We Revisited Swensen’s $35++ Buffet In Changi Airport—Does It Still Hold Up?

Swensen’s Unlimited has $35++ buffet at Changi Airport Terminal 2

As an Eastie, I always find myself heading to Jewel Changi Airport when I want to try something new or feel like a tourist in my own country. There’s no shortage of food options there, and I rarely venture into the airport terminals themselves for a meal, which is why Swensen’s Unlimited at Changi Airport Terminal 2 had been on my list for a while.

I finally made the trip down on a weekday afternoon for their Weekday Lunch Buffet ($35++ per person), arriving on an empty stomach and ready to do damage. FYI: the same buffet is also available at VivoCity for those who live at the other end of Singapore.

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Food at Swensen’s Unlimited

The spread covers everything from free-flow seafood on ice and live carving stations to a la minute pizzas, Peranakan classics, Indian selections, and of course, Swensen’s signature ice cream bar. The buffet is also halal-certified, so more people can join the feast.

Do note that the buffet’s weekday and weekend menus differ; we visited on a weekday, so the food below reflects the lunch spread for Monday to Friday. There’s a 90-minute time limit, and online bookings are recommended as the buffet is popular among tourists and locals working in the area.

We started by making our way around the spread to get a sense of what was on offer. I headed straight for the seafood on ice, which had tiger prawns, flower crabs, black mussels, white clams, and flower clams—a solid selection for a buffet at this price point. My favourite of the lot was the flower crab; it was meaty and sweet with a clean, briny finish that’s the hallmark of fresh seafood.

Over at the bread station, there was a decent range of sourdough, baguettes, and brioche buns with accompanying spreads, along with two soups on rotation to pair with your carbs: Cream of Chicken and Velouté of Corn.

I skipped the breads as I didn’t want to fill up too early, and headed straight to the carving station, where chefs were slicing meats to order. I enjoyed the Chicken Satay and Beef Satay, which were well-marinated and properly charred, though the meat ran a little dry. The beef satay in particular could have done with a bit more fat for a juicier bite. 

The Rotisserie Chicken was tender and moist, and held up well on its own without needing any sauces. Sadly, the Roast Beef was a letdown despite looking promising. It was dry and too chewy to enjoy, even with the accompanying Forest Mushroom Cream and Black Pepper Sauce.

On a better note, the hand-stretched pizzas were one of my favourite stations at the buffet. The pizzas were made fresh to order, and you could watch the chefs stretching the dough and loading the toppings in real time.

You get flavours such as Hawaiian and Beef Pepperoni on rotation, but the Margherita was the standout. This pizza boasted a well-balanced combination of tangy tomato sauce, fragrant basil, and melted mozzarella on a thick, doughy base that tasted nothing like instant pizza. Plus, the cheese pull sealed the deal for me.

Other hot dishes at the buffet included Country Style Fried Chicken, Hickory Smoked BBQ Chicken, and Deep Fried Breaded Fish, among others. I was drawn to the Beef Meatballs, which were delightfully bouncy and well-seasoned, with a black pepper cream that was subtle but present enough to give each bite some oomph. I also had a heaping serving of the Beef Lasagna, where thick layers of pasta were layered with spinach, minced beef, and tangy tomato sauce for a hearty bite.

It would be a crime not to order a bowl of laksa if I see it at any buffet setup. Prepared to order at the Asian Delights section, the Spicy Laksa had a coconutty, heady broth that leaned slightly sweet rather than spicy, with noodles already cut for easy eating. While it’s no Janggut Laksa, it’s a solid enough rendition.

The Peranakan section was no less impressive. The DIY Kueh Pie Tee station lets you assemble your own, with crispy shells, turnip filling, and condiments on the side—a fun little activity, though nothing that blew me away.

What did impress me, though, was the Nonya Achar. It was well-pickled with a touch of sweetness from the gula melaka that kept it from being too sharp, complemented by aromatic rempah and roasted peanuts to round things off.

Save room for dessert, because Swensen’s dessert section is far from an afterthought. Beyond the ice cream, there are pastries including Apple Crumble, Banana Crumble, and Brownie, alongside a spread of traditional kueh: Kueh Salat, Ondeh Ondeh, Kueh Dadar, and Kueh Lapis. 

The highlight for me was the chendol station, where you dispense your own shaved ice. I was a little conservative with mine, but you can pile it on as much as you like and layer it with attap seeds, coconut milk, gula melaka drizzle, and other toppings.

And, finally, the pièce de résistance: the ice cream. Swensen’s Unlimited boasts a whopping 48 ice cream and gelato flavours that rotate from time to time, including Red Velvet, Durian, and even Kaya. I went for the Chocoholic while my colleague opted for the Hokkaido Snow with Honeycomb Bits—a rich, creamy ice cream with a milky aroma and sweet, crunchy bits.

You can pair your ice cream with freshly made waffles, croffles, or smashed croissants, or head to the chocolate fountain station and DIY your own dessert plate with fresh fruits and an extensive spread of toppings—rainbow sprinkles, wafer biscuits, marshmallows and more.

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Ambience at Swensen’s Unlimited

Image credit: Swensen’s Unlimited at Changi Airport T2 via Google Maps

Swensen’s Unlimited is located in the arrival hall of Changi Airport Terminal 2, and the space is hard to miss. Bright and extremely spacious, the retro diner aesthetic comes through in Swensen’s signature red booth seating, giving the whole place a casual feel.

The entrance is anchored by a prominent ice cream bar that sets the tone immediately, and further in, the open kitchen is clearly visible. Unlike some buffets where the spread feels like a maze, Swensen’s buffet has a well-organised layout with the different stations spread out, so we didn’t feel overwhelmed trying to find our way around.

Seating is plentiful, with larger tables for groups and cosier four-person booths towards the back. On a weekday afternoon, the crowd was a mix of workers on lunch break and tourists passing through. By 12:30pm, the restaurant was fully packed.

Swensen’s Unlimited is a six-minute walk from Changi Airport MRT Station.

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While some believe Swensen’s Unlimited is a hit-or-miss affair, I felt that the hits outweigh the misses by a comfortable margin. The live pizza station, Peranakan selections, laksa, and ice cream bar are all worth the trip—and at $35++ per person on a weekday, it’s hard to argue against the value. With one this close to home, I’ll definitely be back, whether it’s for a proper meal or just to fill up before a flight.

Swensen’s also has an Unlimited Supper Buffet with free-flow prata and laksa till 2am, making it worth bookmarking for your next late-night craving. For those with a bigger budget, check out our list of best hotel buffets in Singapore.

Address: Changi Airport Terminal 2, #01-03, Singapore 819643
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Website
Swensen’s Unlimited is halal-certified.

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Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at Swensen’s Unlimited.