Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Economy Rice And Economy Porridge

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Economy Rice And Economy Porridge

Economy Rice And Economy Porridge

Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2022 (across 22 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.

Also Known As:
Economy Rice, Economy Porridge, Mixed Rice, Zhap Fan, Cai Png, Teochew Porridge, Teochew Muay, Tsap Tshai Png, Point Point Rice

Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $3 - $12

List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry

1. Chang Cheng Group
2. Heng Long Teochew Porridge
3. Ocean Curry Fish Head
4. Rice Garden
5. Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Restaurant
6. Teck Ee Rice & Teochew Porridge
7. Xing Long Cooked Food
~~Ah Seah Teochew Porridge~~
~~B's Gourmet Hakka House~~
~~Chua Puay Eng~~
~~Good Time Coffee Shop~~
~~Jia Jia Le~~
~~Keat Hong Cafe~~
~~Lim Bok Kim Mary~~
~~Teo Sheng Teochew Porridge~~

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Description:
The Economy Rice And Economy Porridge is a Singaporean Chinese meal that comprises a variety of dishes in small portions, averaging between 2 to 4 dishes, paired with either white rice or plain rice porridge. Also known as Mixed Rice, Zhap Fan, Cai Png, Teochew Porridge, Teochew Muay, Tsap Tshai Png, or Point Point Rice, the Economy Rice And Economy Porridge meal is usually priced around SGD $3 to $12 per serving. As possibly the most commonly eaten meal in Singapore, thanks to its relative affordability and accessible ubiquity, it's eaten at all hours of the day or night.

The dishes at a Economy Rice And Economy Porridge stall are always pre-cooked, and displayed in troughs, kept warm with heat lamps or warm water baths. There usually is a spread of 30 or so different dishes, replenished throughout the day, with dishes being rotated and changed daily. Each stall often has several speciality dishes, dependent on the chef. All dishes are served accompanied by a choice of fluffy soft moist white rice, or a thin watery Chinese Teochew style rice porridge, both with mild grainy sweet flavour.

The Economy Rice And Economy Porridge dishes span a wide range of cooking techniques, including deep-fried, stir-fried, braised, sautéed, boiled, double-boiled, and steamed. The ingredients used are often cheap and commonly sourced, with each dish usually comprising 1 or 2 main ingredients at most, enhanced with herbs, spices, or sauces / gravies. Dishes are categorised into 'meat' (pork, chicken, beef, processed meat), 'seafood' (fish, squid, prawns, processed fish, processed seafood), 'vegetables' (cabbage, spinach, lettuce, tomato, leeks, carrots, potatoes, string beans), 'premium vegetables' (mushrooms, broccoli, eggplant / brinjal, asparagus), and 'others' (egg, tofu, peanuts).

Generally, a Economy Rice And Economy Porridge meal will consist of 1 'meat' dish, and 2 'vegetables', 'premium vegetables', or 'others' dish, with 'seafood' being rarely ordered. Often the cheapest meal option available anywhere, the Economy Rice And Economy Porridge is what most Singaporeans associate with a home-cooked meal, and is the kind of meal eaten on a daily basis. Some people eat nothing but Economy Rice And Economy Porridge, for every meal, every day, as the wide variety of dishes means there's something different all the time. It can be had individually, or shared communally in which case the serving portions are slightly larger.

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1. Chang Cheng Group
@ 802 Tampines Avenue 4 #01-07
Opening Hours: Daily 6am – 9pm

@ 167 Woodlands Street 11 #01-07
Opening Hours: Daily 6am – 9pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2022

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Economy Rice (SGD $4.30) @ Chang Cheng Group.

From its humble 1 stall beginnings in 1994, founder Ricky Kok has grown an empire, now spanning over 160 stalls across Singapore.

With this volume, they are among the most accessible, convenient brands - it's likely there's a stall nearby no matter where (in Singapore) you live, offering wallet-friendly meals all day.

There's usually a choice of between 15 - 30 dishes available, all freshly prepared throughout the day.

Sauces are their signature. There's chewy Sweet & Sour Pork with bright sweet sour savoury flavour, and tender Soy Braised Potatoes with starchy sweet salty flavour.

Paired with wobbly soft Steamed Egg Pudding with eggy sweet savoury notes, and crunchy Stir-Fried Baby Bok Choy with vegetal sweet flavour.

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2. Heng Long Teochew Porridge
@ 1012 Upper Serangoon Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 4am

@ 240 Tanjong Katong Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 4:30am

@ 809 North Bridge Road
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 4am

Taken in 2018

Taken in 2022

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Economy Porridge (SGD $7.80, $15.50) @ Heng Long Teochew Porridge.

With several 24-hour outlets around the north-east of Singapore, this is my go-to place for fresh, homely, comforting meals, although they are slightly more expensive than elsewhere.

They offer over 50 dishes, freshly cooked throughout the day, and even have stations for fresh seafood and braised items.

Their plain rice porridge has a lovely medium thick consistency, with mild grainy sweet flavour.

The tender Minced Pork Patty With Salted Fish has robust meaty salty savoury sweet flavour, while the soft Stewed Luffa Gourd With Egg has vegetal eggy sweet flavour.

The crispy Fried Mermaid Fish has addictive spicy sweet notes, while the slippery Soy Braised Pig's Skin is succulent with salty savoury herbal fatty flavour.

There's crunchy Stir-Fried Garlic Mustard Greens with vegetal sweet spice flavour, and tender Teochew Steamed Pomfret Fish with sweet salty savoury flavour and a touch of sour from the preserved plums.

The signature Trio Steamed Eggs have eggy salty sweet herbal flavours from the wobbly egg pudding, soft salted egg, and bouncy century egg. And chewy Chinese Cured Pork Sausage with robust meaty salty sweet flavour.

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3. Ocean Curry Fish Head
@ 92 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-264
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 9pm

@ 181 Telok Ayer Street
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm, Sat 10:30am – 3pm, Closed Sun

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2022

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Economy Rice (SGD $9) @ Ocean Curry Fish Head.

Established in 1983 by Mr Tay Cheng Siong, this chain blends economy rice and zi char styles, offering a sort of Modern Chinese Peranakan cuisine that commands a premium. And a philosophy of - 'If the food is good, they will come'.

The menu changes depending on what ingredients they get fresh from market, but there is typically a range of about 20 dishes or so.

The crunchy Stir-Fried Napa Cabbage is clean-tasting, with fresh vegetal sweet flavour. Their signature Oyster Sauce Squid has large bouncy pieces with herbal salty sweet flavour.

The signature Chicken Curry has tender potatoes and bone-in chicken chunks, with a pleasant savoury spicy flavour that has a good fiery kick, but fades quickly. The Soy Braised Egg has a springy texture with eggy salty sweet notes.

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4. Rice Garden
@ 416 Pandan Gardens #01-122
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 7pm

@ 361 Sembawang Crescent #01-01
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 7pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2022

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Economy Rice (SGD $3.70) @ Rice Garden.

Operated by NTUC Foodfare and with at least 25 stalls across Singapore, this franchise brand has a social enterprise aim; to provide affordable, wallet-friendly meals, primarily for seniors or low-income folks, from as low as SGD $1.50 per meal (eg: 1 meat 2 veg for ComCareSG beneficiaries).

The rest of us still benefit from the relatively cheap pricing and convenient accessibility, with up to 40 varieties of dishes available daily.

Their Curry Pork has tender slices with robust savoury salty spicy flavour from the rich curry gravy, and has a satisfying fiery kick.

Their crunchy Stir-Fried Snow Pea Leaves are fresh with vegetal sweet savoury nutty flavour, while the soft Steamed Egg Pudding With Minced Pork has lovely eggy meaty sweet savoury flavour.

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5. Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Restaurant
@ 13 Simon Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 12am

Taken in 2013

Taken in 2013

Taken in 2022

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Economy Porridge (SGD $9.50) @ Soon Soon Teochew Porridge Restaurant.

Originally founded by Peh Lee Soon in 1997 but now operated by a different team since August 2018, they offer traditional Chinese Teochew dishes, with a range of 15 - 20 dishes freshly prepared daily.

Their plain rice porridge has a medium thin texture, with mild grainy sweet flavour.

The crisp Stir-Fried Water Spinach With Anchovies has bright vegetal savoury sweet bitter earthy salty flavour, while their signature Soy Braised Ginger Garlic Pork has a tender texture with robust salty savoury spice herbal flavour.

The soft wispy Braised Tofu Beancurd With Pork Floss has grainy salty sweet savoury notes, while the tender flaky Steamed Spanish Mackerel Fish With Ginger carries enticing sweet salty savoury spice flavour.

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6. Teck Ee Rice & Teochew Porridge
@ 302 Joo Chiat Road
Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am – 9:30pm

Taken in 2011

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Economy Porridge (SGD $4.50, $6.30) @ Teck Ee Rice & Teochew Porridge.

This old-school stall has been serving homely, affordable, comforting meals for well over 3 decades.

They have a good range, between 15 - 25 dishes daily, with peak periods during all 3 meals of the day.

Their plain rice porridge is medium thin, with a light watery grainy sweet flavour.

The Radish Omelette has lovely fluffy egg and crunchy pickled daikon radish bits, with eggy vegetal salty sweet savoury flavour. The crunchy Stir-Fried String Beans have vegetal earthy savoury sweet flavour, and the soft tofu beancurd within lends nice grainy sweet notes.

The Spanish Mackerel Fish Cake is bouncy with savoury sweet flavour, while the crunchy creamy Battered Basa Fish In Lemon Sauce has tangy zesty sour sweet notes.

The bouncy Chicken Sausage In Tomato Sauce has meaty vegetal sour sweet savoury flavour, while the Bitter Gourd With Scrambled Eggs has a tender creamy soft texture and bright eggy bitter sweet flavour.

The Tofu Beancurd With Leeks has alternating crunchy soft spongy textures, with mild vegetal grainy sweet savoury herbal flavour. The chunky Dried Chili Shrimp Paste or Hae Bee Hiam has a nice sharp salty savoury spicy kick.

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7. Xing Long Cooked Food
@ 84 Marine Parade Central Market And Food Centre, 84 Marine Parade Central #01-20
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 11am – 8:30pm, Closed Sun

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2009

Taken in 2022

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Economy Rice (SGD $6.30) @ Xing Long Cooked Food.

Established since April 1990, this stall still regularly draws long queues during meal times, thanks to their delicious home cooked dishes served in large hearty portions.

While not exactly the most economical option, heartlanders still frequent for their wide array of up to 30 dishes or so, and the classic made-with-love taste.

The Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Leaves With Carrots have a gentle crunch, with deep vegetal earthy nutty savoury flavour. The soft gooey Tomato Scrambled Eggs are lovely with bright eggy vegetal sweet savoury flavour.

Their signature Lion's Head Pork Meat Ball is so juicy and tender, each bite releasing a meaty savoury salty sweet fatty taste. The large slab of Mackerel Fish Otah-Otah has a soft chew, with a good spicy savoury kick, yum.

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- ~~Ah Seah Teochew Porridge~~ – Permanently Closed
~~@ 31 Teck Chye Terrace~~

Taken in 2022

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Economy Porridge (SGD $4.30) @ Ah Seah Teochew Porridge.

From its humble beginning in 1955, till it closed in June 2022, this beloved old-school stall served up homely Chinese Teochew meals daily.

Entire generations have grown up eating at this joint, run by Carol Lee and family. The wide range of painstakingly prepared dishes, numbering up to 30 daily, were tasty and affordable. No surprise that folks, returned time and again.

It's the closure of such places that remind why I even began blogging - to capture and preserve memories, not just for others, but for myself.

Their plain rice porridge used to be medium thin and watery, with mild grainy sweet flavour, and always served warm.

The Garlic Yu Choy has a light crispy crunch, with a nice vegetal sweet earthy spice flavour. The Soy Braised Peanuts are lighter than elsewhere, with a firm crunch and savoury salty nutty flavour.

The Minced Pork In Black Bean & Chili Oil has a tender juicy satisfying chew, with lovely meaty savoury spicy salty earthy flavour. The Luncheon Meat Spam is thick cut and tender springy, with nice meaty salty savoury flavour.