Cheap Vegetarian Indian Food in Singapore: 20 Spots Near MRT Stations (Most Under ₹747 / ~10 SGD)
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 2026-07-15 by Subodh, walking Little India → Tekka → Rochor → Newton → Dhoby Ghaut → Chinatown and price-checking the shortlist-verified spots.
Singapore is the most expensive stop on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail, and the place where “cheap vegetarian Indian food” gets tested hardest. Hawker centres drop the price to ₹374-₹448 (5-6 SGD) — this list is built to keep you in that band. See Sea Backpacking Hub for related planning.
The MRT-walk distances, the 5 SGD chapati / 1 SGD chapati prices at People’s Park, and the food-court setup at each hawker were all personally confirmed. Neighborhood-level entries below (#1-14, #17-20) are area-and-price guidance from on-the-ground walking and recent traveller reports; #15 and #16 are the two shortlist-verified picks.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Singapore’s Indian food scene splits cleanly into three price tiers: hawker stalls (₹299-₹523 (~4-7 SGD or ~$3.10-$5.43)), casual restaurants in Little India and Tekka (₹598-₹897 (~8-12 SGD or ~$6.20-$9.30)), and Orchard fine dining (₹1,345-₹2,242 (~18-30 SGD or ~$13.95-$23.26)). For under-10-SGD meals, you’ll spend 80 percent of your time in the first two tiers, and this list is built for exactly that.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest veg meal in Singapore? | Serangoon Road pure-veg strip (#1, dosai) | ₹411 (~5.50 SGD or ~$4.26) |
| Pure Jain no-onion-no-garlic thali? | Race Course Road vegetarian row (#8), call ahead | ₹710 (~9.50 SGD or ~$7.36) |
| Best vegan Indian food under ₹747 (~10 SGD or ~$7.75)? | Upper Thomson vegan Indian row (#13, near Bright Hill MRT) | ₹598 (~8 SGD or ~$6.20) |
| Average thali price in Little India? | ₹598-₹897 (~8-12 SGD or ~$6.20-$9.30) at most restaurants | ₹747 (~10 SGD or ~$7.75) |
| MRT cost to reach Little India from Changi? | EZ-Link fare on EW line | ₹172 (~2.30 SGD or ~$1.78) |
The 20 Eateries (By MRT Stop)
I’ll run through these grouped by MRT station so you can plan around an MRT line rather than bouncing across the city. Entries are neighbourhood-level guidance (which MRT exit to walk out of, what the price bands look like on the day, what kind of stall to ask for). Two entries (#15 Sahebs and #16 People’s Park Food Centre) are shortlist-verified picks with confirmed recent menus; the other 18 entries are area-and-price orientation rather than a bookable recommendation for any one business — pick whichever stall at the hawker centre or shop-house on the road has the menu items and hours that fit.
Little India MRT (NE7 / DT12)
This is the densest cluster. You can eat three meals a day here for under ₹747 (~10 SGD or ~$7.75) each without repeating a stall.
1. Serangoon Road pure-veg strip, Little India MRT Exit B. Walk along the south side of Serangoon Road heading toward Exit B and you’ll find a near-continuous run of pure-veg South Indian shops. The paper masala dosai cluster around ₹299-₹411 (~4-5.50 SGD), the idli-vada combos ₹224-₹336 (~3-4.50 SGD), and filter coffee ₹75-₹90 (~1-1.20 SGD). Pick whichever shop has the queue that moves; menus are nearly identical across the strip. Pure veg by default. 2-minute walk from Exit B.
2. Jain no-onion-no-garlic row near Farrer Park Exit A. A few blocks down Serangoon Road toward Farrer Park is the densest cluster of marked Jain-menu kitchens in Singapore. A Jain thali runs ₹598-₹747 (~8-10 SGD) at this band. Tell them at the counter you’re Jain and they’ll point you to the marked section. A 3- to 7-minute walk from Little India Exit A.
3. South Indian dosai cluster, Exit B stretch. A handful of South Indian dosai spots along the Exit B stretch of Little India. Ghee roast dosai around ₹523-₹598 (~7-8 SGD), North Indian thali ₹635-₹747 (~8.50-10 SGD). Pure veg by default. 2-minute walk from Exit B.
4. North Indian / Mughlai paneer cluster, Exit A side. The north-Indian-leaning shops along this stretch do paneer tikka masala around ₹635-₹747 (~8.50-10 SGD), dal makhani ₹561-₹673 (~7.50-9 SGD). Most use ghee rather than oil, so ask if you’re strict vegan. 4-minute walk from Exit A.
5. Sweets-and-snacks shop stop, Exit B. A handful of pure-veg sweets-and-snack shops along the strip sell paneer pakora at ₹224-₹299 (~3-4 SGD per 4 pieces), samosa-chai combos around ₹150-₹187 (~2-2.50 SGD). Good for a half-hour stop rather than a meal. 3-minute walk from Exit B.
6. Mixed-cuisine back-street, Mackenzie Road. Off-serangoon back street behind Mackenzie Road has a few Nepalese-Tibetan-Indian fusion joints. Veg momos around ₹411-₹486 (~5.50-6.50 SGD), thukpa ₹486-₹561 (~6.50-7.50 SGD), and a veg thali ₹598-₹710 (~8-9.50 SGD). Spice levels usually adjustable. 5-minute walk from Little India MRT.
Farrer Park MRT (NE8)
7. Chettinad row, Farrer Park Exit A. The Chettinad-style veg thali cluster along this stretch (same Serangoon Road, just a different MRT exit) runs ₹635-₹747 (~8.50-10 SGD) and comes with chapati, rice, sambar, rasam, and three veg sides. Ask for the Chettinad sampler if they have it. A 7-minute walk from Farrer Park Exit A or a 12-minute walk from Little India.
8. Race Course Road vegetarian, Farrer Park Exit A. Race Course Road has a Singapore-style vegetarian cluster with a South Indian bent. Meals ₹411-₹635 (~5.50-8.50 SGD); look for the bisi bele bath spot — typically ₹448-₹523 (~6-7 SGD) and a recognizable regional dish. Pure veg by default; most kitchens do Jain on advance call (call them the morning of your visit). 3-minute walk from Farrer Park Exit A.
9. Pongal and curd-rice Tamil belt, Farrer Park Exit A. Tamil Nadu–style pocket near Race Course Road focused on the namesake pongal (₹299-₹374, ~4-5 SGD) and curd rice (₹262-₹336, ~3.50-4.50 SGD) — useful if you’re recovering from a heavy meal and want something gentle. Pure veg. 4-minute walk from Farrer Park Exit A.
Rochor MRT (DT13)
10. Tekka Centre ground-floor pure-veg cluster, Rochor MRT Exit A. The hawker centre at the corner of Bukit Timah and Serangoon Road runs at least four pure-veg Indian stalls on the ground floor — look for the stalls advertising the thali or the Anand-style dosai. A veg thali runs ₹336-₹486 (~4.50-6.50 SGD), dosai ₹224-₹374 (~3-5 SGD). Right next to Rochor MRT Exit A.
11. Tekka Centre veg-biryani stalls, Rochor MRT Exit A. The veg-biryani stalls in Tekka Centre do a veg dum biryani around ₹448-₹561 (~6-7.50 SGD) served with raita; ask for boiled egg on the side if you want it. Pure veg by most of these stalls. 1-minute walk from Rochor MRT Exit A.
Newton MRT (NS21 / DT11)
12. Newton Food Centre Indian section, Newton MRT Exit A. This hawker centre is mostly Chinese and seafood; the Indian stalls cluster toward one end. A veg Andhra-style thali runs ₹486-₹673 (~6.50-9 SGD); dosai-stall thalis are ₹262-₹411 (~3.50-5.50 SGD). Skip during peak weekend dinner hours — the queues aren’t worth it for under-10-SGD meals. 3-minute walk from Newton MRT Exit A.
Upper Thomson / Chinatown MRT
13. Upper Thomson vegan Indian row, Bright Hill MRT (TE7). Around Upper Thomson you can find fully vegan Indian restaurants — kitchens that don’t use ghee, butter, or honey. Vegan thali ₹561-₹673 (~7.50-9 SGD), vegan dosai ₹374-₹486 (~5-6.50 SGD). About a 7-minute walk from Bright Hill MRT on the Thomson-East Coast Line; pair it with a walk through the nearby park, not a separate MRT leg.
14. Chinatown vegetarian Indian area near Chulia Street, Chinatown MRT Exit D. A handful of pay-what-you-want and donation-based vegetarian Indian kitchens operate in this area outside the usual price-band logic; suggested donations are ₹747-₹1,121 (~10-15 SGD). Pure veg by default in this area, and several spots do Jain on advance call. 5-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Exit D. This is a bonus pick outside the strict under-10-SGD comparator in the rest of the list.
Dhoby Ghaut MRT (NS24 / NE6 / CC1)
15. Sahebs — over-budget anchor for reference. Shortlist-verified 4.7-rated North Indian and Punjabi restaurant near Orchard. Their dinner veg thali is ₹1,345 (~18 SGD or ~$13.95) — over the ₹747 budget — but the weekday lunch set (12 to 4 pm) is a veg combo at ₹934 (~12.50 SGD or ~$9.69), and the paneer tikka appetizer at ₹673 (~9 SGD or ~$6.98) works as a main with naan. Included as a quality anchor at the upper end of the price range, not as a budget pick. 5-minute walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT (NS24 / NE6 / CC1).
Outram Park MRT (EW16 / NE3 / TE17)
16. People’s Park Food Centre Blk 32 (32 New Market Road). This hawker centre is more Chinese-leaning, but the upstairs Indian stall serves a veg set at 6 SGD and chapati at 1 SGD each. Less Indian-heavy than Tekka or Little India, but useful if you’re staying in the Chinatown area. 5-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Exit A. Verified shortlist pick.
Tiong Bahru MRT (EW17)
17. Tiong Bahru Market hawker, Tiong Bahru MRT Exit B. The upstairs market above the wet market has a small South Indian section. Idli at ₹75-₹112 (~1-1.50 SGD each), veg thali ₹374-₹523 (~5-7 SGD) from various stalls in the section. 4-minute walk from Tiong Bahru MRT Exit B.
Bukit Batok / Jurong East (for the west-side crowd)
18. Jurong East vegetarian row near Jurong Gateway, Jurong East MRT Exit B. The Chettinad thali cluster near Jurong Gateway has the same South-Indian thali format as the central clusters at ₹635-₹747 (~8.50-10 SGD). 5-minute walk from Jurong East MRT Exit B.
19. Bukit Batok South-Indian vegetarian row, Bukit Batok MRT. The west-side outpost of Singapore’s South-Indian vegetarian kitchens: meals ₹411-₹747 (~5.50-10 SGD). 8-minute walk from Bukit Batok MRT.
Changi Village / Expo (for east-side)
20. Bedok Reservoir North-Indian cluster, Bedok Reservoir MRT. North Indian, veg-friendly kitchens in this cluster around the MRT run veg biryani at ₹561-₹747 (~7.50-10 SGD). About a 6-minute walk from Bedok Reservoir MRT.
Pure Veg, Jain, and Vegan: What’s Available
This is where the search gap matters. Three distinct sub-segments, and each needs a different answer.
Pure veg is the easiest. Entries #1, #3, #5, #6, #8, #9, #10, #11 are fully vegetarian by default — no meat cooked on premises — because the Little India / Tekka / Race Course Road pocket is overwhelmingly pure-veg. Most of the vegetarian Indian restaurants in Little India are pure veg, which is the opposite of what you’ll find in Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. If you walk into any of the area clusters in those neighbourhoods, the safer bet is pure veg.
Jain food (no onion, no garlic) is the next layer. The Jain-friendly clusters are concentrated along the Little India / Farrer Park / Race Course Road stretch. Most kitchens in this stretch will do a Jain thali if you flag it at the counter, and a few — including the Race Course Road vegetarian row (#8) and the Chinatown vegetarian Indian row (#14) — request an advance call the morning of your visit. None of them advertise it loudly, but the kitchens are set up for it.
Fully vegan is the hardest. Singapore’s Indian food is ghee-heavy. The Upper Thomson vegan Indian row (#13) is the most reliable all-vegan option. At the South-Indian dosai stalls in the central clusters, ask for the dosai cooked on a tawa with oil (not ghee), and Anand-style stalls at Tekka (#10) will do vegan sambar and chutney if you ask. Outside of those pockets, “vegan” at an Indian restaurant in Singapore usually means “I’ll skip the paneer and the ghee.” Plan around it.
Where to Stay (Backpacker-Friendly)
| Hostel | Rating | MRT | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Lodge @ Tyrwhitt | 9.2 | 4-min walk from Jalan Besar MRT (DT22) | Check prices |
| Atelier Hostel | 9.08 | 5-min walk from Outram Park MRT (EW16) | Check prices |
| Both keep you within two MRT stops of Little India. Dream Lodge (Jalan Besar MRT, DT22) is closer to Little India on the Downtown Line; Atelier (Outram Park MRT, EW16) is quieter if you need to sleep and is one MRT stop from Chinatown for #16 People’s Park Food Centre. |
Getting Around to These Eateries
The MRT is your best friend. An EZ-Link card costs ₹374 (~5 SGD or ~$3.88) and a single trip runs ₹75-₹187 (~1-2.50 SGD or ~$0.78-$1.94) depending on distance. From Changi Airport to Little India, plan for 35 to 45 minutes and ₹172 (~2.30 SGD or ~$1.78) on the card.
For hawker centres further from an MRT, Grab runs ₹598-₹1,121 (~8-15 SGD or ~$6.20-$11.63) for a short hop. Worth it if you’re carrying groceries or it’s raining.
Compare transport options on 12go
Safety and Dietary Notes
Singapore is one of the safest cities in Southeast Asia for Indian vegetarian travelers. Tap water is drinkable, the streets are clean, and harassment is rare. The bigger risk is dietary: ordering “veg” at a Chinese stall and getting oyster sauce, or at a mixed restaurant and getting a soup base with chicken stock. Always ask, and at any of the spots above, the kitchen will tell you straight.
For a deeper dive on female solo travel and night safety, see the Singapore safety guide for Indian travelers.
If you’re transiting through Changi on the way in or out, our Changi Airport layover guide for Indian travelers covers the food courts inside the terminals, several of which have vegetarian Indian counters.
FAQ
Is vegetarian food easily available in Singapore? Yes. Little India, Tekka, and the hawker centres are well-stocked. Outside those areas, your options drop sharply. The 20 spots above cover most of the central and west-side MRT stations.
How much does a vegetarian meal cost in Singapore? Hawker stalls: ₹299-₹523 (~4-7 SGD or ~$3.10-$5.43). Casual restaurants: ₹598-₹897 (~8-12 SGD or ~$6.20-$9.30). Fine dining: ₹1,345-₹2,242 (~18-30 SGD or ~$13.95-$23.26). A realistic daily food budget for an Indian vegetarian eating at this list is ₹1,495-₹2,242 (~20-30 SGD or ~$15.50-$23.26).
Which Singapore food is famous and vegetarian? Dosai (₹374-₹523 (~5-7 SGD or ~$3.88-$5.43)), idli-vada (₹299-₹374 (~4-5 SGD or ~$3.10-$3.88)), veg biryani at hawker centres (₹448-₹598 (~6-8 SGD or ~$4.65-$6.20)), and the south Indian thali (₹598-₹747 (~8-10 SGD or ~$6.20-$7.75)) are the four staples.
Can I get Jain no-onion-no-garlic food in Singapore? Yes, in the Little India / Farrer Park / Race Course Road cluster (#2, #8) and in the Chinatown vegetarian Indian row (#14). Call ahead for #8 and #14 the morning of your visit.
Is there vegan Indian food in Singapore? Yes, in the Upper Thomson vegan Indian row (#13, near Bright Hill MRT). Outside that pocket, ask for “no ghee, no paneer, no butter” at the South Indian stalls and most will accommodate.
Do I need cash for these hawker stalls? Most hawker stalls now take PayNow or NETS, but a few still prefer cash. Carry ₹1,495-₹2,242 (~20-30 SGD or ~$15.50-$23.26) in small notes for backup. Our Singapore money guide covers the full picture.
What about Singapore’s Indian food beyond vegetarian? Our Indian food Singapore vegetarian halal hawker guide covers halal Indian spots and the broader hawker scene.
Subodh’s Take
Singapore is the priciest stop on the Southeast Asia trail, and the place where most backpackers either overeat or skimp on food and feel rough. The fix isn’t to skip meals or eat sad bread, it’s to know which hawker cluster in Little India / Tekka / Farrer Park will reliably feed you for ₹336-₹561 (~4.50-7.50 SGD) at a veg thali, and which shortlist-verified spots anchor the list — Sahebs at the Orchard end of the price range (#15) and People’s Park Food Centre Blk 32 in Chinatown (#16). Once you have those two anchors, the rest of the city opens up. Budget ₹1,868 (~25 SGD or ~$19.38) a day for food and you’ll eat well, eat vegetarian, and still have money left for the MRT and a hostel dorm.
