If you’ve found yourself caught in situations where your friends have conflicting food preferences and can’t decide on what to eat, then DIY Bowls are the solution for picky eaters.
DIY Bowls often comprise of four components, namely a base (usually carbohydrates or salad), a protein, veggies, and a sauce to top it all off! DIY Bowls are usually personalised and custom-made according to one’s taste and preference. Some places even provide vegan/vegetarian options filled with tofu or lentil patties!
So, don’t bother hunting down that elusive restaurant that everybody is ‘fine’ eating at. Instead, pick a place that serves DIY Bowls to ensure that there will always be something for everyone to enjoy.
Here are the 10 best places to solve your lunchtime woes!
10. OMOOMODON
Located in The Star Vista, OMOOMODON is an affordable establishment serving up Korean-Japanese fusion food. It offers a variety of options, including bowls with pre-selected ingredients.
Additionally, they also offer the choice of building your own bowl to provide convenience and personalisation to all their food.
Multi grain rice, steak, onsen, tobikko ($12)
Firstly, diners can choose from several different bases — rice options including white or multi grain rice, or udon and soba for those who prefer having noodle. Then, select one (or as many you like) protein including steak, unagi and salmon. Lastly, top it off with kimchi omelette or even onsen tamago and tobikko!
Add $5 to complete your meal with a side and drink for a wholesome and filling lunch!
OMOOMODON: 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617 | Opening Hours: (Daily) 14:00-21:45 | Tel: 6734 1863 | Website
9. The Daily Cut
The Daily Cut is open at the basement of One Raffles Place Shopping Mall and is popular among patrons of the mall and workers from nearby offices alike. The Daily Cut offers food that are nutritious and delicious at the same time.
For your base, pick from salad greens, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and even sweet potato. Protein choices include the normal selection like tilapia or chicken, and other more premium ones like rib-eye steak ($1 top-up) and salmon ($2 top-up).
Select three vegetables, a choice of topping and dressing. Don’t miss out on their house specials like bitter lemon, mango habanero and ginger ponzu. You may top-up a small fee for each additional serving of the various ingredients.
The Daily Cut:1 Raffles Place, One Raffles Place Shopping Mall, Singapore 048616| Opening Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:00 – 15:00, 18:00-20:30 (Sat and Sun) 11:00-15:30 | Website
8. Katto
Another DIY Bowl eatery in Fusionopolis, Katto, serves DIY bowls with local and Japanese twists. The cost of a Main Size Bowl would be $12.90, consisting of a choice of rice (white or brown with 18 grains), two mains, and two sides.
Choose from their sashimi options, including shoyu salmon, tuna, and even flavours unheard of such as CRC (chicken rice chilli) salmon. Alternatively, take picks from their cooked mains with options of yakitori chicken and beef curry if you are not a fan of raw fish. The sides are also fairly unique with choices like miso butter corn and wafu tomatoes at your disposal.
Definitely somewhere to get your dose of fresh fish at affordable prices!
Katto:1 Fusionopolis Pl, Fusionopolis One, Singapore 138522 | Opening Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:00 – 20:00 |Website
7. Shinkansen
Evident from its name, Shinkansen serves Japanese DIY bowls. Drawing inspiration from the Bullet Train, the store aims to serve quality food at a fast pace. The store serves meals for customers to “Eat Clean, Eat Strong and Eat Zen”.
The three bases for the DIY bowls are romaine, sushi rice and soba. Protein choices are largely Japanese-inspired including yuzu honey chicken, tuna tataki and salmon sashimi.
You can then add three more toppings from a selection of onsen egg and momotaro tomato. Followed by a sauce — psst, go for the truffle balsamic vinaigrette.
Shinkansen: Ocean Financial Centre, 10 Collyer Quay, #B1-08, Singapore 049315 | Opening hours: (Mon-Fri) 08:00-19:00 |Website
6. Joo Bar
Located along Tan Quee Lan Street, Joo Bar is a sleek, modern restaurant serving quality food and drinks. Joo Bar stands out with its hip and edgy decor and stylish interior, making it a popular place for many to hang out after office hours.
Only available on weekdays during lunchtime, get creative with your meal and create your very own rendition of the Korean bibimbap! Choose from white rice, purple rice or quinoa before picking your toppings of steak, saba fish and beef bulgogi.
Once you’re done choosing three complements (veggies, tofu, spam, kimchi, etc), decide whether you want the traditional gochujang or a non-spicy soy sauce instead!
Joo Bar: 5 Tan Quee Lan Street, Singapore 188094 | Opening Hours: (Daily) 12:00-14:30, 17:00-00:00 | Tel: 8138 1628 | Website
5. A Poke Theory
A Poke Theory takes a Hawaiian spin on DIY Bowls to serve up DIY Poke. As a health-centric eatery, nutrition along with a good dose of flavour is fundamental to their offerings.
Choose from four different bases (sushi rice, lemon lemon quinoa, brown rice or romaine), followed by your choice of marinated sashimi (avocado is also available for customers avoiding fish). Pile on toppings of tobiko, nori and veggies and top-up for premium ones including kale chips and salmon skin.
Food from A Poke Theory is sure to wow your palate and go easy on your belly.
A Poke Theory: 27 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069623 | Opening Hours: (Mon – Fri) 11:00–18:00, (Sat) 10:00–16:00 | Website
4. Grain Traders
Grain Traders can be found in 100AM mall, a short walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. “Mix it, Eat it, Love it”, is their mantra.
Grain Traders provide delicious, healthy options for your lunch fix. Each bowl costs $16 and comes with a choice of grain, one choice of protein, one hot veggie and two cold veggies, or two hot veggies, one topping and one sauce. Although it might seem rather pricey, I guarantee that after one bite, you would find that it’s all worth it.
Grain Traders offers some interesting choice of grains such bulgar wheat. Take a pick from their proteins of striploin steak and char-grilled salmon, and slow roasted pork. Pick your veggies and toppings and finish with their special miso caramel or tamarind chipotle vinaigrette sauces.
Grain Traders:#01-03/04 AM, 100, 100 Tras St, Singapore 079027 | Opening Hours:(Mon-Fri) 08:00-20:00 (Sat and Sun) 11:00-20:00 | Website
3. Sprout Salad Bar
“When in doubt, eat Sprout”. Located along Duxton Road, Sprout Salad Bar serves salad and grain bowls that can be customised to your liking. Here, the base of your bowl can either be a mix of two greens with a choice of kale, rocket, spinach and cos, or a carb of quinoa, mixed grain rice, and soba.
For fish lovers, go for the tuna or the salmon. If not, the chicken breast and sirloin strips are good options too. Select four toppings from a wide array of veggies and any add-ons (ikura, soft boiled egg, etc) and round off the selection with a dressing.
Sprout Salad Bar: 41 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089505 | Opening hours (Mon-Fri) 10:00-20:30 (Sat) 11:00-19:00 | Tel: 6221 1227 | Website
2. Dosirak
Found in China Square, Dosirak is a small eatery selling Bibimbap with unorthodox toppings at affordable prices. With a seemingly unassuming store front, the food sure packs a punch in flavour!
Each bibimbap bowl is served in a take-away container resembling the typical ice cream tubs, which was rather unique and fun.
Seared tuna, brown rice ($13.90)
Customers can get bases like brown rice and tofu instead of white rice, for an additional cost. Pick from protein options such as seared tuna and cold crab fish roe. Aside from that, you can have five vegetables from their daily assortment with the usual suspects like corn, carrot, onions, etc.
Each bowl is served with a small serving of gochujang (korean spicy sauce) which diners can add to the bowl and shake it up (with the lid on of course)! Then simply dig in and enjoy your meal.
Dosirak: 18 Cross St, Singapore 048423 | Opening Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:30-18:00 (Sat) 11:30-15:30 | Tel:6536 6034| Website
1. Teppi Syokudo
Teppi Syokudo offers DIY Kaisendons (Seafood Bowls). Open in the ION Orchard Food Basement, this small store offers fresh fish at a reasonable price.
Choose a base of rice or salad, followed by several choices of sashimi (2, 4, or 5, for small, medium or large respectively). Sashimi options include whelk, swordfish and yellowtail. Pick your premium ingredients (negitoro, mentaiko, ikura, etc) at $3.80 a portion, and toppings (corn, edamame, mentaiko seasoning, etc) at $0.80 a portion, and you’re good to go!
Teppei Syokudo: 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard, #B4-57, Singapore 238801 | Tel:65099882|Opening Hours:(Mon-Sun) 10:00-22:00|Website
Flexible, affordable and healthy. What are you waiting for? Try these places with your friends and colleagues and you’ll never have to struggle again to find a makan spot that suits everyone!
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