EJ Vending Machine Food: Buss or Pass?

Written by: Victoria (25-O1), Giselle (25-E3), Isaiah (25-I4), Urvii (25-O6) Designed by: Victoria (25-O1)

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EJ Vending Machine Food: Buss or Pass?

Want out of the rut of choosing the same few dishes in the college canteen and cafe? There’s no need to venture beyond campus grounds in search of eateries slightly off the beaten track; your hectic schedule doesn’t need any more of such frivolous wastes of time! Alternative food options await at the fingertips of all EJ’s students and staff, namely the vending machines stashed with a repository of ready-made meals, breakfast items and snack foods! Our AAA members have stepped up to be the ravenous guinea pigs for the menu items at our own vending machine!

Onigiri

SG60 Special: Chicken Satay Onigiri ($2.50)

This onigiri surprised us with how close it came to capturing the flavour of satay. The filling was generous and the texture was spot-on, but the flavour leaned towards the gentler side. It carried the essence of satay but lacked the smokiness that usually defines it. A touch of crushed peanuts or even a light smear of peanut paste would have added a nice depth and made the experience more engaging. Still, for what it is, the chicken satay onigiri was satisfying—familiar yet different, and quite enjoyable.

value: 🍙🍙🍙

texture: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

flavour: 🍙🍙🍙(½)

overall: 🍙🍙🍙🍙

Crabstick Wasabi Mayo Onigiri ($2.50)

The crabstick onigiri was pleasant, with a balance of savoury from the crabstick and sweetness from the mayo. Thankfully, the crabstick didn’t taste artificial, which can sometimes be the case. However, the wasabi was where it fell short—it was too tame and didn’t deliver the sharp kick that one would expect. The filling itself was generous, so no complaints there, but at its current price point, it felt a little steep for what it offered. A 50-cent reduction would make it much more appealing.

value: 🍙🍙🍙

texture: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

flavour: 🍙🍙🍙

overall: 🍙🍙(½)

Salmon Mayo Onigiri ($2.50)

This one felt instantly familiar, almost like a cousin of the classic tuna mayo onigiri, but with the distinct flakiness and flavour of salmon shining through. It’s comforting and easy to enjoy, with a taste that doesn’t try too hard yet feels satisfying. What really stood out was the portion—the salmon mayo filling was perhaps the most generous among all the onigiris I tried, making each bite feel hearty rather than skimpy. Simple, reliable, and definitely one of the safer picks if you’re looking for value and familiarity.

value: 🍙🍙🍙

texture: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

flavour: 🍙🍙🍙🍙

overall: 🍙🍙🍙🍙

Tuna Mayo Onigiri ($2.50)

Tuna Mayo Onigiri is the classic onigiri flavour and this definitely hit the mark! If you love the classic tuna mayo flavour, you’ll probably relish this onigiri—a small yet filling snack to keep you energised for the day! If you’re looking to beat the snaking long queues in the canteen or looking for a snack when all the canteen stalls are closed, I would definitely recommend this onigiri! I tried this after PE and a long day of school and it didn’t fail to impress. It’s a nutritious and refreshing snack that you should definitely try!

value: 🍙🍙🍙

texture: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

flavour: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

overall: 🍙🍙🍙🍙

Beef Yakiniku Onigiri ($2.50)

If you’re craving yakiniku but on a budget, this onigiri is for you! While it definitely isn’t the same as the smoky, steaming hot yakiniku you get from restaurants, it’s a much cheaper option and is really delicious as well! I was pleasantly surprised by the generous amount of beef yakiniku in the onigiri, similar to that like the other onigiris. The beef yakiniku was also sweet and seasoned to perfection, making the onigiri a heavenly snack! 

value: 🍙🍙🍙

texture: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

flavour: 🍙🍙🍙🍙🍙

overall: 🍙🍙🍙🍙

Salads & Wraps

Soba Salad ($5.90)

Unfortunately, the soba was the weakest link among the items. To begin, the texture was off right from the start—the noodles were overly soft and fell apart too easily, clashing badly with the crisp lettuce. Eating both together was awkward, and the sauce didn’t do much to help—it was mostly sour with a faint savoury note, leaving the whole dish one-dimensional. Moreover, the almond flake topping provided gave a much redundant smokiness flavour that only served to confuse my taste buds. It would have been a much improved experience if the soba delivered its iconic springiness, and the sauce packing perhaps a little more umami to combat the rawness of the whole foods present. At its price point, it just didn’t deliver, and I’d give this one a miss.

value: 🍜🍜

texture: 🍜

taste: 🍜🍜

overall: 🍜(½)

Roast Beef and Potato Wrap ($5.90)

We would’ve liked it more if the ingredients in the wrap filling were made uniform throughout the entire section; they were separated and this goes against our personal whims. But there was redemption worthy to be said—the wrap was pretty watertight so there was no unprecedented leakage, which made eating it convenient. There was also a reasonable amount of filling so it’s not like they were skimping on the good parts. Overall, it was a well-engineered implement in terms of structural integrity. Taste-wise, the flour tortilla buffered the filling’s flavour profile with a starchy background, which we welcomed. The star of the meal—the beef—had a stringy texture that was easy to disintegrate, but the seasoning did not pair well with the red meat (cajun). Veggies were aplenty, presented as elegantly-sliced juliennes that imparted an invigorating crisp to the wrap’s texture and made it a healthy, everyday comestible. The only quibble from yours truly? We could only make out a grand total of—two potato chunks within the whole wrap.

value: 🌯🌯

texture: 🌯🌯🌯

taste: 🌯🌯🌯🌯

leak rate: 0 Pa m³ s⁻¹ (5/5)

overall: 🌯🌯🌯(½)

Breakfast items (Parfaits, Overnight oats etc.)

Strawberry Yoghurt Parfait with Granola ($4.50)

The parfait was well-packaged and separated the granola from the yoghurt so the granola still retains its crunchiness. If you’re craving a quick sweet treat, this definitely hits the right spot! Whether you eat the yoghurt on its own or add the granola for a delectable combination, it is bound to be a scrumptious treat. So, for those of you who have braces and want a sweet treat—try the yoghurt parfait without the granola! We loved the mix of granola and yoghurt and the sweetness of the strawberry. The granola gave the yoghurt more crunch and the yoghurt was not too sour—our ideal combination! Our only complaint is that for $4.50, this dessert might be rather costly for what you get. So, maybe try this when it’s on discount! 

value: 🍮🍮

texture: 🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮

taste: 🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮

overall: 🍮🍮🍮(⅔) 

Overnight oats ($4.50)

This simple yet scrumptious treat is ideal for a quick fix and a nostalgic taste. While it is a simple snack of oats and nuts, it’s well-executed—while it is nothing spectacular, it is a refreshing snack, just what you need to beat the sweltering heat! Its subtle sweetness combined with the nuts made it an enjoyable treat. We tried it with and without the nuts, and we felt that the nuts should most definitely be added in as it enhances the dish’s flavour and texture to the otherwise rather sad looking oats. While I wouldn’t recommend it for the price, if you’re ravenous, in a rush, and in need of a rather healthy snack, why not give it a go? 

value: 🍮🍮

texture: 🍮🍮🍮🍮

taste: 🍮🍮🍮🍮🍮

overall: 🍮🍮🍮(⅔) 

Chicken Breast Sandwich ($3.80)

At first glance, this sandwich appears to be expensive considering its similar portions to the onigiri, which is much more affordable. Yet, after tasting it, we found it to be surprisingly refreshing and well thought out. The shredded chicken breast was generous and paired nicely with crunchy cucumber, smooth cheese, and the pillow soft white bread, creating a layered texture profile that worked beautifully together. There was even a light peppery note that reminded us of tuna mayo, except with a chicken’s firmer texture instead of tuna’s mushiness. Each box comes with two sandwiches, making it a pretty satisfying snack despite the slightly higher price tag. 

value: 🥪🥪(½)

texture: 🥪🥪🥪🥪🥪

taste: 🥪🥪🥪🥪

overall: 🥪🥪🥪🥪

Over the course of a week, our team has selected and tried a comprehensive list of unique food options. We scoured every nook and cranny of the unassuming machine—from the paned glass looking into the array, to the innovative touch-screen interface and digital memberships. Speaking of which, we recommend signing up for the membership to enjoy discounts, such as a welcome voucher and seasonal discounts! We hope that our article inspires you to try the wide array of food options that the vending machine has to offer and find some new favourites just as we have. Bon appetit!