text: Food Haunts in Buona Vista & Holland Village (for Students)
  Are you an NUS student that stays on campus, or have spent one late night too many in school slurping cup noodles or wolfing down yet another sandwich? Or perhaps you’ve experienced your stomach growling throughout the day, because you just couldn’t take another meal in a school canteen?
  Fret not, because this article is here to save your day (and your stomach). Today, we present to you a list of food haunts (that we have tried and tested, don’t worry!) near NUS to fill your tummies!
  Specifically, we focused on the Buona Vista and Holland Village areas to source for good, affordable food. We ranked these food options based on accessibility, service and most importantly, PRICE.
  We know the financial woes of a struggling student, so we’ve included the cheapest options with the best deals. Although… If you’re feeling a little rich you can try our certified “high-SES” food options that we’ve pointed out in the article. Enjoy!
  Buona Vista (The Star Vista and beyond):
  The first thing we associate with Buona Vista is its large, cosmopolitan shopping mall – The Star Vista. With a mind-boggling array of food options, Star Vista definitely has something for everyone. It is one of our favorite places for a short trip out of school for dinner. Here are some of our recommendations:
  5 Senses Bistro
  5 Senses Bistro serves fusion delicacies from Asia and Europe at reasonable prices. With their warm, inviting interior, or alfresco dining if you wish, 5 Senses Bistro would definitely leave an impression on all your five senses – touch (texture), smell, taste, sight, and sound – probably where they got their name from.
  Price-wise, the dishes served are affordable and reasonable for Western dining. For most of the mains, prices are below $20 and all pastas are at $11.90 and below.
  Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-21, Singapore 138617
  Accessibility: Easily accessible at Star Vista, right beside Buona Vista MRT station
  Price: Wallet-friendly! Rating: $$
  18 Chefs Restaurant
  Ah yes, the usual go-to dining option for students because of its set meals and affordability.
  Located right beside 5 Senses Bistro, 18 Chefs is already a popular option among youths because of their $6.40 all-day set meals for students and NSFs, which include baked rice or baked pasta, a drink and a scoop of ice cream.
  18 Chefs has recently revamped their menu and included a greater variety of food choices in a separate menu. For instance, they have introduced a host of new dishes for their weekday lunch set. They have also introduced a Ben & Jerry’s bundle – where customers can add on a free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream along with certain main courses.
  In addition, students and NS men can enjoy $2 off each set in this new and improved menu, and prices range from about $10-15. For those who already frequent 18 Chefs due to their affordable set meals, pay them a visit to try their new dishes some time soon?
  Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green #02-22, 138617
  Accessibility: Located within Star Vista
  Price: relatively wallet-friendly! Rating: $ (for student meal) or $$ for other ala-carte dishes
  Are you a huge fan of Wisma Atria’s ‘shiok maki’, just that you can’t afford to blow $20 on a plate of sushi? Rollie Ollie mirrors the ‘shiok maki’ concept and offers a range of Asian-fusion cuisine, with a selection of signature sushi rolls, along with dishes like poke bowls, skinny rolls and sushi burritos, to cater to the growing number of healthy eaters across the island.
  We found the Sunkissed sushi salmon roll, the Caterpillar roll and Aloha poke bowl particularly interesting and appetizing, just from its appearances on the menu! A huge bonus point is: there’s a creative selection of fusion-inspired condiments to go with your sushi, such as curry mayo and even…. yuzu mustard?!
  Prices range from about $11-15, depending on what you order. Rollie Ollie also offers a great airy, well-lit ambience, making for a pleasant experience. Definitely a must-try!
  Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green #02-05, 138617
  Accessibility: Beside Buona Vista MRT
  Price: Affordable, rating: $$
  Holland Village is everyone’s favorite late-night hang out for beer, drinks and good food. With such a wide variety, it can be hard to choose the best places. Here’s a list of places to treat yourself on a Friday, or to celebrate the end of exams and submissions!
  Nakhon Kitchen is known for some of the best Thai food that can be found in Singapore. Are you really Singaporean, if you don’t know Nakhon? Nakhon Kitchen is a recent addition to Singapore’s Thai food scene and is popular for its cheap price range and variety of authentic Thai dishes. Its friendly and bustling atmosphere is a unique selling point, as it really harks back to the streets of Bangkok, surrounded by smiling Thai nationals who are always eager to share their best street food.
  However, a major downside with Nakhon is the queue at peak hours – the snaking queues can be quite a turnoff, because they operate in a small space with limited tables.
  We would recommend the must-dry dishes as: green curry chicken, tom yum soup, pad thai and honey chicken rice. The green milk tea and Thai milk tea are great additions to go along with your meal. The best part? You could indulge in great Thai cuisine for just about $8/pax here – completely worth every dollar!
  Address: 27A Lorong Liput Holland Village, 277738
  Accessibility: Right outside Holland Village MRT (Exit C)
  Price: super affordable, rating: $ for a one-dish meal and drink!
  Boasting a similar concept to Astons, iSteaks is a cozy diner nestled in the heart of Holland Village serving steakhouse quality food and Western cuisine.
  It is well-known for its affordable prices when it comes to meat and steak. Prices hover around $20. Although it is slightly pricier than Astons, the variety makes up for it.
  For the other dishes served, prices range from about $10-15 for fish and poultry. Burgers go for less than $10. Definitely a good place to celebrate a special event, or simply for meat-lovers to have their cravings satisfied!
  Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green, #01-42/K3, Singapore 138617
  Accessibility: Near Holland Village MRT and just opposite Nakhon kitchen
  Price: Affordable, rating: $$ or $$$ depending on what you order
  Breko is a quaint, pretty café located right at the other end of the Holland Village stretch. Hidden amongst all the noisy bars, you might just miss it if you aren’t sharp enough. With a warm interior, Breko is the perfect place if you’re looking to have a chill Friday night meal and drink with a close friend, after a hectic week at school or work.
  However, Breko is considered a “high-SES” option among students because their mains can go up to $20, depending on what you order. Add on a coffee and it would probably cost much more than that, and with 7% GST… long story short, only dine here when you’ve just received your allowance or pay for the month because it is really quite pricey.
  Breko serves largely Western cuisine and all-day breakfast and brunch. Try their truffle fries, eggs benedict, and carbonara pasta, which comes with a sous vide egg!
  Address: 38 Lor Mambong, Singapore 277694
  Accessibility: Near Holland village MRT
  Price: relatively pricey, $$$$
  Hopefully by the end of this article, you’d be more familiar with the food options around NUS and be less at a loss when it comes to choosing what to eat outside of campus!
  If you have any other great food places around NUS to recommend, do add them down in the comment section below – we would love to hear them. Till then!