Mountbatten Hawker Has Been Selling $2.50 Kway Chap Set Meal for 11 Years

Iconic Mountbatten Stall Serves $2.50 Kway Chap Set for Over a Decade

In our ongoing exploration of affordable eateries, we shift focus from the $1 bread to the $2.50 Kway Chap Set Meal.

Feng Ji Kway Chap is situated in Jalan Batu Hawker Centre, Mountbatten, and is famous for attracting long queues daily.

What’s the attraction? The owners, a hawker couple, have been consistently selling an economical Kway Chap set meal for just $2.50.

Remarkably, they have maintained this price for 11 years!

The 42-year-old proprietor, Wong Seng Hong, hails from Sitiawan, Perak, Malaysia. He moved to Singapore at 17 and spent 14 years working at a Kway Chap stall in a Geylang hawker centre.

During this time, he met his future wife, Hong Choi Peng, who is five years his senior. The couple eventually married.

Faced with the responsibilities of paying for their house and raising a daughter, Wong launched his own stall in 2012, offering Kway Chap.

2 Hours of Sleep Per Day

Wong candidly shared with Lianhe Zaobao that running his own business is more challenging than being an employee.

His day begins at 2:30 am, preparing for the bustling day ahead.

The stall opens at 6 am and typically closes around noon.

Wong manages the cooking, while his wife assists with orders and serving the customers.

Post-closing, Wong dedicates another four hours to cleaning over 20kg of innards, essential for the next day’s offerings.

Wong revealed that he initially managed only two hours of sleep daily. However, he later adjusted his schedule to ensure some rest.

Perfecting his culinary skills and adapting to customer feedback took him five years.

Today, identifying Feng Ji Kway Chap is straightforward: look for the longest queue in the morning.

Besides offering individual items like Large Intestines ($2.50 per piece) and Pig’s Stomach ($1), the stall is renowned for its $2.50 kway chap sets, ideal for solo diners seeking a convenient and economical meal.

The business has flourished, with Wong reporting a monthly profit exceeding $4000 after expenses and his wife’s salary.

Boss: Rising Costs Won’t Be Passed to Customers

Despite increasing expenses, the boss asserts there are no plans to hike prices.

When asked why he wouldn’t raise the price, Wong’s answer was succinct: “Why increase?”

In his interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Wong stated he found a way to maintain the $2.50 price point.

He insists on not reducing portion sizes, aiming to cultivate a strong reputation through minimal profits but high turnover.

His reasoning is both empathetic and admirable.

Many, like Wong in his early days in Singapore, are newcomers to the area.

Thus, he wishes to keep his prices low, offering everyone an affordable dining option.

If you’re keen to try this Kway Chap Set, remember to queue early!