S'pore woman complains of 'expensive' S$9 cai fan at Punggol hawker, stall says they gave her extra for her daughter

A 50-year-old customer who complained that her S$9 cai fan meal at a Punggol hawker centre was "too expensive" was reportedly told by the stall's staff that the meal was a "two-person serving".

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the woman, Liang (transliterated), said the incident occurred on Jul. 30.

4 dishes, 1 porridge

She was visiting the hawker centre with her daughter, and ordered a bowl of white porridge, accompanied by four dishes — glass noodles with tofu, egg tofu, scrambled eggs and broccoli.

Liang also asked for an empty extra bowl to share the food with her daughter as she was worried about not being able to finish it.

She was then charged S$9, which comprised of S$8 for the dishes and S$1 for the porridge.

"The price list at the stall clearly states that each ordinary dish costs S$1 or S$1.50, and each bowl of congee costs S$1," she said.

"Even if you calculate based on four ordinary dishes, the total amount is only S$5 to S$7."

Serving for 2 people

Upon questioning the staff, they explained that they charged S$2 per dish since they saw her eating with her daughter.

The portions were also supposedly larger, Shin Min reported.

Liang said, however, that she did not request an increase in the amount of food and had only asked for an extra bowl.

She also claimed that another customer was only charged S$5.80 for two dishes and one meat dish, and this made her feel that the staff's explanation was unreasonable.

As such, she reportedly filed a complaint with the hawker centre management.

Price list

Upon visiting the stall, Shin Min found a price list.

It stated that vegetables, eggs and tofu were priced between S$1 and S$1.50, ordinary meats were priced between S$1 and S$2.50.

The most expensive steamed fish tail was priced between S$6 and S$10.

According to Shin Min, a stall employee initially said that he would give "two portions" on his own initiative.

However, he reportedly said later that he heard the food was for two people to eat.

Employee remembered customers

A female employee told Shin Min that she still remembered the mother and daughter.

She had reportedly given them a double portion of food as per their usual practice after seeing that there were two of them.

At the time, the kitchen was noisy, she said, adding that she thought she heard a customer say that she wanted two servings.