S'pore actor Zhang Yaodong, 47, says he can spend more time with 2 daughters as he's doing F&B in Tampines

Former Mediacorp actor Zhang Yaodong, 47, is probably not done with showbiz.

He recently revealed that two foreign productions have reached out to him after he left his previous place of employment, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

While waiting for new acting projects, Zhang, who opened a zi char stall at a Tampines industrial estate, said he now has more time to spend with his two daughters.

"For over 10 years, I didn't have much time for them. But they are very independent and have their own opinions," shared Zhang.

Zhang provided his life updates in an interview with Mediacorp actress Juin Teh, which was uploaded to Mediacorp Entertainment's YouTube page on Jul. 3.

New zi char stall

In the interview, Zhang shared that his zi char stall, named "JB Traditional Steamed Treasures", is located at Rong Cheng Kopitiam at Block 9012 Tampines Street 93.

While he owns the business, the actor said he does not man the kitchen and usually comes to the stall only once a week to check on operations.

However, after photos of him manning the stall as a cashier made headlines in June 2025, Zhang said his friends and supporters would show up at his stall every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

The actor said he hoped to make his schedule clear so that his friends and supporters would not make a journey for nothing.

Offers 'ordinary, value-for-money comfort food'

When asked why he had never promoted his stall as a public figure before the news broke, Zhang said part of it had to do with the location of the stall.

"First of all, I have to tell everyone that this place is an industrial area. It's more stuffy and hot," shared the actor.

Additionally, as his stall sells "ordinary, value-for-money comfort food", Zhang believed it was not necessary to promote the stall too heavily.

To support his claim about the offerings at his stall, Zhang also invited Teh to try several dishes.

In particular, Teh enjoyed the sauce of the Thai-style steamed seabass (S$12.90), which she described as "spicy enough".

She also complimented the freshness of the crab meat for Hong Kong-style steamed crab (S$38).

Spending more time with daughters

While running his stall on the side, Zhang revealed in the interview that he is in talks for two potential acting projects and spending more time with his two daughters.

In November 2024, the actor announced on his Instagram page that he had travelled overseas with his two daughters for the first time, adding that he regretted not being part of their childhood "for certain reasons".

However, despite being a public figure, Zhang shared candidly that one daughter did not want him to attend meet-the-parents sessions at her school because she "might feel troubled over it".

Similarly, Zhang also asked members of the public not to snap photos of his family, as they "really value privacy".

Attending Star Awards ceremony?

When asked whether he will be attending the Star Awards 2025 ceremony on Jul. 6, Zhang, who was nominated for "Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes" and "BYD Favourite Male Character Award", did not give a clear-cut answer in the interview.

He also declined to canvass votes for himself and instead asked the audience to cast their votes for the artistes "who truly deserve it" and "work hard for it".

"New actors now have great attitudes, are humble, diligent, and are not arrogant. Back in our days, we were all so arrogant," added Zhang, who has been in the showbiz for over two decades.

Nevertheless, the actor thanked his supporters for their encouragement over the years:

"After all, I've been in the industry for over 20 years. I am still grateful to everyone for the mental support and tolerance during this journey.

Thank you to everyone for giving me all the positive energy. I hope to keep bringing you good work in the future."

Top image via Entertainment - Mediacorp/YouTube