Dining out the smart way

How to save when dining out: Credit cards with great dining deals are one way.

Singapore is a world-class culinary capital filled with a vast selection of dining choices, from eye-wateringly exclusive restaurants to humbly-priced hawker meals. With so many options, it is no surprise that Singaporeans love dining out. What may be surprising, even shocking, however, is the amount of money we actually spend on food, especially if you eat out three meals a day, every day for a year. According to Singapore’s Department of Statistics, Singaporeans, on average, spend a total of $14,388 on food annually!

Whichever way you look at it, there’s no denying that Singaporeans enjoy eating out. For those keeping a close eye on their budget, dining out can sometimes seem like an impossible luxury: Perhaps you’ve wondered if the S$48 crab cake – and that’s just the appetiser! – would be worth plain bread for lunch daily, over three straight days.

With the right amount of preparation, however, you can satisfy both your budget and your appetite, and make the most of your dining experience.

We’ve compiled a few tips:

1. Hit the veggies

Produce is generally less expensive than protein. By cutting out meat, you’ll naturally cut down the cost, and with tons of creative vegetarian meals out there, you probably won’t realise the difference! And to add, most Korean restaurants do provide freeflow vegetable side dishes! From Kimchi to Kongnamul Muchim (seasoned soybean sprouts), Hobak Bokkeum (stir-fried zucchini) to Eomuk Bokkeum (stir-fried fish cake), they are a great way for anyone peckish to get their fill before the main course! This goes for most ala carte hot pot Restaurants with refillable appetisers.

2. Go in with a plan

Do your research ahead of time to make sure you and your dining companions, if any, are comfortable with the overall price range even before stepping into the restaurant. This way, you’ll never be caught off-guard by the prices.

Also, you, not your stomach, will be in charge of deciding what to eat.

3. Indulge in a lunchtime treat

Set lunches are typically way cheaper than set dinners. It is also not uncommon to find overlapping items in most lunch and dinner menus which means being able to experience that “must-try” dish at a ‘discount’. High-quality meals at lower prices – what’s not to like?

4. Sharing is caring

If you are in a group and want to try a few different dishes, order family style. Everyone can then try a bit of everything! Plus, your money goes further.

Let’s say six items have caught your eye – start with three first. Satiation, not gluttony, is the goal.

And the next time you’re at a pizza joint, remember the Pizza Equation. It explains why it’s typically greater value for money to order the largest possible pizza.

Using the pi r² formula, for surface area of a circle, a 6-inch Hawaiian pizza^ is 28.26 square inches while a 12-inch one is 113.04 square inches. Do the math and you’ll find that the larger pie is four times the size of the smaller pizza, and will usually be more worth it in terms of square inches! In this instance, indulging is the frugal way to go.

5. Swipe or tap for your meal

Cash may be king but when it’s eat-out time, credit cards trump currency for one simple reason: They are chock-full of perks and promotions for Singapore’s many restaurants.

We know that the sheer number of credit cards available makes choosing the right ones seem daunting but if dining well is your thing, Standard Chartered Bank’s cards can really pay off! For one, all of them unlock a trove of exclusive dining discounts at Marina Bay Sands. Why not take advantage of them at the much-lauded Signature Restaurants, and reap 1.5 per cent cashback (Unlimited card) or 10x points (Rewards+) while you’re at it?

Depending on which card you go for, enjoy up to 30 per cent off at RISE Restaurant, Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, db Bistro & Oyster Bar by Daniel Boulud, LAVO Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar.

At CUT by Wolfgang Puck, you’ll savour flavourful cuts of beef cooked using a technique comprising wood, charcoal and a broiler – at a 10 per cent* discount. For Visa Infinite or X cardholders, the discount doubles*!

Those who are craving a taste of the ocean can head over to DB Bistro & Oyster Bar by Daniel Boulud for seafood and French classics served up in a classic Parisian-bistro style. A minimum spend of S$200 gets you 10 per cent off the bill. Again, the discount doubles** for Visa Infinite and X cardholders.

*Minimum spend of S$250. **Minimum spend of S$200. ^^Rewards+ Card: 5x Rewards Points on dining spends. Unlimited Card: 1.5% cashback on all spends. Visa Infinite Card and X Card: tier-up offers at selected merchants.

6. Drink wisely

Wine by the glass can be a costly affair. Opt for a bottle when you’re in a group. But if you have a bottle of wine that the restaurant doesn’t have, why not bring it with you? Just call ahead and check on the corkage charge.

7. Get happy

If your schedule is flexible and you don’t mind an early dinner, tap on happy hour – that magical time of day when most restaurants have the best deals on drinks and appetisers. You may need to sit at the bar for the specials, but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? Besides, if you’re staying on for dinner, you can always mosey on to the dining area later for the mains. At least you’d already have saved some bucks!

8. Eat in when dining out

Dining out doesn’t mean you must be at a restaurant. The rise of delivery services and pick-up options means that you can have greater variety on a budget. Do a take-out of your must-have items and top up with easy home cooked sides, like roasted vegetables or potato salad. The cost savings could delight you.

Ready to tuck into the irresistible dining offers we’ve described and more? Apply for a Standard Chartered Bank credit card now, and turn your dream dining moments into real ones!

From now till 31 January 2022, apply for a Standard Chartered Credit Card and enjoy up to S$280 cashback*^ and 6 months of Disney+ subscription* when you spend S$200.

Apply for a Rewards+ Credit Card and get 5x Rewards points on dining spend here

Or apply for a Visa Infinite Credit Card and get exclusive promotions and dining deals at Marina Bay Sands here

Terms & Conditions

*Click here for the Standard Chartered Credit Card Sign-Up Promotion Terms and Conditions.

^Click here for the Credit Card Additional Cashback Promotion Terms and Conditions.