angela low
Rated 2.0/5.0 4 months ago
I have visited this outlet for several times over the months now, and one of their staff used to let me know that they can add a bit of rice for me if I find that their rice portions are insufficient. I was heartened with their generosity, even though their plain white rice is 20 cents more than other pick-your-dish rice concepts at the same Vivocity Kopitiam at $1.20, and they always gave me a bit more rice when I asked for it, without them charging me extra when prompted.
In the past month, they changed their policy and now add a 50 cents "takeaway container" charge when I ask for a bit more rice. They do add a lot more rice now, but I cannot finish it anyway. I have made repeat visits to their stall for months now based off the premise that they used to prioritise the satiety and satisfaction of patrons over chasing marginal profits like adding 2 to 3 more spoonfuls of rice for a customer. On my most recent visit on 19 July 2026, I had a rude shock when a stocky-looking Malay man behind the counter, i.e. not Mohammad, who is one of their friendlier, kinder full-time staff, added the said takeaway container charge because I asked for a bit more rice. I informed him that I only asked for a bit more rice, which I was not charged for the longest time, and that he should tell me that there would be a fifty cents charge if I ask for more rice, regardless of how much more that I ask for. What upsets me is that he did not inform me of this charge until payment has to be made and that he gave me about an additional half bowl of rice when I only asked for a little bit more than the usual portion.
This exact same incident happened with another with one of their more sullen, short and petite malay female staff members wearing a white hijab, but I thought that was just a one-off incident with the lady being new and unfamiliar with how things are done at the stall. After my encounter with the malay man on 19 July, I can confirm that there must be a change in their company's policy - regardless of whether a customer asks for a bit more rice, more rice or a lot more rice, they will add about half bowl more rice and charge you 50 cents for it. All business, no room for humane talks, appreciation for loyal, repeat customer or kindness here.
Notably, the malay man refused to remove the rice he added for me when I told him that I do not want it anymore since he did not inform me of the charge. The cheek of him to make it seem like I am making things difficult for him when the rice has not been touched by anyone at all, and the thing started all because of him not informing of the charge. I paid for the extra charge because I cannot be bothered with making a bigger fuss over a matter that involves 50 cents, which is surely a drop in the ocean's worth of revenue considering the fact that this petty, heartless and almost corporatised brand has multiple outlets in Singapore.
All things considered, their food tastes rich, savoury and 'lemak', and some of their staff have their hearts in the right place and actually care about serving customers with kindness and warmth, like Mohammad and a cheerful, taller woman wearing black-rimmed glasses, hence two starts instead of one. However, the values they carry with running a business, as well their lack of transparency in additional charges, will make me think twice before supporting them as regularly as I did in the past several months.