Will you pay $17 for a bowl of laksa?

[Latka]

It seems to be getting harder these days for one to enjoy a decently priced meal of hawker food.

 

From $13 for a plate of nasi padang to $17 for a bowl of laksa, food courts in shopping malls have seen an invasion of hawker food at restaurant prices.

 

And while it was previously common only at food outlets in town, these hefty prices are now creeping into our neighbourhoods, much to the ire of patrons.

 

But stall owners say they have little choice but to charge such prices due to high rents and food costs, reported The Straits Times.

 

At a newly opened food court, Rasapura Masters in Marina Bay Sands (MBS) for instance, a meal of nasi padang with three side dishes

[LoverofCar]

come on lah...only the ''gong'' people will pay this price at a neighthood shopping mall.....there are always choices to make....just let these stall die.....see how long they can last...

[Kxbc]

If I got $17, I will go for a nice bowl of ramen. Maybe can get small change back.

[Cerano]

i was at jurong point then the 3rd floor food court carrot people

$8.50 for 1 sotong 1 meat and 1 veg

[Jman888]

i was at jurong point then the 3rd floor food court carrot people

$8.50 for 1 sotong 1 meat and 1 veg

 

one whole sotong not cheap hor

[Altivo]

MBS mah... is expected

[Aimnfire]

actually i cant blame them

 

stalls renting nowadays are really

 

i use to help my friend run a food stall

from $70 per day rental

the stall owner happy happy increase to $150 per day

 

so how to max profit?

either charge more or cut down on the portion

with the latter one forgo the quality

 

in the end we shut down

 

[SimonTan]

This is call inflation.

Singaporeans will quietly swallow it as facts of life.

 

It's really silly to eat in the air con food courts lately. Too expensive.

The same amount, I can eat much better at a nearby non-air con hawker center.

 

Proper restaurant like swensens or indon, are cheaper than this $17 laksa stall!!!!

 

 

[Cerano]

one whole sotong not cheap hor

 

not whole sotong 3 pieces nia

[Tjkbeluga]

Thanks to the foodcourt rental mogul.... Charging exorbitant rental price. Sigh.... Now even want to open a hawker stall is not easy... Need a big capital to start.

[Latka]

Looks like after CNY, a number of stalls at NEX food court wl close down.

[Sabretan]

food court is here to stay while hawker centers r being phase out slowly...even existing ones, their prices are slowly creeping up due to original owners subletting to new owners etc...

[Chewbacca]

Wait, what? This is at normal shopping centers? Hell no.

 

I was thinking about some sort of upscale restaurant with their own take on traditional dishes.

 

[Moredhel]

one whole sotong not cheap hor

 

Especially sailor processed sotongs...

 

High in extra ingredients..

[Vroomtattat]

I will if it is served by a naked chio bu . .

[Moredhel]

30 years ago, a solid bowl of handmade fishball noodles cost SGD0.20

 

Now 2010, a downsized basic bowl of machine made fishball noodles cost SGD3.00 or up

 

In 2040, a bowl of automated serving fishball noodles would cost SGD45.00 and up based on current inflation rates.

 

 

And you know what's the darnest thing?

 

Breakdown:

 

1980:

 

Noodles - 2 cents

Fishballs - 8 cents

Soup and toppings - 2 cents

Rental - Push Cart

 

Margin: 8 cents

No tax.

 

 

2010:

 

Noodles - 5 cents after supplier mark up - 15 cents after seller mark up - 30 cents

Fishballs - 15 cents after supplier mark up - 50 cents after seller mark up - $1

Soup and toppings - 5 cents after supplier mark up - 10 cents after seller markup 20 cents

 

Rental - $1

Tax - 50 cents

 

Actual cost: 75 cents

Margin : 75 cents

[Pufferfish1]

dont go and eat lor, MBS is targeting tourists and if you compare $17 to the restaurant then it consider cheap.

[questionedfish]

that stall must sell the World's Best Laksa before i'm willing to got fork that $17.