Have you seen any mixed rice stalls near you offering price cuts after a certain time?
What began as a thoughtful initiative to cut food waste has turned into a bizarre dinner-time showdown, and several mixed rice shops have had enough.
Half-price deal gone wrong
Many mixed rice shops in the Klang Valley offer 50% off all remaining dishes after 8:30pm to avoid throwing away food. The plan was simple: restaurants clear unsold food, late diners enjoy cheaper meals, everyone wins.
According to Sin Chew Daily, some customers have discovered a loophole and began arriving 10 to 15 minutes early and stacking their plates high with the “good stuff” like fried chicken, prawns, and curry fish.
Then, they would sit down and waiting for the clock to strike 8.30pm so they could pay for their food at half its price.
By the time punctual diners arrived at 8.30pm, the trays were often left empty, leaving only plain vegetables and tofu behind.
Restaurants finally respond
Frustrated by the growing problem, several shops recently put up bold bilingual notices which read:
Please do not take any food before 8.30pm to request 50% discount! Thank you for your cooperation.”
And this time, they mean business. Any food taken before 8.30pm will now be charged at full price, even if customers try to delay payment until the discount window opens.
“Someone would cross the line”
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Tan Cheep Lian, a mixed rice stall owner for 30 years, shared his thoughts on the recent issue.
For me, I think waiting for the right time to get the discount is completely understandable as everyone wants cheap food.”
He added that those who wait for the offer are usually not regular customers, but rather an additional crowd that helps reduce food waste.
“However, some customers tend to be greedy and cross the line of basic courtesy. That’s when we, as stall owners, need to step in and manage the situation,” he noted.
Tan also said some customers who come for the discount have even complained about limited food options during the discount period and demand more in return.
