to be as low as $1 in 1992 before rising costs called for adjustments to $1.30 in 2008 and $1.50 in 2011, then finally $2 in recent years.

Address: 823A Tampines Street 81, Singapore 521823

 

2. Ma Bo Lor Mee

$2.50 for a standard bowl of Lor Mee and another 50 cents for fried fish to top it off? Sounds like a good deal to us.

Address: Albert Centre Food & Market Centre, 270 Queen Street #01-67, Singapore 180270

 

3. Hj Waliti Hj Mauki

Most items are priced at $2.50.

Address: Haig Road Market & Food Centre, 14 Haig Road,  Singapore 430014.

4. New Rong Liang Ge Hong Kong Roast

If you're not up for Michelin-priced roasts, $3 will get you a serving of wanton mee here and $3.50 can get you two types of meat with rice. Yay.

Address: 3838 Eating Place, 269B Queen Street #01-235, Singapore 182269

 

5. Sungei Road Laksa

Although prices have increased to $3 (from $2), the good news is that their excellent standards (if online reviews are anything to go by) remain consistent.

Address: 27 Jalan Berseh #01-100, Singapore 200027

 

6. 58 Minced Meat Mee

Prices start from $2.50 for a bowl of Ba Chor Mee.

Address: New Upper Changi Road Hawker Centre, Blk 58 Upper Changi Road #01-151, Singapore 461058

 

7. Dover Road Kai Kee Wanton Noodle

While there may be similarly priced options out there, the one at at this stall at $2.50 seems to be the most well-received of the lot.

Address: Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-09, Singapore 150120

8. Sheng Seng Fried Prawn Noodle

Frequently listed in Singapore's top Hokkien Mee in compilations, $3 here will ensure you a plate of wet, slurp-worthy dish.

Address: Pek Kio Market and Food Centre, 41A Cambridge Road #01-40 Singapore 211041

 

9. Sri Tiffin Stall

Their Masala Thosai goes for just $1.50, making them one of the cheapest stalls on this list.

Address: Tekka Market and Food Centre, 665 Buffalo Road #01-224, Singapore 210665

 

10. Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

At $2.50 per plate, the chicken rice here has been named as the "second best" in Singapore. We're not sure how that is possible at this price.

Address: Golden Mile Food Centre, 505 Beach Road #B1-35, Singapore 199583

 

11. Lian Heng Cooked Food (来兴经济什)

If you have a hearty appetite, you can certainly fill it up here, as $2.50 entitles you to two options of meat and vegetables each to go with your rice. For the super thrifty, two vegetable options only go for $1.50. Whaaaaaaaaaat.

Address: Kim Keat Palm Market and Food Centre, Blk 22 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 #01-07 , Singapore 310022

 

12. Maxwell Haha Mee Siam Mee Rebus

With prices starting from $2.20, we don't know who's laughing louder.

Address: #02-095 Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335

 

13. Zhong Guo Jie Rickshaw Noodles

This unassuming looking bowl of noodles cost only $1, and has attracted many loyal patrons. Mdm Soh, who has been there for decades, also sells mee Sua, fried beehoon, and kuay teow -- all for $1 too.

Address: Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-87, Singapore 069184

14. Lik Ming Toa Payoh Laksa

Their $2.50 laksa has plenty of fans, and we can see why too -- complemented by their hand-made dried shrimp chilli, the dish apparently walks the fine balance between spicy and flavourful.

Address:  Blk 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-48, Singapore 310093

 

15. Hui Ji Fish Ball Noodles & Yong Tau Fu

Another ubiquitous dish done right. With the right price, too, at $2.50 a bowl.

Address: Tiong Bahru Market, 30 Seng Poh Road #02-44, Singapore 168898

 

16. Inspirasi Stall

With soto ayam at $2.50, the only price you have to pay is the time spent queuing.

Address: Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Road #01-11, Singapore 460207

 

17. Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

$2. For the longest time. Enough said.

Address: Tiong Bahru Market, 30 Seng Poh Road, #02-11, Singapore 168898

 

Top images from Burpple

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