HungryGoWhere will close down in July 2021.

The online portal announced its impending demise in a Facebook post on June 8.

“After serving Singapore’s diners for an amazing 15 years, HungryGoWhere.com will be ceasing operations, and our last day of service is Jul 11, 2021,” it said.

Covid-19 impact

A Singtel spokesperson said in response to media queries that "severe challenges" faced in the industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic caused the closure.

This was after a detailed review of HungryGoWhere was conducted by the Singtel Group with various options for the business explored, the spokesperson said.

"However, it has faced severe challenges posed by competitive pressure in the industry which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic."

"As a result, we have decided to exit the restaurant reservations market."

The spokesperson said that most of HungryGoWhere’s 13-member team had been redeployed to other roles within the group.

Acquired for S$12 million

HungryGoWhere was founded in 2006 by three men: Wong Hoong An, Dennis Goh and Tan Yung Yih.

It then became a popular food review site.

In May 2012, HungryGoWhere’s parent company GTW Holdings was acquired for S$12 million by Singtel.

HungryGoWhere’s operations were merged with Singtel’s lifestyle and search site inSing.com.

It had an audience of some 2 million people at the time, with HungryGoWhere accumulating 8.2 million page views a month by May 2014.

Before HungryGoWhere's closure, inSing.com ceased operations sometime in August 2019.

HungryGoWhere subsequently branched out to offer restaurant reservations, dining deals, rewards, and content on food in Singapore.

What happens when HungryGoWhere disappears on July 12

All content on HungryGoWhere will be taken offline at the end of the day on July 11, 2021.

Any content that users and merchants put up, such as food reviews and responses to reviews, can be saved till then.

The HungryRewards programme will be discontinued on June 30, with Hungry$ voided if they are not transferred by that date.

Users can transfer outstanding “Hungry$” into Singtel Dash credits.

HungryGoWhere said in a FAQ that reservations made through the portal would have been passed on to the restaurant and confirmed.

It said: "If your reservation date falls on July 12, 2021, or later, please call the restaurant to re-confirm your booking."

Reservations made via HungryGoWhere will go proceed until July 11.

Existing reservations can be amended via the portal till that cut off date.

Merchant partners get to use the portal without fees for June and July.