The deal: This swish Club Street izakaya offers a weekday set lunch ($30) with a choice of five mains. You’ll obviously want to go for the chicken karage rice bowl as that’s the speciality here, although options like the soboro—perfectly-minced meat, veg and sweet tamago—and wagyu beef (add $10) are pretty solid, too. All selections are accompanied by standard sides: pickles, a goma-sauced salad, chawanmushi with a tangy lime kick, miso soup (our favorite, with unusual depth and spice) and a dessert, like yuzu pudding.

The deal: At Bincho’s lunch service, you pick from roughly 10 set meals ($20-30), mostly donburi like oyako [chicken and egg] and negitoro [raw tuna] plus the occasional ramen. Predictable stuff, but solid and thoughtfully put-together (we loved the sea grapes in the neigtoro don). The accompanying sides are forgettable, with the notable exceptions of the karaage (well, it’s fried chicken) and the soup—a viscous, fatty, love-or-loathe chicken broth. Be warned, though, that lunch here feels like lunch at any other hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery.

The deal: As far as lunch sets go, three courses for $38 is a pretty standard setup. Apart from wholesome entrées and mains such as grilled zucchini, Jerusalem artichokes and Atlantic seabass, though, you’ll also get a bonus amuse bouche and palate cleanser in between courses, which is a nice touch. Desserts range from restrained (melon carpaccio) to “party time” (caramelized banana tart with chocolate gelato).

Enjoy weekday lunch specials at The Chop House—$19.90 gets you a two-course set lunch featuring items like burgers and quesadillas.

The deal: The new $28 bento box at this swish French-Japanese restaurant includes some perfectly fried pork katsu, sashimi (with soy espuma for dipping), rice and miso soup. Alternatively, opt for the Encounters menu, which offers two courses ($35) or three courses ($45) of plates like duck breast with red fruit miso.

The set lunch at this Tuscan steakhouse includes starters like rocket salad with tomato, prosciutto and burrata, pastas such as orecchiette with turnip sprouts and housemade sausage and mains including well marbled hanging tender (cut from the diaphragm) with sautéed broccoli. End your meal with desserts like profiteroles.   

The deal: The set lunch ($32) at this slick wine bar includes three courses of sophisticated European fare, with four choices for each course.

Why it’s worth it: The food is far better than you’d expect of a drink specialist. Pick from well-composed dishes like warm spinach salad with sous vide egg, and French classics such as coq au vin, featuring a rich flavorful red wine sauce. Desserts are especially good, including lemon tart with lime sorbet. Lunch pairs easily with their array of affordable wines.

The deal: You get three-courses of modern European fare—with two choices for each course—for a real affordable $25. Options change monthly but you might have fresh cumin paneer salad and comforting wagyu beef bolognaise.

Why it’s worth it: Set in the iconic Raffles Hotel, the restaurant space is relaxed yet sophisticated, plus the food’s no slouch. Where else can you get a multi-course lunch for this price?

The deal: Acclaimed chef Ryan Clift of Tippling Club fame has created a three-course lunch set ($35) incorporating his Southeast Asian and Western fusion plates; recently revamped to include more vegetarian options. Start off with an appetizer like the fresh and light kingfish sashimi, followed by mains such as saltwater barramundi with Malay curry, and desserts like Clift’s own modern rendition of Malacca chendol; it blows all expectations out of the water. The set comes with a glass of wine or beer.

The deal: This convivial French restaurant started by chef Stephane Istel (formerly of the Daniel Boulud Group) offers an affordable set lunch—$32 for two courses, $38 for three courses—with two or three choices for each course, including starters like country duck terrine, and mains such as roast free range chicken. Desserts include their signature rustic apple pie.