Food in the 'hood: Favourite eats at the National University of Singapore

University can be stressful. Fortunately, there's no shortage of good food in NUS to indulge in and put the world to rights.

I've only been in NUS for one semester and tend to only stick around the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and University Town so I probably have tried only a fraction of what the campus has to offer. Nonetheless, here are my top picks based on what I've sampled so far.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences - The Deck

Western food

I'm not a big eater so the spaghetti arrabbiata ($2) is a good option for me. The portion size is decent for the price and the taste is passable too. For those with bigger appetites, add $1 for chicken slices. The spaghetti bolognese ($2.50) is also very worth the money because the cook isn't stingy with the minced beef. If you're a meat lover, this stall sells steaks and lamb chops, together with various other fish dishes.

Sin Kee Chicken Rice

If the name rings a bell, it's probably because you've heard of its parent franchise, Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice, which has a few branches around Singapore such as at Holland Drive and Havelock Road. This stall is descended from noble stock, and it doesn't disappoint. The rice is tasty enough to eat on its own, and the chicken is tender and has a robust flavour. Unfortunately, the chilli sauce is watery and one-dimensional. But for $2.20, this is as good a chicken rice as can be reasonably expected in a canteen.

Drinks

Well, tea and fruit juice are technically not "eats", but these two stalls, located side-by-side, deserve a special mention for selling their drinks so cheaply without compromising on quality. A small cup of milk tea costs $0.60 and a large one costs $0.80. The tea is sweet and creamy, which is the way I like it. A refreshing cup of freshly made apple juice costs $1.50.

University Town - FoodClique

"Gulai" rice with chicken

The Indonesian stall offers chicken and fish cooked in a wide range of styles like smashed and deep fried ("penyet") or barbequed ("panggang"). My personal favourite is the "gulai", in which a whole chicken leg is steamed until it's juicy and falling off the bone, then served with rice and thick and delicious curry. This dish costs $4.50, but other dishes can be more expensive depending on the ingredients used and the amount of labour required to prepare them.

Zhajiangmian

Sold by the China noodles stall, this zhajiangmian is a delightful heap of slightly spicy noodles topped with plenty of mincemeat and cucumber strips, making for an interesting mouthfeel which keeps me coming back for more.

As I explore more of NUS, I'm sure I'll discover even more food gems!