Economy rice, also known as mixed rice, has always been synonymous with cheap and affordable meals. However, as time flies by, is it still the budget-friendly option we remember?
Back in the day, RM5 or RM6 could get you a decent meal, a nostalgic throwback to the 90s. But now, getting a plate with 2 veggies and 1 meat can cost anywhere between RM7 to RM10, and if you’re feeling extra hungry, it might even break the RM10 mark!
“You’ll never know how much you’ll spend”
Recently, a Chinese blogger living in Malaysia recently uploaded a video, humorously stating that the price of mixed rice in the country is unpredictable, making it impossible to know the cost of each meal.
The foreigner noted that Malaysian mixed rice works like a Chinese bento box—you pick your dishes and then pay. But here’s the twist: the pricing system is a head-scratcher.
She said that there are two pricing methods for bento boxes in China: one is the restaurant setting a fixed price for the dishes chosen by the customer, and the other is by weight.
“But in Malaysia, the mixed rice pricing is a wild ride.”
“The same person might charge RM12 today and RM13 tomorrow for the same meal.”
“And if different people are at the counter, expect different prices. The boss might say RM15, the boss’s wife RM16, and the staff RM17.”
The video has stirred up a lot of chatter online, with many netizens agreeing that mixed rice pricing seems to depend on the seller’s mood.
Some netizens believe that besides the boss’s mood, it also depends on your looks!
