I just don’t know how they still can afford to do so at this age of inflation and uncertainties with further staple food cost increases. But there are some kind hearted heroes out there (and I can only highlight two here) who still touts a mean and substantial bowl of prawn noodles at $2 (looking like a $3.50 portion) and a $1 fresh plate of nasi lemak that can make some mass made pre packed $1.60 version look like a cheat.

Very often, and in my own greedy way, I attempt to tantalize with what tickles my palate on this column. Usually without much regard for the folks who can only enjoy the pictures and words but may think twice before reaching deeper into the pocket to dig out an extra 50 cents or a dollar more than what they would normally pay, for that meal. A $4 plate of lor mee, perhaps, with a topping of fresh hand torn pieces of fried snapper and ngoh hiang is only wishful thinking for someone familiar with the $2 version that they could only regularly afford. Then I meet hawkers who will readily admit that they will be the last to hike their prices as they feel for the many regulars who would not be able to fork out that extra 50 cents increase.

So, without taking compassion as a hostage and with no compromise for the palate, I will occasionally dig in deep to uncover real value for money gems for our budget gastronomes in this column.

Bedok South Niu Ji Prawn Noodles

Address Blk 16, #01-99, Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre

Opening Hours 7am-2pm (till sold out) Open daily

Unfailingly, there is always a constant queue for his prawn noodles. It touts a 30 year heritage which Mr Wee Chew Huat inherited from his father, which guarantees nothing. But the confidence and clarity of the flavour is loud and clear- good and cheap. For two bucks, he’ll offer a big, and I mean it, bowl of noodles with two freshly blanched halved prawns, a few slices of lean meat, some fish cakes and bean sprouts over a lot of noodles in a soup that is so sweet and fragrant, it makes me wonder why he bothers, at that price. The bowl of soup that comes with a $2.50 dry version (with more ingredients), has those devilish bits of orange sediments floating in a fragrantly sweet prawn stock. To the enlightened, those are the sediments of prawn essence, made possible only if you use a helluva lot of prawn heads boiled over medium fire for a long time.

Mr Wee who feels bad for the many regulars who may not come back if he raise the soup version by another 20 cents

“I have already increased the dry version by 50cents, but I add more prawns, meat and ingredients. I feel bad for the many regulars who may not be come back if I raised soup version by another 20cents. It means a lot to them.”, and looking around the food centre as if to observe fate, Mr Wee confirms “I will wait for the others to increase then I

follow.” Prices of staples like noodles, oil and gas has already gone north by a substantial margin and Mr Wee reluctantly admits “perhaps by next month, I will have to revise prices again”. But hey, it’s still way below $3, it’s not like we are talking $6. His dry version, especially when done with yellow Hokkien noodles, has a thick, sweet yet savoury chili sauce that leans on addictive.

Warong Jawa

Address Blk 16, 01-153 Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre

Opening Hours 6am-1pm Close on Hari Raya

Gentle and sweet granny Mdm Zahara Mohd Said runs a typical Muslim concession in a hawker centre offering the usual fare her Indonesian parents taught her, like mee rebus, lontong, mee siam etc…which have all had its prices revised upwards by about 20cents recently. On average, her makan cost about $1.70 now, still very affordable. But the one item she is most famous for among her loyal customers, and which never fail to sellout each day, is her kampong style nasi lemak. She charges $1 for that platter that comes with a crispy-to-the-head little ikan kuning, a wedge of fried egg, a slice of cucumber and a healthy dollop of spicy sambal which doesn’t come cloyingly sweet.

Madam Zahara's $1.20 offering is still
ridiculously affordable and palatable

She uses the pricier fine Thai fragrant rice as “it’s the best as it holds the lemak flavour well and is not sticky and gummy.” The nasi is lightly coconutty, softly firm and loose. The cost price of rice, she acknowledges, is set to rise again. “ I very heart pain to raise my price as a lot of my customers are not rich, so if I raise a bit, I also feel bad for them.” With a heavy sigh, she says she’ll have to increase about 20cents by month’s end. Hey, the mass produce ubiquitous packs of nasi lemak you see all over are hawked at $1.60 per pack, on average. So Mdm Zahara’s $1.20 offering is still ridiculously affordable and palatable.