Ex-offender opens S$7 'cai fan buffet' stall in Woodlands to give back to community

A new "buffet-style" economy rice hawker stall has opened in Woodlands, allowing diners to fill their plate with as much food as they like for S$7.

There are over 20 dishes to choose from with no restrictions on what or how much diners can take.

R&B Cai Fan's only rule is that refills are not allowed.

From prison to restaurants

According to Shin Min Daily News, co-owner Royce Lee first ventured into cooking when he was incarcerated.

He had been assigned to work in the prison kitchen while behind bars.

He joined a secret society at the age of 14 after falling into the wrong crowd.

Later, he got addicted to drugs and landed in prison twice for drug trafficking.

While working in the prison kitchen, he learnt to cook Western cuisine, with encouragement from his mother, who sent him recipes and cookbooks.

When he'd finished a second stint in prison in 2017, Lee opened a restaurant but eventually had to close it due to financial issues.

After that, he worked as a chef at MBox at Mahota Market, where he met Benson Tong.

In January 2026, Tong invited Lee to set up a Western food stall at Ah Chew Coffee House in Woodlands.

When the mixed rice stall there moved out, both men decided to take over the space to establish R&B Cai Fan.

His purpose

Now 53, Lee decided to set up the stall partly to give back to the community, he told Shin Min.

"I'm grateful that after I got out [of prison], people did not judge me but were willing to give me a lot of valuable opportunities," he said. "This is a way for me to repay everyone."

Since the stall's Jun. 15 opening, many people have questioned the economics of the S$7 "buffet" price.

Tong shared that some have jokingly asked if they were running a charity or laundering money, because even the lowest-priced prawns in the wet market are at least S$10 per kg.

But the pair are able to sell their food at an affordable price thanks to their good relationship with suppliers.

The rapport was built up over two decades in the food industry for both Lee and Tong.

They have been able to buy meat and seafood in bulk at prices 30 per cent lower than the market rate through negotiations that also help suppliers manage their problem of import surplus.

Plans for the stall

So far, R&B Cai Fan has received about 90 diners each day during lunch, and the owners have plans to attract more.

The offerings will be constantly updated with new and fresh options, including chilli crab and Peranakan dishes.

Such delicacies have been well received by diners.

A salmon dish they introduced recently was quickly snapped up, Tong said.

To sustain the business, Tong and Lee also decided to have the stall double up as a barbecue and hot pot eatery at night.

From Jul. 15, the space will offer mixed rice at lunch before transforming into R&B Korean BBQ and Steamboat for dinner, according to Shin Min.

Due to rent and the cost of manpower and ingredients, a mixed rice business during lunch was only enough for the business to break even, Tong explained.

The profits from the nights can therefore be used to support the daytime mixed rice business.

Future expansion

Looking ahead, Tong and Lee plan to expand the business gradually and open another branch by the end of 2026.

They plan to target industrial areas, similar to where R&B Cai Fan is located in Woodlands.

They are considering opening a halal stall to appeal to the Muslim community and are currently in talks over a space in Tampines Industrial Park.

R&B Cai Fan

Location: 101 Woodlands Ave 12, #01-06 MR2, S737719

Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm