Price Hikes at the Food Court — and One Restaurant That Won’t Budge
In recent weeks, it’s become a bit of a culinary drama in the city: with the cost of cooking oil, pork and even electricity creeping up, many food stalls have been lifting their menu prices in a straight‑up math lesson. Diners, however, are not exactly cheering for the new budgets.
Plaza Singapura’s Kopitiam Raises the Roof
- Roast pork rice jumped from $5.80 to $8.10, a whopping 40% hike.
- The hawker blamed rising oil prices and pork costs, plus a surge in electric bills.
- That’s a classic case of “cost > revenue,” which is basically a dish failure recipe.
Goldhill Family Restaurant: The Unflinching Underdog
Nestled on Hougang Avenue 3, Goldhill Family Restaurant has kept its “cai fan” (a plate with one meat and one vegetable) at a solid $2 for the past three years. The chef‑boss, Guo Fu Cai, admitted that the business has not been profitable enough to cover the overheads lately.
“If we sell food cheaper than the others, it’s obvious we’re making less,” Guo confided in an interview.
Despite the pinch of the pandemic, the price has stayed steady, and Guo even promised he won’t be raising it “anytime soon.” He says the move is a nod to the bad times of the local customer base and aims to bring in fresh faces.
The Loyal Supporters Who Sold the Praises
- Office workers and residents keep flocking to lunch.
- Wan Shan, 64, zips in daily for a $1 chicken wing – the cheapest on the block.
- Huang, a regular for over a decade, moved away but still keeps coming back for a plate of “cai fan.”
“The rice is soft and delicious,” says Huang, “and you’ll never get tired of their chicken wings.” Long‑standing patrons swear by the low‑price charm, proving that good food and great value can still coexist amid a foodie market on a price war!
Why Singapore’s Dining Prices Are Boiling Over
Ever notice how a simple plate of cai fan can now feel like a luxury experience? A recent Reddit thread has everyone grumbling about the extraordinary “hidden charge” a user named OkOne spotted—pointing out that a dish listed at just S$2.80 suddenly cost him a whopping S$6.40.
Menu Madness at the Coffee Spot
- Another Reddit rager claims he stopped by an Ang Mo Kio coffee shop in June and was slapped with a bill of S$11 for his so‑called “economic rice” (some folks actually call it cai fan).
- The rant reads, “Inflation or robbery? Fish is pricey, but this is just too much.” He was expecting a cool S$6.
Inflation Feels the Heat
Now, let’s get the economics part. Singapore’s core inflation shot up to 4.4% in June— the highest jump since November 2008. This spike isn’t just a kitchen-side glitch; it’s a full-blown shove across services, retail, utilities, and of course, the food scene.
Food inflation itself crept up to 5.4% (up from 4.5% in May), making every pizza and bowl of rice feel like a premium item.
Will the Weather Clear?
On a brighter note, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) told us in a July 19 briefing that next year we might see a slowing down of global inflation. They credit the excess from the Covid-19 supply crunch as a major part of the current wobble.
Stakeholders in the Debate
There’s a side conversation where a stall owner argues that a single batang costs 8 per piece and that an “$11 cai fan” price is, frankly, justified. The discussion is as lively as a hawker stall dish race—more drama than actual cooking!
In short, the combined inflation rush and the push for premium packaging are turning everyday meals into budget challenges. So, when you next bite into a humble rice bowl, remember: you might just be paying for a slice of the recent economic roller coaster. Bon appétit!
