During one of my stints, I had the opportunity to venture around NTU and try out recommended places (by my colleagues). That being said, last August I landed back at NTU for a local semester exchange.
Well NTU Campus is huge and there are many buildings and canteens which I had a hard time navigating. If you are unsure of the locations, use google maps or ask someone for help, otherwise you would be wandering around the campus.
Friendly warning : Information presented is accurate as of early December 2020, do cross-check with other directory listings on the outlets’ operations. If there is any discrepancy, feel free to leave a comment!
Do note that there are more eateries at NTU which I couldn’t cover during my time there
North Spine Outlets
Grande Cibo
Grande Cibo is an Italian restaurant situated at North Spine Plaza, opposite Prime Supermarket. They have lunch deals from $5.90 and have a decent range of pizza and riso bowls. I liked the cozy ambiance of the restaurant but when the counter gets crowded, patrons tend to linger around the counter area making it look crowded.
I opted for the Chicken Meatball with Spicy Tofu sauce which was about $6.90. I wanted to upgrade the meal (drink+ soup of the day), but I ran out of cash.
Thoughts : It had a manageable spice but the tofu softens the spice. Nonetheless, the sauce gave the entire Riso Bowl the flavour. This place is very popular for its pizzas so do try it if you get a chance.
The Sandwich Guys
Right next to Grande Cibo, is The Sandwich Guys. Here you can find a variety of sandwiches (like duh). Their set menus are around $6-8. I bought the Peri-Peri Chicken.
Thoughts : The sandwich was within my spice tolerance and I liked the dressing. As much as I liked the dressing, it was inconsistent throughout the sandwich, hence it might help to ask if they could add more sauce.
The Crowded Bowl
This one is a little new on the block. It is a vegetarian salad bowl place and they have a decent spread of ingredients to choose from. You might want to visit this place before the lunch crowd (12pm to 1.30pm) during the semester. I opted for their Mock Tom Yum cuttlefish, some standard vegetable toppings, olive rice, and added on the scrambled egg.
Thoughts : The scrambled egg was really good, it was creamy with that right texture but, it was a little cold. The tom yum cuttlefish wasn’t exactly what I expected and it was a moment of regret when I realised it. Other than that, its definitely one of the healthier lunch choices at North Spine!
Paik’s Bibim
There are a few outlets across the island, but there are some student promotions that you might want to check out if you are near by. Their meals start from ~$7. I found their dish pretty consistent with what I had at the marina Square outlet. However, it was slightly cheaper as I had a student discount. It would be a nice way to treat yourself (in a healthy way) after an exam or presentation!
Since I’ve previously written a review about them, check it out here!
Connect 71
This is a cozy cafe that is situated at ARC, a few hundreds metres from the Lee Wee Nam Bus Stop. They serve lunch sets, desserts and drinks. This student run cafe is a popular place for catch up with friends, dates or colleagues. Importantly, I observed some charging points at the long table!
I had the Iced Matcha Latte and have written a review on it last year, so take a look at it now!
Tea Party Express
Tea Party has finally set its foot on NTU Campus! Tea party definitely has comforting pasta and small bites for anyone to grab during their breaks or downtime. Check out the review here.
Canteen A
This canteen has been refurbished, hence the stalls differ now. However mini wok is still available.
1. Mini Wok
It is the first shop when you enter the Canteen and you would observe a reasonable crowd here.
Thoughts: The beef wasn’t that fantastic as it was a tad hard and I had a hard time chewing. But my friend tried their chicken-based dishes and he really loved it as it was tender and the sauces they had for the respective dishes was flavorful.
2. Korean/ Japanese
This stall is located on the extended building of the canteen (next to Peach Garden). It is the second stall from the entrance. If I’m not wrong, they sell Japanese and Korean dishes.
Thoughts: This stall is pretty affordable, however I didn’t enjoy this dish. There was not much meat on the chicken pieces and a large portion of it was bony. If you’re looking for something to fill you up yet taste delicious, skip this dish.
3. Salad Bar
Thoughts: If I had to choose between this and the crowded bowl above, I would rather head to the crowded bowl. Their meat wasn’t exactly tender, the toppings were pretty much cold. Their potato salad looked promising, but I didn’t try it out that day. Nonetheless, I didn’t visit this stall again during my time at NTU.
4. Mala Hotpot
This stall is situated on the extended building, next to Peach Garden. It is right next to the tray return area. They have the usual spread of ingredients that you would expect at a Mala stall, however they tend to be conservative on the spice levels.
Thoughts: I tried it twice and both times got the zhong la. It wasn’t that spicy, I managed to have it without a drink. Nonetheless, the numbing and tingling sensation kicked in, thanks to the seasoning. I spent close to $9 on the meal on both occasions and it wouldn’t be something I will return for.
5. Western
This Western stall is also located on the extended building and it is next to the Vietnamese stall. They have a decent spread of red and white meat, both in options of grilled and fried. Their meals were approximately $5 and additional top up of side dishes cost ~$1.
Thoughts : Personally I found their Spaghetti to be bland though, their spaghetti portion was huge. Their chicken chop comes with two sauces – mushroom or black pepper. Black pepper definitely adds a new flavour to the meat. Well, I would say this is definitely an affordable option if you’re craving for western fare and if you’re near North Spine.
6. Taiwanese
This stall is located on the main building near the Yong Tau Foo stall in Canteen A. XL Large Chicken Chop Rice ($5) comes with braised egg, pickled vegetables and shredded cabbage.
Thoughts : They have different variations of chicken and pork chop. The chicken chop was crispy and juicy but I found it a little dry, over time. So you might want to get more mayo on the cabbage or more sauce on the rice.
Canteen B
This canteen is rebranded to Fine Foods. They have a two storey canteen and there is a Subway and the popular CHICHA San Chen.
1. Japanese
It is the stall right next to the chicken rice stall near the stairs. Since I had a relatively short break, I decided to get the Omelette Rice with Chicken Cutlet.
Thoughts: This omelet and the chicken cutlet was too oily and it was far different from the pictorial representation on the stall. Skip this and try something else at this stall.
2. Pasta Express
Pasta Express is pretty popular and my classmates enjoyed it (in fact were addicted) to it. They do have an outlet at SMU and I have tried it a couple of times, so you can read my review on it here.
Canteen 16
1. Japanese
This canteen is opposite to NTU Innovation Centre. There are a couple of stall here offering namely Japanese, Indian cuisine. The venue is relatively small. I heard this Japanese stall was popular so I tried it out.
Thoughts : Both the Tonkotsu Ramen and Chicken Katsu Curry rice did live up to expectations. I found the ramen’s pork broth to be milky with the thin consistency of the noodles. For $5.80, I would really think its absolutely worth the price. Similarly the Chicken Katsu was crispy and the curry base tasted somewhat similar to the Omurice restaurant.
2. Mala Hotpot
Thoughts : It was around $7 and I picked about 7/ 8 ingredients. However, though the spice level was manageable for me and it seemed like a much more affordable option, I didn’t really enjoy it. Perhaps, psychologically the venue and the way the ingredients were presented pre-suaded (yes, it is something that I learnt in my communications module last week) me into a perception that it would be sub-par.
Nanyang Crescent Food Court
This canteen was crowded and I was happy that I managed to get a seat! The western had a decent queue length and I joined the queue. As usual, I didn’t know what to get and opted for the chicken chop with fries and potato salad.
Thoughts : As I sat down and looked at the food, I wondered “Why do I make terrible decisions in life?”
Canteen 11
I got the Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak with Egg (~$3.50). I didn’t expect such a large portion of rice, so you should ask for less if you can. The location could be quite far if you’re somewhere at South Spine.
Thoughts : Overall it was fine but I was stuffing myself with the rice. Given its location, I find it a hassle to get there. By the way, they sell waffles with ice-cream, at this canteen. So if you still have room for desserts do try it!
Canteen 9
One of my colleague said Canteen 9 has one of the best Mala and I must try it. Yes she gave a friendly warning that their spice levels were Here you can find an Indian stall selling north Indian fare too!
Thoughts : Indeed it was pretty spicy, numbing and addictive. I liked it and it was one of the best mala I’ve tried at NTU.
The Quad Cafe
All stalls in this canteen are halal-certified and there are 4-6 stalls here.
1. Yong Tau Foo
One of my acquaintance disappointedly said that their stir fried maggi is their mala . After hearing this, I believed it and recently I found out that they DO have mala hotpot. But you need to let the person know you want mala and not stir-fry.
Thoughts : Not much introduction needed for this stall, the vendor is a friendly lady. I’m not a fan of yellow noodles so I didn’t like the soup version of my YTF. Their stir-fry YTF seems to be a real comfort food and a hot-seller too. When it comes to their Mala, it is affordable (usually less than $7), but I didn’t find the same taste as the one at Canteen 9. Nonetheless, for the price accessibility, if it serves as a good quick fix.
2. Korean
This stall is the first stall when you enter the glass door. The chicken bibimbap comes with soup and rice at $4.50.
Thoughts : Given the price I would think it’s really a decent bibimbap.
Co-Op Cafe @ The Hive
This student-run cafe is located inside The Hive Level 1. There are many seats available at the Hive’s open area. They serve both lunch and breakfast sets as shown on their menu below.
I’ve tried a couple of dishes here as I found the queues pretty short.
Thoughts : I find the place to be calming, at times. Everything is a little pricey and their presentation of food explains is a plus factor. I liked the Fish & Chips and their Crispy Chicken. Both the chicken and fish was crispy, not too greasy. The dijonnaise sauce that accompanied the chicken gave the meal a tangy and sharp flavour. But I observed over the weeks that they quality of fish and chips fluctuates (though within acceptable levels).
The Tom Yum Spaghetti looked appetizing, however its strong taste didn’t stick well with the pasta. For the teriyaki chicken chop, the chicken was fine. It was succulent and tender but the teriyaki sauce was overpowering. Furthermore it was salty and intense. Perhaps the mushroom sauce would be better.