6 scrumptious anytime eats on campus

If ‘instant food’ makes you think of bland, cold bites, then these options may change your mind. Unmanned stores like Cheers and Chateraise and vending machines sprinkled around NTU’s academic spines and halls offer tasty, quality food you can get on the go, 24/7.

Treats Rendang Chicken with Baked Garlic Rice

🏷️$6.30

📍Unmanned Cheers store at South Spine

😋 4.5/5

If you’re craving something indulgent, tap into the unmanned Cheers store with your credit or debit card or the Fairprice Group app, grab this frozen meal, and pop it into the store’s microwave for five minutes. 

What comes out is steaming hot buttery rice with fragrant rendang chicken chunks and fluffy potato cubes. The chicken pieces could be juicier, and the garlic flavour is quite subtle, but overall, this set still packs a punch.

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Shake Salad Maple & Herb Baked Chicken Wrap

🏷️$5.90

📍Shake Salad vending machines at North Spine, Level 2 (outside Lee Wee Nam Library) / The Arc, Level 1 / South Spine, SS3, B3 / Hall 7 (Blk 25) / Tanjong Hall (Blk 20B)

😋 4.2/5

A good option when you’ve only got 10 minutes before your next class. This pillowy, generously filled wrap makes for a satisfying bite: tender chunks of savoury chicken thigh are balanced by a hint of maple sweetness. It leaves a clean, pleasant aftertaste, though it could use a few more greens.

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ChefGenie Chicken & Salted Fish Claypot Rice

🏷️$7.52

📍ChefGenie vending machines at National Institute of Education Canteen (beside air-conditioned seating area) / Wee Cho Yaw Plaza, Level 1

😋 4.7/5

Local food lovers, here’s a hidden gem worth the trek across campus. There’s a generous amount of tender chicken thigh pieces in this rice box. Charred rice bits add crunch, while the dark soy sauce and fried shallots give the dish depth. It’s drier and less smoky than the version from your favourite hawker centre, but still a quick and filling option. Heats up in about eight minutes in the vending machine’s built-in oven.

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Taste Asia Thai Basil Minced Chicken with Rice

🏷️$3.50

📍Taste Asia vending machines at School of Art, Design & Media, Level B1 / Wee Cho Yaw Plaza / Hall 7 / Hall 12 / CresPion Halls (Blk 17B)

😋 3.5/5

For that beloved Thai-inspired zing, try this minced chicken dish with chilli padi slices in a zesty light soy sauce, served with white rice. It’s slightly on the salty side, but a reliable, budget-friendly choice. Whether you need fuel while powering through an assignment or a late-night bite, you won’t go wrong with this spicy classic. Just pop the chilled meal into the vending machine’s microwave to heat it up.

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Chateraise Strawberry Mochi Cream

🏷️$1.90

📍Unmanned Chateraise store at North Spine Plaza, Level 1

😋 5/5

Sweeten your day with this pink treat from the futuristic unmanned store by Japanese patisserie chain Chateraise. Download the Chateraise app, set up your payment method, and step into a space filled with cakes, puffs and ice cream.

The chilled strawberry mochi cream features soft, chewy mochi skin wrapped around white bean paste, tangy strawberry jam and fresh cream. It’s not too sweet, with just the right amount of chew.

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What the Cup Thai Tea Protein Shake

🏷️$7.00

📍What the Cup vending machines at School of Art, Design & Media, Level B1 / Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information, Level 1

😋 4.5/5

With just 2% sugar (rated Nutri-Grade B) and a whopping 23g of whey protein isolate, this protein drink is a must-try for gym rats. It’s perfect for recharging on a humid day or after a workout. The Thai milk tea flavour is light and smooth, with just the right hint of tea and subtle sweetness. I’d prefer it a little sweeter, but it’s a great pick for the health-conscious!

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HEY! STUDENT WRITER
Communication studies undergrad Coen Sim is a nocturnal What the Cup latte addict with a jocular wit and a knack for creating his own problems.

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This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2026 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.