Terminals at Singapore’s Changi Airport aren’t just for flights — they’re also mini food-courts and cafés where travelers can enjoy Singapore favourites and international bites before take-off or during long layovers. Terminal 3 (T3) has a nice range of options spread throughout the departure and transit areas.
Here’s an insider guide to some popular outlets you can visit inside the transit/departure section of Terminal 3.
🥟 Old Chang Kee
A Singapore staple known for its curry puffs, snacks and quick bites, Old Chang Kee offers a familiar taste of local snacks before you fly. Typical items like curry puffs, fish ball sticks or chicken wings are usually priced around S$2–S$8 per item in most outlets. Outside the airport in hawker centres or kopitiams, similar snacks can be S$1.50–S$4 for a curry puff and S$3–S$6 for a snack plate, so airport pricing is slightly higher overall to reflect convenience and airport operation costs.
🍜 Encik Tan
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This is a local-Asian stall serving quick noodles, laksa, coffee and juices. Reviews suggest that its noodle meals are considered quite affordable for an airport location — some dishes reportedly go for about AUD 6 (~S$5.50) at least, which for many travellers is surprisingly reasonable compared with other airport food stalls.
Typical outside prices: A bowl of laksa or chicken rice at a local hawker stall in Singapore usually costs between S$5–S$7, so Encik Tan’s prices are competitive even within the airport setting.
🍜 Ippudo Ramen Express
A compact version of the famous ramen chain found in Singapore and Japan, serving quick bowls of Hakata-style ramen. While menus at full Ippudo restaurants outside Changi are usually S$16–S$20+ for a bowl of ramen (e.g., Shiromaru Motoaji, Akamaru), the Express airport counterpart is designed for travellers and often offers smaller portions — some reviewers reported ramen around S$6.90–S$10.90 at the airport express kiosk.
Outside price comparison: Outside airport, a standard bowl in Singapore is closer to S$17–S$19.40 at regular outlets. So the express unit might be cheaper, but keep in mind this can vary widely and could also be more expensive than typical food court ramen.
🥢 Gourmet Sarawak
A local concept focusing on Sarawakian cuisine — think traditional dishes like kolo mee and Sarawak laksa. Specific menu prices at Gourmet Sarawak in T3 aren’t widely published online, but airport versions of ethnic quick-serve food typically cost slightly more (10–20% higher) than in city hawker centres due to location and captive audience effect.
🍷 Harry’s (Bar & Bistro)
A more upscale bar in the airport, offering beers, wines and casual meals. Bar food and alcohol inside airports are usually significantly pricier than similar casual bars or pubs in town — beers can easily hit S$12–S$18+ versus about S$10–S$14 outside, and mains are often higher too. (Exact prices vary by drink/plate.)
☕ Coffee Bean & Tea Leaves
A familiar international café offering coffee, tea, baked goods and sandwiches. Outside (in town) a cup of coffee at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf might commonly be S$5–S$7 or more for specialty drinks, and cakes/pastries around S$5–S$9. Airport cafés often mark prices up slightly higher due to rent and captive audience, so expect similar or a few dollars above typical city prices.
🍲 Le Congee N Noodles House
A casual Asian kitchen serving congee and noodle dishes — similar to what you find in Singapore food courts. In a food court outside, a bowl of congee or noodles would often be about S$5–S$8, but at airport venues prices go up modestly (e.g., S$7–S$12) for the same items.
🍛 Heavenly Wang
A local café concept with heritage Singaporean dishes (kaya toast, laksa, noodles, coffee & tea). Outside of Changi, Heavenly Wang menu prices include items like kaya toast sets from around S$6.50, laksa or mee siam from S$7–S$8.90, and beverages like kopi from roughly S$3.30–S$3.70.
In the airport transit setting, prices may be similar but often slightly marked up (e.g., S$8–S$12 for full meal sets), which aligns with typical airport pricing patterns.
💰 Transit vs Outside: Pricing Overview
| Outlet Type | Typical Airport Price (Estimated) | Typical Outside Price (Singapore) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick bites (Old Chang Kee) | Slightly higher | Lower | Convenience premium |
| Local noodles & quick meals | Competitive to slightly higher | Lower–similar | Encik Tan is value |
| Ramen bowls (Ippudo Express) | Often cheaper express portions | Higher at full restaurants | Smaller, quicker service |
| Café drinks (Coffee Bean, Heavenly Wang) | Slightly higher / similar | Standard café pricing | Small premium |
| Bar / Bistro (Harry’s) | Noticeably higher | Lower in town pubs | Alcohol & mains expensive |
General trend: Food in airport transit areas tends to be pricier than off-airport local food courts but can be competitive with casual city cafés — especially for quick meals geared toward travellers. Some express concepts (like Ippudo Express) even position themselves as more affordable than their full-service counterparts.
Overall :
- Transit lounges aren’t the cheapest place to eat in Singapore — but they’re usually clean, convenient and quick for travellers in a hurry.
- If you have more time and leave the airport via public areas or Jewel Changi, options like hawker centres or nearby malls will usually be cheaper per meal.
- For familiar comforts (like traditional kopi or kaya toast), shops like Heavenly Wang or Coffee Bean still offer a classic Singapore experience, just at a convenience premium.
