Despite the high footfall of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, this cosy vegetarian food court is still pretty much under the radar. Quite the hidden gem, if you may. Once you find the nondescript entrance (clue: you'll need to be facing Neil Road) head down a flight of stairs and there you have it. There's something calm and serene about the space, after all, it is a place of worship.
A total of four stalls serve up affordably-priced healthy meals for anyone and everyone. Eat your way through mixed rice, noodles, and desserts paired with no-frills drinks. And while it may seem like there is plenty of variety in their menus, note that the noodle and dessert station follows a strictly scheduled menu that only features one dish a day. For instance, there are the popular char siew wanton noodles ($5) on Tuesdays and laksa ($5) on Wednesdays. Each set comes with a salad and soup of the day.
Want variety? Customise your plate at the mixed rice section where there's a plethora of vegetarian cooked dishes. Savour Thai-inspired pandan chicken, sweet and sour meat, stir-fried greens, braised radish with mushrooms, and more. Prices start from $3 with an option to choose between white rice, multigrain rice or bee hoon along with two dishes – each top-up of a dish will only be an additional dollar.
Those looking to beat the afternoon heat are definitely welcome to take respite in the air-conditioned eatery. Desserts such as red bean soup, sweet potato soup, and longan fungus are all priced at just $1 while a refreshing cold drink will cost the same. Planning a visit? Just know that they close rather early at 2.30pm.
Check out all the drool-worthy dishes at Lian Xin Vegetarian Food Court in our video: