Fried bee hoon (rice vermicelli) and tofu at Singapore Airport's staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Staff canteen —
Fried bee hoon (rice vermicelli) and tofu at Singapore Airport's staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Jenni Marsh
A Teochew dish of kway chap with braised pork at Singapore airport's staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Staff canteen —
A Teochew dish of kway chap with braised pork at Singapore airport's staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Jenni Marsh, CNN
Murtabak -- a pancake stuffed with chicken and onion, served with curry -- is a popular street food in Indonesia.
Staff canteen —
Murtabak -- a pancake stuffed with chicken and onion, served with curry -- is a popular street food in Indonesia.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Crispy char siu (barbecued pork) and rice is served at Singapore Airport Terminal 1 for $2.
Staff canteen —
Crispy char siu (barbecued pork) and rice is served at Singapore Airport Terminal 1 for $2.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
No frills means no frills. Curry, rice and popadoms are served on a piece of baking paper.
Staff canteen —
No frills means no frills. Curry, rice and popadoms are served on a piece of baking paper.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Cheng tng is a hot, savory dessert containing barley, longans and lotus seeds.
Staff canteen —
Cheng tng is a hot, savory dessert containing barley, longans and lotus seeds.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Hainanese chicken with rice and cucumber is considered a national dish of Singapore.
Staff canteen —
Hainanese chicken with rice and cucumber is considered a national dish of Singapore.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Nasi padang, a Malay dish, here is comprised of steamed rice, vegetables, peanuts, anchovies, tofu, beef, and potato patties.
Staff canteen —
Nasi padang, a Malay dish, here is comprised of steamed rice, vegetables, peanuts, anchovies, tofu, beef, and potato patties.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Soursop fruit is served with lime on a bed of crushed ice.
Staff canteen —
Soursop fruit is served with lime on a bed of crushed ice.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Mr Pancake -- run by a woman -- offers egg custard tarts, among other desserts.
Staff canteen —
Mr Pancake -- run by a woman -- offers egg custard tarts, among other desserts.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Taiwanese "hot pot" mackerel is sold with the fried egg cut into a cute heart shape.
Staff canteen —
Taiwanese "hot pot" mackerel is sold with the fried egg cut into a cute heart shape.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Dong po pork rice at the staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Staff canteen —
Dong po pork rice at the staff canteen in Terminal 1.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Singapore airport staff canteen

Story highlights

Singapore Changi airport's staff canteens are a hidden gem for foodies

There are two "hidden" in the airport, one each in terminals 1 and 2

They sell local food, such as laksa and carrot cake, at bargain prices

Singapore CNN  — 

Hidden above a terminal car park and tucked away at the end of a dingy corridor lies Singapore airport’s best-kept secret: its staff canteens. World’s apart from the glitzy hub’s rooftop swimming pool and butterfly garden, these loud hawker markets serve up some of the best – and cheapest – food not just in the airport, but in all of Singapore.

Their name, however, is a ruse: the staff canteens at Changi airport are, in fact, open to the public and their authentic, no-frills fare has made them an underground hit.

Chow down with the staff

Finding the staff canteens is – intentionally – difficult. Built to provide workers at the award-winning airport with an affordable place to eat, the hawker markets are off the beaten track and not listed on the airport’s food directories.

Those with a sharp eye, however, will spot “staff canteen” signs dotted around terminals 1 and 2.

To find the canteen, take the lift to the basement ...
Secret eats —
To find the canteen, take the lift to the basement ...
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Behind this unlabeled metal door is the entrance to the staff canteen at Terminal 2.
Secret eats —
Behind this unlabeled metal door is the entrance to the staff canteen at Terminal 2.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
The staff canteen in Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi airport in full swing at lunchtime.
Secret eats —
The staff canteen in Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi airport in full swing at lunchtime.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Staff and travelers eat together in the loud and lively food court.
Secret eats —
Staff and travelers eat together in the loud and lively food court.
jenni marsh/CNN
The Sri Murugan Bhavan stall sells vegetarian Indian food on trays covered in baking paper.
Secret eats —
The Sri Murugan Bhavan stall sells vegetarian Indian food on trays covered in baking paper.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
This Indonesian food stall has been personalized with colorful lights.
Secret eats —
This Indonesian food stall has been personalized with colorful lights.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
Some of the personal touches are of spiritual significance.
Secret eats —
Some of the personal touches are of spiritual significance.
Jenni Marsh
Different religions are catered for in the staff canteens.
Secret eats —
Different religions are catered for in the staff canteens.
jenni marsh/CNN
Scenes like this, at The King of Soup, are reminiscent of the cooked food centres so loved by foodies and locals alike in Singapore.
Secret eats —
Scenes like this, at The King of Soup, are reminiscent of the cooked food centres so loved by foodies and locals alike in Singapore.
jenni marsh/CNN
The owner of Mr Pancake rings up an egg tart.
Secret eats —
The owner of Mr Pancake rings up an egg tart.
jenni marsh/CNN
A vendor puts the final touches to a Singaporean laksa.
Secret eats —
A vendor puts the final touches to a Singaporean laksa.
Jenni marsh/cnn
A worker enjoys lunch in the staff canteen at Terminal 2.
Secret eats —
A worker enjoys lunch in the staff canteen at Terminal 2.
Jenni Marsh/CNN
In the staff canteens, it is important to "Q".
Secret eats —
In the staff canteens, it is important to "Q".
Jenni Marsh/CNN
The food may be no frills, but the service always comes with a smile.
Secret eats —
The food may be no frills, but the service always comes with a smile.
jenni marsh/CNN
Scenes from Singapore airport's staff canteens

“The eateries are located at the public areas of the airport as not all staff have access to the restricted areas,” says Ivan Tan, senior vice president of communications at Changi airport.

He adds that the canteens have always technically been available to the public since being built in 1981 (Terminal 1) and 1991 (Terminal 2): the airport just didn’t realize people would want to eat at them.

Moritz Rossmanith, who lives in Singapore and runs the The Jet Sets travel blog, says, “I heard about the canteen at T2 through word-of-mouth. It’s a trip down memory lane to what food courts in Singapore used to be like in terms of pricing and retro design. A lot of them are very glamorous now. Airports don’t usually reflect what a country’s food is about … but the staff canteens have an authentic array of local food.”

The two canteens have become so popular, Tan adds, that local families and foodies travel to the airport specifically to eat at them.

An entire street devoted to satay

What’s on the menu?

The airport carefully controls the mix of canteen stalls, Tan explains, to ensure all nationalities employed at the hub are catered for – and it insists that the staff get a good price.

A sign for the "staff canteen".
A sign for the "staff canteen".
JENNI MARSH/CNN

Halal, vegetarian, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Malay, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Western, and – of course – Singaporean cuisines are all on offer.

The atmosphere inside both canteens is decidedly unlike most of Singapore’s gleaming airport: food is dished up on paper plates, eaten with brightly colored plastic cutlery and there is no air conditioning. Like the food itself the clientele is eclectic, ranging from cops, security staff and cleaners to air hostesses, pilots and smart travelers with designer shopping bags.

Tan says the most popular dishes are the roti prata (Indian fried pancake), Taiwanese hot pot mackerel, nasi padang (Malay mixed rice) and fried Hokkien prawn mee. For the public, the meals range in price from $2 to $5.

Automated and funky: Airport’s groundbreaking terminal

Finding the staff canteens

So how do you find the staff canteens? Following the signs isn’t quite enough.

Terminal 1 has the biggest canteen, with more than 25 stalls and its opening hours are in line with that of the staff: 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Follow the signs for the restrooms (you’re looking for the ones with the red doors), then take the nearest lift down to basement 1. When you arrive turn right, and the canteen will be in front of you.

For the Terminal 2 canteen, locate Starbucks on level two and take the nearest lift to the car park at level 3: from here walk up the staircase, turn left and look for the unlabeled iron door. Behind this could well be the best (and cheapest) airport meal you’ll ever eat.