story Nicole Lim, Contributing Reporter
illustrations Rachel Johanna Lim
Desperate calls for Indomie in the middle of night on Facebook have been popping up all too frequently and have almost become the hallmark of college life. However, resorting to instant noodles in Singapore, with its vibrant supper culture, seems almost criminal. The Octant has hunted down the best late-night dining options around campus, and we show you how you can get your fix, sometimes even without moving your feet.
Al Amaan Restaurant
Al Amaan is one of the most popular supper options on campus, and with good reason too. Not only does it deliver the food right to your lift lobby (with a delivery charge of $2), but it also serves a wide variety of cuisine, from Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Western, to Vegetarian. Its must-try dishes include its Butter Chicken ($7), Pattaya Maggi Noodles ($5.50) and Cheese Fries ($4). Don’t forget to get a Milo Dinosaur ($2.50) on the side to have a sweet finish to your meal! Delivery waiting times are usually between 60 to 90 minutes on a weekday night, but if you can’t wait that long, then simply take Bus 188 along Clementi Road and alight four stops later.
12 Clementi Road, Singapore 129742
Opening Hours: 11 am-3 am daily
6777 0555
Holland Village
Holland Village is a popular destination amongst young adults and expatriates looking for good food and a place to unwind. If you can’t get enough of the thrill of slurping up the soup of Xiao Long Baos (soup dumplings) without breaking their delicate skin, head over to Crystal Jade’s free-flow Xiao Long Bao buffet ($19.80++ to $25.90++) to hone your skills. Prefer a spicy thrill? Join the queue at Nakhon Kitchen, which serves up authentic Thai fare like Phad Thai ($4) and Tom Yum Goong ($6) at pocket-friendly prices. To get to Holland V, simply alight one stop after Buona Vista MRT on the Circle Line.
Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao
241/241A Holland Ave. Singapore 278975
Opening Hours: 11 am-11 pm (Sun-Thurs);
10.30 am-11.40 pm (Fri-Sat)
6463 0968
Nakhon Kitchen
27A Lorong Liput Singapore 277738
Opening Hours: 12 pm-3 pm, 5.30pm-10 pm daily
6469 6862
IKEA (Alexandra)
Apart from its modern furniture, Ikea also brings many Singaporeans hoping for a Swedish Meatball fix ($8.50 for 15 pcs). (Remember how they went for 10c a piece in 2013?) Apart from their all-time favorite, be sure to also try their Chicken Wings ($7.50 for 6 pcs), Daim Cake ($3.50), and their self-serve Ice-cream Cones ($0.50) at the checkout counter! To get there, simply take Bus 33 and alight nine stops later.
317 Alexandra Rd Singapore 159965
Opening Hours: 10 am-11 pm
6786 6868
ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre
Think durian puree on top of mango and shaved ice. Not a fan of the King of Fruits? Don’t worry, neither was I, but I was completely won over by this ingenious dessert aptly named Gangster Ice ($2.50), with the perfect match of sweet meets tangy. Another popular option at Jin Jin Dessert stall is their Power Chendol ($1.50), where coconut-infused shaved ice is drenched in thick Gula Melaka syrup. Looking for something savory? Try Yi Sheng Hokkien Mee, roasted meat at Fatty Cheong, and Western food at Wow Wow West. To get there, take Bus 196 and alight 15 stops later.
6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
Jin Jin Dessert: #01-20, 12 pm-12 am daily, 94788733
Yi Sheng Hokkien Mee: #01-13, 3 pm-10.45 pm, closed on Wednesdays
Fatty Cheong: #01-120, 11 am-8.30 pm, closed on Thursdays
Wow Wow West: #01-133, 11 am-9 pm, closed on Sundays
Wah Chee Tze Char
A hot favorite amongst Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) students and National University of Singapore students, this tze-char stall, or Chinese “cook and fry” stall, is well-known for its Salted Egg Yolk Squid ($12) with its creamy liquid sauce, Cereal Prawn ($15), Prawn-Paste Chicken ($8), as well as its unlimited supply of rice. To beat the queues, simply ring them up in advance to place your order before heading down in either Bus 33 or 196 and alighting three stops later.
5 Dover Crescent #01-02 Dover Court Singapore 130005
Opening hours: 11 am-11.30 pm daily