15 Cheap and Good Breakfast in Singapore to Start Your Day Right

These wobbly white cakes with a generous topping of chai poh might not be the healthiest breakfast around, but they’re definitely some of the most satisfying and hold their own as one of the most affordable ways to start your day. Jian Bo Shui Kueh is one of the most iconic names at Tiong Bahru Market, even clinching a Michelin recommendation a few years back! We’re glad that they’ve been vindicated of the bad press a few months back, and we can all go back to enjoying their chwee kueh with a peace of mind.

Touted to be one of Singapore’s best prata, Mr Mohgan has been flipping and making prata since he was 12. Unfortunately, he passed away earlier this year, but it’s business as usual at the famous prata stall. Mrs Mohgan has taken over the reins to carry on his legacy along with two staff, and the prata remains just as great as ever. You know a prata stall is good when their plain prata is the most popular item on the menu. At just $1.20 each, it's a really cheap and good breakfast, not to mention you get to show Mrs Mohgan some support!

The owner of One Kueh At A Time started the stall as a way to honour his mother’s recipes and to keep them alive, and you’ll find a variety of soon kueh on the menu with different fillings such as turnip, chives, hae bee biam, beetroot and bak kwa. Prices start from just $1.60 each and they are incredibly popular, selling out almost everyday. As there are only limited amounts of soon kueh that they can make each day, make sure to reach out to them to pre-order and make your reservations!

For a traditional local breakfast, Heap Seng Leong is a heritage coffee shop from the 70s that evokes all sorts of nostalgia. The owner is an elderly man who took over Heap Seng Leong from its previous Hainanese owners, so the coffee shop itself has actually been around for much longer! A breakfast set which comes with kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and a hot drink of your choice will cost you just $4.20. Heap Seng Leong is also well known for their Kopi Gu You, which sees a slab of cold butter added to hot coffee so as to add a layer of creaminess. It’s hard to find a cheap and good breakfast that’s more satisfying than this!

If you’re a super early riser, then you’ll make it in time for Chong Pang Nasi Lemak before their closing time at 6.30am. This popular nasi lemak stall has been around since 1973 and continues to serve up amazing nasi lemak to this day! With a plethora of dishes to choose from, enjoy classics like fried chicken wings, long beans, hotdogs, hashbrowns and more at a wallet-friendly price!

A soft and chewy pancake, traditionally filled with peanuts or red bean, min jiang kueh is a humble old-school treat. At The Pantree, you’ll find min jiang kueh in traditional flavours, but also more modern renditions like chicken floss and ham, cheese and egg. You can even customise it and mix your own toppings! The kueh is exceptionally crisp and light, and pairs perfectly with their freshly brewed coffee that starts at $2 a cup!

Located at Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, Teck Hin Delicacies sees snaking queues from as early as 6.30am! If you’re in a rush in the morning, don’t worry, as the line moves pretty quickly. Their chee cheong fun ($2.50/$3) features soft rice rolls served with a mixture of sesame oil, soya sauce and sweet sauce, along with a healthy dollop of chilli hae bee hiam.

A hearty bowl of porridge is a truly comforting way to start the day, and Zhen Zhen Porridge at Maxwell Food Centre delivers simple but satisfying bowls of porridge at an affordable price. The grains are cooked till they are broken, and the result is a creamy, thick and silky-smooth Cantonese-style congee. Take your pick from a variety of chicken and fish porridge to start your day!

Economic bee hoon is another cheap and good breakfast to have in Singapore. Open from 6am in the morning, take your pick from fried bee hoon, egg noodles, kway teow, or a mix of two or all three before deciding on your side dishes. Fried eggs, luncheon meat, hotdog and stir-fried cabbage are safe options, but they also have ngoh hiang and fried chicken cutlets to choose from.

Joo Chiat Caphe is a Muslim-friendly establishment putting a Singaporean spin on the Vietnamese staple, banh mi. You’ll find six different variations of banh mi from $6.50 onwards, such as the Honey-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thigh with Homemade Chicken Pate and Battered Crispy Fish Fillet with Honey Mustard Sauce If you’re looking for something other than banh mi, there’s also a breakfast menu of Kuning Fish Nasi Lemak ($2.20), Otah Toast ($2.20) and Soft-Boiled Eggs ($1.50)!

This stall may look simple from the outside, but they command a queue that proves it’s far from that. Now run by the 2nd generation, this fried carrot cake stall has its origins in the 1960s as push carts at Or Kio Tao (current day Beo Crescent). Open from 6am, you can beat the queue by coming early for breakfast. Whether you go for the black or white version, their carrot cake is cut smaller and more mushy, true to the old-school style of carrot cake found in Singapore.

A quaint little space located in the heart of SMU, Bricklane is a great brunch spot if you’re sleeping in for a bit and craving for something healthier to start your day. Well-known for their rice bowls, indulge in their Honey Glazed Tofu donburi bowl for just $4.90 or the Grilled Teriyaki Chicken bowl at $6.90! 

If you love breakfast plates, this all-day breakfast stall is located at a coffee shop in Kovan and everything is under $10! Go for the Eggs Benedict ($7.90) or English Plate ($6.90) which comes with French toast, bacon, sunny side-up eggs, hash brown and cherry tomatoes. Got a bigger appetite? The Breakfast Plate ($9.90) has French toast, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, baked beans, cherry tomatoes and hash brown to fill your tummy!

An under-the-radar gem in the west, Bread Yard serves affordable mains and brunch menu items. Start your day right with some really good sandwiches made fresh home-made breads, or pastries such as cruffins, croissants, cookies and bagels starting from $2.50. We also suggest bringing home with you a loaf of their homemade rustic bread!

Who says that breakfast at a cafe has to be an expensive affair? At Lola’s Cafe, you can expect to get a decent brunch from $12. With an array of yummy breakfast dishes such as croissants with creamy scrambled eggs and smoked chicken ham, mushroom grilled cheese sandwich, warm shakshuka and more, it’s the perfect morning mood booster!