With just 5 dollars in your pocket, what meals can you get to soothe your midnight stomach rumbles? Under the guise of writing an article for The Ridge, I took a stroll at the locally-renowned Supper Stretch and tried out some of the more popular dishes.
What is Supper Stretch?
In case you’re unacquainted, Supper Stretch is the community-given title for a row of restaurants at 16 Clementi Road. It is right down the road from the Kent Ridge Bus Stop and open until two or three in the morning. As such, it is a highly popular late-night eating spot among NUS students to recoup after their daily activities.
As a self-proclaimed food economist (fancy name for a broke boy who can’t afford fancy meals), I’m always looking out for the most economical food choices around campus. In this article, let’s look at some of my favourite finds from Supper Stretch, and some awesome stalls you just shouldn’t miss out on for your next visit.
The Cheese Prata Shop: Cheese Prata ($4.10)
Arguably a favourite amongst fellow heavy-duty muggers is Niqqi’s The Cheese Prata Shop, where I ordered a plate of Cheese Prata.
I was immediately hit by the tactile warmth and buttery fragrance of a seemingly innocuous, golden-brown flaky plate of cheese prata, and the devil in that cheese melt nearly tempted me into reordering my way to bankruptcy.
Overall, I didn’t expect what looked to me like a small plate of just prata with cheese in it to be so filling, but it did its job well as a solid supper. Bonus points if you get their Tissue Chocolate Prata: it makes for a cool hat. No refunds though.
Al-Amaan: Kampong Style Fried Rice ($4.80)
Al-Amaan Restaurant is yet another hotspot for the night owls of NUS, where I ordered their Kampong-Style Fried Rice.
I didn’t cry from a desperate longing for my home country of Indonesia, but trust me I was close. I remember having similar fried rice sold by some guy with a wagon parked outside my school, and Al-Amaan’s take on the Kampong-Style Fried Rice definitely had the same kick of heat to it.
Even if you’re unfamiliar with the fried rice’s flavour profile, I’d be willing to bet that their fried rice is a good supper option for your next visit.
Another menu item you can consider, if you’re going with your buds (not the tasting kind), is any of their Student Specials for $8 each—and you do get an additional serving of fries lathered with melted cheese. Remember to share!
Fong Seng Nasi Lemak: Teriyaki Chicken Set ($4.70)
A quick confession to my crimes is that I don’t usually order Nasi Lemak anywhere, so this visit was made mainly due to passionate recommendations: I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Set ($4.70).
This is possibly one of the only times I would willingly support peer pressure, because it was worth it. The meal was light on the tongue but lent me the energy I needed in the walk home, with its surprisingly balanced ratio of nutrients.
The only complaint from me would be the existence of a Royal Teriyaki Set ($7.70), and now I have to therapize my regular Teriyaki Chicken Set out of its inferiority complex. Even without the peer pressure, I can definitely see myself going back here.
Here are just some of the options available in Supper Stretch, and you can definitely find more. Moving into Singapore, I didn’t expect there to be so many affordable remedies for my chronic late-night munchies. By all means, my opinion has changed, and I now know where I’ll be heading whenever my fridge is empty.