S’porean actor, Ben Yeo, 47, shuts down 6 sliced fish soup stalls, loses mid-5-figure sum

Singaporean actor Ben Yeo has shut down all six of his Tan Xiang Sliced Fish Soup stalls.

The 47-year-old made the move as the business “failed to meet expectations”, 8days reported.

Unsustainable

Yeo first launched Tan Xiang Sliced Fish Soup in September 2023 with a stall in a Toa Payoh coffee shop.

Nine months later, he shut it down and relocated.

Yeo expanded his fish soup business in 2025 by opening six stalls located at Clementi, Orchard Towers, and Ang Mo Kio.

However, he claimed that “some outlets made money, some didn't”, which made the expansion unsustainable.

“We lost a mid-five-figure sum,” Yeo told 8days.

He gave the business one year to see results, and would cut losses if it was unsuccessful.

The losses eventually led to closures.

Yeo attributed the closures to aggressive expansion.

He said he thought stalls required smaller investments and more people would see the brand with more stalls, and he was following a strategy that worked for other brands.

“Looking back, I don't think that works anymore," he added.

Sliced fish soup is still available at Yeo’s zi char outlets located at Chai Chee and Kallang.

20 dishes only

Yeo is still embarking on F&B ventures with new brands as a diversification strategy.

He launched the “20 Dishes Only” stall in the Block 645 Yishun Street 61 coffee shop in early July 2026.

It serves only 20 dishes, such as Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Egg and Steamed Fish Head.

The prices range from S$6.80 to S$15.

Only four dishes cost more than S$10.

The dishes come in one serving size.

He recommends the Hand-Pulled Sweet and Sour Pork, ABC soup, Grandma Fried Egg, Steamed Fish Head, and Prawn Paste Fish.

Yeo said the menu was inspired by lessons learned from operating Thai eatery, Benkok13.

He wants to keep wastage to a minimum and make the business sustainable.