EAST
Guan Hiang Nasi Lemak
Temporarily at #01-195, Block 46, Bedok South Road due to renovations at Block 58, Upper Changi Road
Nasi lemak at $1.60. With fish, egg and ikan bilis.
'We keep prices low to maintain business.'
Owner Khoo Cheng Guan, 46
Bao Xiang Vegetarian
Block 69, Bedok South Avenue 3
Vegetarian bee hoon from $1.50. With cabbage, mock char siew and mock duck.
'My business caters to the old people in the neighbourhood.'
Owner Toh Peck Hwa, 43
Wong Porridge
#01-245, Block 16, Bedok South Road
Western fried rice at $3. With egg and chicken chop or fish fillet.
'We make less profit with each plate but we sell more.'
Owner Wee Jee Kin, 42
Ji Shen Cooked Food
Block 16, Bedok South Road
Nasi lemak at $1. With fish, egg and ikan bilis.
'We own this stall so there's no need to pay rent.'
Owner Lee Siew Lan, 49
Warong Jawa
Block 16, Bedok South Road
Mee rebus, mee soto, gado-gado and mee siam at $1.70.
'Most of my customers are housewives who are very mindful of price.'
Owner Mohammed Said, 68
Yong Tau Foo Stall
#01-145, Block 16, Bedok South Road
Yong tau foo at 15 cents per piece. Minimum order: $1.50.
'Our food is cheap and healthy.'
Employee Oh Beng Gek, 57
Bedok South Niu Ji Prawn Noodles
#01-199, Block 16, Bedok South Road
Prawn noodles (soup) at $2.
'We cater to older customers who prefer cheaper food.'
Owner Wee Chew Huat, 50
Ban Seng Choon Cooked Food
#01-203, Block 16, Bedok South Road
Xin zhou bee hoon, Hong Kong mee and fried kway teow at $1.20.
'I have not changed prices for 30 years.'
Owner Tan Choon, 55
Vegetarian Food
#01-139, Block 16, Bedok South Road
Vegetarian bee hoon at $1.70. With cabbage, mock char siew and mock duck.
'If your prices are too high, customers won't buy from you.'
Owner, Mr Sim, 45
Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa
Block 216, Bedok North Street 1
Mee siam, laksa, mee rebus at $2.
'My food is good and cheap.'
Owner, Mr Cheng
Yong Kee
Block 216, Bedok North Street 1
Carrot cake from $1.50, with egg.
'I'm part of the first batch of hawkers, so my rent here is cheap.'
Owner Tay Yong Joo, 49
Lee Huat Curry Vegetable Rice
#01-26, Block 216, Bedok North , Street 1
Rice with a meat dish and vegetable for $1.80.
'We don't want to raise prices and make customers unhappy.'
Owner Lily Soh, 45
You Yi Pork Organ Soup
#01-08, Block 216, Bedok North, Street 1
Pork organ soup for $2.
'This way, my customers will keep coming back.'
Owner Lee Kia Juan, 44
Xian Jin Mixed Vegetable Rice
#01-02, Block 216, Bedok North, Street 1
Any three dishes with rice for $2. Can choose all meat dishes.
'The prices keep customers happy.'
Owner, Mr Shi
Xin Zhai Stall
Bedok Interchange hawker centre
Any three dishes with rice for $2. Can choose all meat dishes.
'By not increasing prices, we can increase our customer base.'
Partner Low Kiah Keong, 27
You Ji Jia Chuan Ya Fan
Bedok Interchange hawker centre
Chicken rice, char siew rice and roasted meat rice at $2.
'We've been selling at this price for a very long time.'
Employee Ng Shea Keong, 53
820 Hainanese Chicken Rice
Block 823A, Tampines Street 81
Chicken rice, char siew rice and roasted meat rice at $1.30.
'By selling at a lower price, I sell more.'
Owner Tan Hwa Joon, 43
Yummy Talk
Block 820, Tampines Street 81
Western fried rice with chicken wings at $2.90.
'We don't make much for this dish but we use it as a crowd-puller.'
Partner Thomas Heng, 32
SOUTH
101 Wanton Noodle
Golden Mile Food Centre
Wanton noodles from $2.
'We've not raised prices for 20 years.'
Owner Hong Jim Bin, 55
Nan He Wanton Noodle
Golden Mile Food Centre
Wanton noodles, laksa and pork porridge at $2.
'I don't make a lot but it's better than selling at $2.50 and having no business.'
Owner Ke Xiu Luan, 60
Boon Siu Kee
#01-31, Amoy Street Food Centre
Wanton noodles at $2
'It's okay that we charge less because there are quite a lot of customers.'
Owner Loh Kah Fai, 55
p>Konomi Zen
#01-38, Amoy Street Food Centre
Teriyaki chicken set meal at $3.
'Having prices this low is very attractive for customers.'
Owner Lim Fong Heng, 47
WEST
Hup Lee
#01-27, Redhill Market
Nasi lemak at $1.90.
'As long as I don't suffer losses, I will keep to this price.'
Owner Tan Li Mee, 47
Heng Guan
#01-09, Alexandra Village Food Centre
Nasi lemak at $1.90.
'We hope to build a regular customer base.'
Owner Tan Keng Leng, 47
42
#01-42, ABC Brickworks Food Centre
Nasi lemak at a minimum of $1.60.
'There are more customers if we sell at this price. '
Partner Sng Kok Hwa, 52
Cheng Mei Shi Hao Wei Dao
Tanglin Halt Market Stall 14
Fried carrot cake at $1.50.
'You cannot raise prices because customers have supported you for a very long time.'
Partner Soon Hock Seng, 50
Wei Yi Laksa
Tanglin Halt Market Stall 21
Laksa for $2.
'If we can sell food cheaper than others, China workers will buy from us.'
Owner Ang Kee Fong, 42
Fu Yuan Vegetarian
#01-114, ABC Brickworks Food Centre
Vegetarian bee hoon at $1.50.
'This area has a lot of old folk.'
Owner Kwek Chin Mei, 62
Mei Jia Fried Beehoon
Tanglin Halt Market Stall 18
Fried rice set with chicken wing at $2.
'If the food is cheap, we get more customers.'
Owner Soh Tiong Ann, 35
NORTH
Shi Mei Chicken Rice
Block 110, Yishun Ring Road
Chicken rice at $1.80.
'A lot of students come here for lunch.'
Owner Loh Chee Heng, 57
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Apr 20, 2008.
