How is the food situation in Singapore for vegetarian Indian students, and what options are available near SMU?

Question

Sweety Shah · Accepted Answer

Singapore is generally manageable for vegetarian Indian students, though it requires more awareness and selection than in India. SMU has food outlets on campus at student-friendly prices, options include Pasta Express, salad bowls, and a dedicated Indian outlet called Open Kitchen that serves dosa, biryani, and paratha-style items priced around SGD 5 to 6. Beyond campus, Singapore's hawker centre culture means affordable cooked food is available everywhere, and most hawker centres have at least a few stalls with vegetarian options, Indian stalls, vegetarian Chinese stalls, and fresh fruit and juice vendors. The challenge for strict vegetarians is that many Singaporean dishes use oyster sauce, fish sauce, or meat-based broths even in dishes that appear vegetarian on the menu.

• Communication with stall owners about specific requirements is necessary.
• Little India, which is accessible by MRT from the SMU area, has a wide range of South Indian vegetarian restaurants and grocery stores stocking Indian ingredients, which is useful for students who want to cook at home.
• Overall, vegetarianism is workable in Singapore with some awareness and planning.

Abhishek Mehta · Answer

Vegetarian options are available near SMU, though they require more intentionality than in India. On campus, Open Kitchen serves Indian food including dosa, biryani, and paratha-style dishes at SGD 5 to SGD 6 per meal, which is the most convenient vegetarian Indian option. The broader Hawker centre culture in Singapore means that vegetarian stalls, Indian stalls, vegetarian Chinese stalls, and fresh produce and juice options, are present in most food centres. The practical challenge is that many Singaporean dishes that appear vegetarian contain fish sauce, oyster sauce, or meat-based stocks, so communicating dietary requirements specifically when ordering is necessary.

• Little India, accessible by MRT from the SMU area, has a wide range of South Indian vegetarian restaurants and grocery stores stocking Indian ingredients for students who cook at home.
• Mustafa Centre in Little India is open 24 hours and carries a comprehensive range of Indian groceries, spices, and pantry staples.
• Overall, being vegetarian in Singapore is workable and genuinely manageable, it just requires awareness and a bit more planning than eating in India does.

Disha Roy Choudhury · Answer

The mentor said vegetarian food is manageable near SMU because of its city-centre location. There are multiple options on and around campus, and Little India is accessible for a wider range of South Indian and North Indian vegetarian food. Singapore has a strong takeaway culture and eating out is the norm.

• Options near SMU include: Subway, Pasta Express, Salad Green, Open Kitchen (an Indian restaurant on campus serving dosa, biryani, and paratha-style dishes), a Thai place called Zeno, and Guzman y Gomez.
• Nama Chaiwala had recently opened near campus but the mentor said it was not great.
• Some seniors hire an Indian cook who comes two to three hours a week to meal prep for the entire week, a practical option for students who prefer home-cooked food.
• It does get repetitive over time, but there are enough options to eat comfortably as a vegetarian in the SMU area.

How is the food situation in Singapore for vegetarian Indian students, and what options are available near SMU?

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