Food Near Bencoolen MRT: 15 Best Places to Eat by Exit (2026)
Bencoolen MRT (DT21) sits on the Downtown Line at the edge of the Bras Basah-Bugis arts and civic district, ringed by campuses like NAFA, SOTA, SMU and Kaplan and by older mixed-use buildings such as Sunshine Plaza and Fortune Centre. The area is known for affordable, casual eats: student-priced Japanese don and curry, one of Singapore's best-known clusters of vegetarian and vegan stalls at Fortune Centre, plus Malay, Thai, Korean and Chinese options. Most venues line Bencoolen Street and Middle Road and are reached via Exit A, with a few (SOTA, Prinsep Street) closer to Exit B.
Last verified: September 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The best places to eat near Bencoolen MRT
Merely Ice Cream Dessert / Ice Cream · $
Homemade ice cream parlour in Sunshine Plaza with rotating, unconventional flavours.
- Cuisine: Dessert / Ice Cream
- Price: $ · ~$4.90/scoop
- Must-try: Nutty Root Beer, Gingerbread Chai, Lemon Earl Grey
- Where: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-13, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Sunshine Plaza) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-11pm
PU3 Restaurant Malay / Nusantara · $
Muslim-owned Malay eatery specialising in nasi ambeng platters served for one to four diners.
- Cuisine: Malay / Nusantara
- Price: $ · Nasi Ambeng ~$7.50/pax
- Must-try: Nasi Ambeng
- Where: 51 Bencoolen Street, #01-06, Singapore 189630
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Bencoolen Street) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 11am-4pm & 5:30pm-9pm
- Halal: Halal
Crossings Cafe Cafe / Fusion (social enterprise) · $$
Social-enterprise cafe near Waterloo Street serving all-day local-fusion mains.
- Cuisine: Cafe / Fusion (social enterprise)
- Price: $$ · ~$13-17++
- Must-try: Chetra's Curry, Chilli Crab Pasta
- Where: 55 Waterloo Street, Catholic Centre, Singapore 187954
- Nearest exit: Exit A (towards Waterloo Street) (~6 min walk)
Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House Chinese (noodles / wonton) · $
Long-running wonton noodle stall in Sunshine Plaza serving dry and fried yun tun mee.
- Cuisine: Chinese (noodles / wonton)
- Price: $ · ~$4.50-6
- Must-try: Zha Yun Tun Mee (fried wonton noodles), Chicken Karaage
- Where: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-53, Sunshine Plaza, Singapore 189652
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Sunshine Plaza) (~2 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 9:30am-9pm
The Mind Cafe Board-game cafe / Light bites · $$
Board-game cafe on Prinsep Street with drinks and light meals, open late on weekends.
- Cuisine: Board-game cafe / Light bites
- Price: $$ · Gaming + set from ~$8.80++
- Must-try: Set Lunch & Gaming package
- Where: 60A Prinsep Street, #02-00, Singapore 188664
- Nearest exit: Exit B (towards Prinsep Street) (~5 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-6am, Sun 11am-2am
Herbivore Japanese vegetarian · $$
Sit-down vegetarian Japanese restaurant in Fortune Centre with meat-free sushi, bento and soba.
- Cuisine: Japanese vegetarian
- Price: $$ · ~$9-19
- Must-try: Katsu Curry, Tempura Cold Cha Soba, Salmon-style Sashimi
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #01-13/14, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 11:30am-3pm & 5pm-10pm
Pine Tree Cafe Vegetarian (Hakka yong tau foo) · $
Vegetarian stall in Fortune Centre doing Hakka-style yong tau foo and meat-free local dishes.
- Cuisine: Vegetarian (Hakka yong tau foo)
- Price: $ · ~$7-8
- Must-try: Hakka Yong Tau Foo, Vegetarian Fried Hokkien Mee, Curry Fish-style with Rice
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #02-09/13, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
New Green Pasture Cafe Vegan / Asian fusion · $$
Quiet plant-based cafe on Fortune Centre's fourth floor serving wholesome Asian-inspired sets.
- Cuisine: Vegan / Asian fusion
- Price: $$ · ~$11.50-12.50
- Must-try: Bamboo Brown Rice Set, Korean Claypot / Bibimbap
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #04-22, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-8pm (closed Mon)
Ume San 100 Japanese izakaya · $$
Hidden izakaya-style bar in Fortune Centre serving ramen by day and cocktails and small plates at night.
- Cuisine: Japanese izakaya
- Price: $$ · Ramen ~$16, cocktails ~$22
- Must-try: Angry Asari Soup Ramen, Sea Garden Cocktail
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #02-07, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
- Halal: No
Yat Ka Yan Dessert Chinese dessert · $
Traditional Cantonese dessert stall in Fortune Centre known for warm nut pastes and chendol.
- Cuisine: Chinese dessert
- Price: $ · ~$3.20-4.50
- Must-try: Walnut Sesame Paste, Chendol
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #02-08, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Mon/Wed/Thu 1:30pm-5:30pm & 7pm-10pm, Fri-Sun 7pm-11pm (closed Tue)
I'm Kim Korean BBQ Korean BBQ · $$
Korean BBQ at SOTA popular for its value weekday grill buffet aimed at students.
- Cuisine: Korean BBQ
- Price: $$ · Weekday lunch buffet from ~$14++
- Must-try: Weekday BBQ lunch buffet
- Where: 1 Zubir Said Drive, #01-04/05/06/07, School of The Arts (SOTA), Singapore 227968
- Nearest exit: Exit B (towards SOTA) (~7 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-4pm & 5:30pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am-5pm & 5pm-10:30pm
- Halal: No
Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar French / European · $$$
French bistro and wine bar at Hotel G serving all-day steaks, boards and wine by the glass.
- Cuisine: French / European
- Price: $$$ · Wine from ~$6++, sharing boards ~$54++
- Must-try: Steak, Charcuterie / meat board, Affordable house wine
- Where: 200 Middle Road, Hotel G Singapore, Singapore 188980
- Nearest exit: Exit A (towards Middle Road) (~4 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 7am-11:30pm
- Halal: No
Aroy-Dee Thai Kitchen (Bencoolen) Thai · $
Casual Thai kitchen on Bencoolen Street known for generous portions, a cheap weekday lunch set and late-night hours.
- Cuisine: Thai
- Price: $ · Weekday lunch from ~$5.90; dishes ~$7.90+
- Must-try: Tom Yum Talay, Pad Thai, Tom Kha Gai
- Where: 127 Bencoolen Street, Singapore
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Bencoolen Street) (~4 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-5am, Sat-Sun 12pm-5am
SKOSH Japanese-inspired cafe · $$
Minimalist Japanese-inspired cafe at NAFA serving onigiri, sandos, coffee and specialty matcha.
- Cuisine: Japanese-inspired cafe
- Price: $$ · Mains under ~$25
- Must-try: Onigiri, Sando, Specialty Matcha
- Where: 80 Bencoolen Street, #01-15 (NAFA), Singapore 189655
- Nearest exit: Exit A (towards NAFA / Bencoolen Street) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-8pm
Mama Patisserie Japanese bakery · $
Japanese-style bakery in Fortune Centre selling cheap flavoured breads and buns.
- Cuisine: Japanese bakery
- Price: $ · ~$2-2.40/bun
- Must-try: Matcha Chestnut Bread, Black Sesame & Yam Bun, Walnut Choco Bread
- Where: 190 Middle Road, #01-34, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
- Nearest exit: Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) (~3 min walk)
- Hours: Daily 9am-9:30pm
At a glance: compare every spot near Bencoolen MRT
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Nearest exit | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merely Ice Cream | Dessert / Ice Cream | $ | Exit A (Sunshine Plaza) | — |
| PU3 Restaurant | Malay / Nusantara | $ | Exit A (Bencoolen Street) | Halal |
| Crossings Cafe | Cafe / Fusion (social enterprise) | $$ | Exit A (towards Waterloo Street) | — |
| Parklane Zha Yun Tun Mee House | Chinese (noodles / wonton) | $ | Exit A (Sunshine Plaza) | — |
| The Mind Cafe | Board-game cafe / Light bites | $$ | Exit B (towards Prinsep Street) | — |
| Herbivore | Japanese vegetarian | $$ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | — |
| Pine Tree Cafe | Vegetarian (Hakka yong tau foo) | $ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | — |
| New Green Pasture Cafe | Vegan / Asian fusion | $$ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | — |
| Ume San 100 | Japanese izakaya | $$ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | No |
| Yat Ka Yan Dessert | Chinese dessert | $ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | — |
| I'm Kim Korean BBQ | Korean BBQ | $$ | Exit B (towards SOTA) | No |
| Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar | French / European | $$$ | Exit A (towards Middle Road) | No |
| Aroy-Dee Thai Kitchen (Bencoolen) | Thai | $ | Exit A (Bencoolen Street) | — |
| SKOSH | Japanese-inspired cafe | $$ | Exit A (towards NAFA / Bencoolen Street) | — |
| Mama Patisserie | Japanese bakery | $ | Exit A (Fortune Centre / Middle Road) | — |
Bencoolen MRT food: your questions answered
What food is Bencoolen MRT known for?
It is a budget, student-oriented food area. The standouts are affordable Japanese don and curry, a large cluster of vegetarian and vegan stalls inside Fortune Centre (190 Middle Road), and a mix of Malay, Thai, Korean and Chinese eats along Bencoolen Street and Sunshine Plaza.
Are there halal options near Bencoolen MRT?
Yes. PU3 Restaurant (51 Bencoolen Street) is a Muslim-owned Malay eatery serving nasi ambeng. Masjid Bencoolen is also nearby, and Albert Centre Market & Food Centre (a short walk toward Bugis) has several Muslim/Indian-Muslim stalls. Always confirm current halal certification with the venue before visiting, as certification status can change.
Where are the cheapest eats near Bencoolen MRT?
Sunshine Plaza and Fortune Centre have the best-value meals. Parklane wonton noodles run about $4.50, Japanese Curry Express from around $7, Fortune Centre vegetarian stalls from roughly $7-8, and Aroy-Dee Thai has a weekday lunch from about $5.90.
What is open late near Bencoolen MRT?
The Mind Cafe on Prinsep Street stays open until 6am on Friday and Saturday. Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar at Hotel G serves until 11:30pm daily. Aroy-Dee Thai is also reputed to run late, but confirm current closing time before heading down.
Which exit should I use for the main Bencoolen food cluster?
Use Exit A for the densest cluster: Sunshine Plaza, Fortune Centre (Middle Road), NAFA and the Bencoolen Street shops. Use Exit B for School of the Arts (SOTA), Prinsep Street and the GR.iD / Peace Centre side.
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