Hawker Hero: A Chung‑Chi Fry‑Queen’s Surprise Meal Deal
In a city where the cost of a cup of coffee can outshine a third‑world economy, many hawkers are squeezing their plates or up‑charging the price. Diners, after all, crave affordable bites. But if you’re a cleaner, you might get an absolute bargain.
Unexpected Pairing at the Food Centre
- Setting: Jalan Besar’s Jia Chicken Rice at Berseh Food Centre.
- Who spotted the surprise: Cleaner Henry Tan on Facebook, Sep 6.
- What he saw: An elderly man devouring a feast that looked like it’d cost a small mortgage—rice, roasted chicken, steaming steam, a few pork belly bites, and a whole soy‑sauce egg.
- The price? Just $6.50! (For a meal that would normally eat through a week’s salary).
Henry chuckled as he wrote, “Uncle you eat so much?” and then tightened his jaw when he found out the scoop: the “meal deal” wasn’t listed on the menu. After a friendly chin‑to‑chin with the hawker, the secret was revealed.
The Chewing Goodness Behind the Discount
The hawker admitted, “This uncle works as a cleaner here. We just sell the food to him cheaper so he can get his fill.”
It’s that simple—Gentleman service.
Netizens swooned over the compassion. A comment read, “I’ll go support just because they’re nice to uncle.”
The internet celebrated the janitorial hero.
Bottom Line
A cleaner grabbing a six‑bucks feast at a hawker centre proves that Myanmar‑style compassion can be found at your local lunchtime. Whichever way you slice it, the lesson is simple: treating everyone with a bit of generosity can turn a humble stall into a local legend.
Hawker Heroes: How Singapore’s Food Queens Keep Prices Down When the Cost of Living Feels Like a Bummer
The Showdown Over $6.50
Picture this: a netizen scrolls through a hawker menu and grabs the headline “only $6.50?” and thinks, “Holy moly, that’s pricey!” While another fan‑pitched fellow nods, saying, “I’ll bite – the portion’s exactly what I’m paying for.” The chatter got so hot that AsiaOne pinged Tan for his take.
Case in Point: The $2 Hero At Goldhill
- Guo Fu Cai, the proud owner of Goldhill Family Restaurant, proudly confessed that in July he nailed a $2 deal on a single‑meat, single‑vegetable combo that kept regulars in the loop during lean times.
- “We’re doing this for their own benefit,” he said, admitting he hasn’t covered the overheads lately.
More Good‑Guy Story at Toa Payoh
- Michael Poh of Poh Kee Chicken Rice stepped up the game in June, offering free meals or a “work it out” arrangement for anyone struggling to pay.
- It’s the kind of generosity that makes the foodie community feel like they’re part of a tighter, tastier family.
So there you have it: a quick snapshot of how hawker stalls keep their hard‑earned love‑meals affordable, even when prices are higher than a cup of espresso.
For more tips and stories, keep your eyes peeled – the hawker scene never stops stirring up surprises.
