Sometimes you want a decent meal without having to cook, but finding something affordable, convenient and genuinely tasty isn’t always straightforward, especially when everyone in the family has different preferences.
Japanese cash-and-carry marketplace A-PRICE Singapore, operated by TOHO Singapore, launched a new ready-to-eat range on 1 November 2026. The eight dishes range from S$1.80 to S$6.80 and include Japanese rice bowls, salmon poke, soups and an izakaya-style salad.
The brand calls its approach “Not Boring Japanese Food”. We tried all eight dishes as a family. Some were definite hits, a couple could use tweaking, and one unassuming cabbage salad surprised us.
A-PRICE Singapore ready-to-eat meals: what we thought
Deluxe Crab and Ikura Rice Bowl — S$6.80
This was the most luxurious of the eight meals and one of our favourites. Crab meat and soy-cured ikura made the rice bowl feel indulgent without a hefty price tag. My husband enjoyed the salmon roe so much that he wondered whether A-PRICE sold it separately. That says quite a lot about how well this one went down.
Our verdict: One of our top picks, particularly for seafood lovers.
Loaded Salmon Poke Bowl — S$5.60
The salmon poke bowl was our least favourite, mainly because of the raw onions. They dominated the experience for us. Otherwise, the bowl was perfectly all right, and anyone who enjoys raw onions in their poke might feel differently.
Our verdict: Decent, but the onions put us off.
Korean Spicy Salmon Bowl — S$5.60
This was the bowl my husband was most looking forward to. It was generally fine, but I kept thinking something was missing. More spice? Some seaweed? Perhaps kimchi to add acidity and punch? I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it needed another element to feel complete.
Our verdict: Enjoyable enough, though I wanted a bolder flavour.
Umami Salt Cabbage Salad — S$1.80
The most humble-looking dish turned out to be one of the most addictive. The cabbage is seasoned with sesame oil, garlic and salt, a familiar izakaya-style combination. The Japanese call it yamitsuki, meaning addictive, and that description fits. Its freshness also balances the richer rice bowls beautifully.
Our verdict: A wonderfully moreish side dish that we’d buy again.
Colourful Tomato Gazpacho — S$2.80
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this because I’m not especially fond of tomato soup. Too many versions taste like spaghetti sauce to me. This one was nicely balanced, however, with little pieces of bell pepper adding texture. Gazpacho is traditionally served chilled, but we preferred this one hot.
Our verdict: A pleasant surprise, even for a tomato-soup sceptic.
Green Harvest Potage — S$2.80
This was really yummy. Thick and creamy without being overpowering or cloying, it felt comforting rather than excessively rich. Give it a good stir before eating: there are edamame beans sitting at the bottom.
Our verdict: One of the standouts, especially if you like creamy soups.
Loaded Unagi Rice Box — S$6.80
The glazed unagi was exceptionally tender, and the portion was generous for S$6.80. With its savoury-sweet sauce and Japanese rice, this was a satisfying ready-to-eat option, even if it isn’t the same experience as freshly grilled unagi in a restaurant.
Our verdict: Good value for a generous serving of tender eel.
Japanese Hijiki Salmon Delight — S$4.80
This was my daughter’s favourite. The rice was full of flavour from the hijiki, shredded carrots and grilled salmon. The original press release describes deep-fried tofu pouches filled with seasoned rice, but there weren’t any tofu pouches in the version we received. Perhaps the dish was changed along the way; I can’t confirm that, but my daughter certainly didn’t mind.
Our verdict: The clear winner with our little one. I, too, loved the rice.
Which dishes would we buy again?
For something indulgent, we’d choose the Deluxe Crab and Ikura Rice Bowl. The Loaded Unagi Rice Box was another strong contender, especially for the price. I’d happily add the Umami Salt Cabbage Salad to either one; its crisp freshness makes everything feel more balanced.
Both soups are worth a look. The Green Harvest Potage was particularly comforting, while the Colourful Tomato Gazpacho managed to win me over despite my reservations about tomato soups. The Japanese Hijiki Salmon Delight was our daughter’s favourite. The two poke bowls were less memorable for us, largely because of personal taste.
You can also recreate the meals at home
A-PRICE says the ingredients used in its ready-to-eat dishes are sold in-store, and recipe cards are available for shoppers who want to make the meals themselves. The company estimates lower ingredient costs for most homemade versions, although those figures don’t account for preparation time, washing up or leftover ingredients. Interestingly, its own estimated DIY cost for the crab and ikura bowl is higher than the ready-made price.
I like that there’s a choice. Buy something ready to eat on a busy day, or pick up ingredients and experiment when you have more time.
Where to buy A-PRICE ready-to-eat meals in Singapore
A-PRICE is a cash-and-carry food marketplace that also welcomes members of the public. Its Singapore outlet now opens on Sundays.
- Address: 120 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-01, Singapore 088532
- Opening hours: 11am–8pm, Monday to Sunday; closed on public holidays
- Phone/WhatsApp: +65 8977 8873
- Website: a-price.com.sg
- Instagram: A-PRICE Singapore
Final thoughts
Not everything was a hit, but I appreciate that this range goes beyond the usual rice bowls. The soups and cabbage salad make it easier to put together a meal with some variety. Give me the crab and ikura rice bowl, that addictive cabbage salad and perhaps a potage on the side, and I’d be happy.
Disclosure: The meals were provided for our review. All opinions are based on our family’s tasting experience.
Images: Melissa Fann (header) and A-PRICE
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