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Mentai-Ya closes last few outlets in S'pore after losing S$500,000 in 2 years
There were nine stalls at one point.
April 16, 2025, 08:18 PM
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Local hawker chain Mentai-Ya, which specialises mentai dons, announced on Apr. 14 that the chain will close all its outlets permanently.
The chain has been operating since 2020 and is run by Khoo Keat Hwee, 38, who invested some S$500,000 into the business.
In the post announcing the closure, the caption said:
"We are closed permanently. We tried but still we failed."
According to Mentai-Ya's website, the seasoned cod roe rice bowls were priced from S$7.80 to S$10.80.
The chain sold items like chicken mentai dons and mentaiko fries and had nine stalls across Singapore.
Stalls were in the following areas:
- Punggol
- Sengkang
- Choa Chu Kang
- Bukit Panjang
- Clementi
- Toa Payoh
- Boon Keng
- Serangoon Central
- Tampines
Here's a timeline of events leading up to Mentai-Ya's closure:
June to August 2021: Sales were affected due to a competitor allegedly giving negative reviews
Mentai-Ya sought S$70,000 in damages from the Japanese eatery Ishiro after sales were affected.
Ishiro had allegedly been involved in posting several negative online reviews of Mentai-Ya and a restaurant called The Social Outcast.
On Sep. 15 and 16, 2021, both businesses sent letters of demand to Ishiro seeking compensation for "false and defamatory comments and reviews" that caused "significant damage to their business reputation" and caused the owners to suffer "emotional and mental distress."
Khoo told Mothership that his eatery’s sales had been affected during the period the negative reviews were put up between June and August 2021.
He said business dropped by up to 20 per cent over this period.
Nov. 14, 2023: Announced closure of Boon Keng and Clementi outlets
On Nov. 14, 2023, Mentai-Ya announced in an Instagram post that it would be closing its Boon Keng outlet.
The post also mentioned that it would close its Clementi outlet in December 2024.
Oct. 13, 2024: Announced closure of Toa Payoh outlet
Khoo posted an Instagram reel on Oct. 13, 2024, announcing that Mentai-Ya Toa Payoh's last day will be on Nov. 9, 2024.
He shared in the video that 2023 and 2024 had been tough and that Mentai-Ya was struggling with the increase in GST and rental costs at coffee shops.
He also explained that due to an increase in prices in 2023, the business lost a lot of customers.
Feb. 18, 2025: Announced closure of Sengkang outlet
On Feb. 18, Mentai-Ya announced in an Instagram post that it would be closing its Sengkang outlet.
Fans took to the comments to express how heartbroken they were to see the Sengkang outlet go.
Photo from @mentaiyasingapore on Instagram.
Mar. 4, 2025: Closure of Choa Chu Kang cafe outlet
In an Instagram reel on Mar. 4, 2025, Mentai-Ya posted a farewell video for its Choa Chu Kang cafe outlet.
The video said it was the fifth store closure for Mentai-Ya in one-and-a-half years.
Mar. 25, 2025: Announced closure of Serangoon and Bukit Panjang outlets
On Mar. 25, Mentai-Ya took to Instagram to announce the closure of its Serangoon outlet.
It mentioned that only two outlets, Punggol and Tampines, were left, with Bukit Panjang's outlet closing soon.
The post also mentioned that Mentai-Ya's debt was piling up and that it had been cutting down on supplies.
Khoo wrote:
"This post is not for me to get sympathy votes. My haters are definitely out there laughing at me and waiting for me to crash; I really don’t care. But rather this is my pledge and accountability to do this final battle with Mentai-Ya; for my loved ones & supporters. Many have been rooting and supporting Mentai-Ya. (And to anybody that i’m in debt to; I’ll definitely stay contactable and find my ways to repay be it months or so.)"
Mentai-Ya then announced its complete closure of all outlets on Apr. 14.
Khoo asked on Instagram if he should be a private-hire vehicle driver next.
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Top image from @mentaiyasingapore on Instagram.
