Ever feel like ordering at a hawker stall in Singapore is a test of patience? You’re not alone! From inefficient orders to queue-jumping ninjas, Singaporeans have plenty of uniquely local pet peeves. Let’s unpack these frustrations and, more importantly, find solutions to make our hawker experiences smoother.
Hawker Orders Today
Hawker centres are a vital part of Singaporean culture, offering affordable and delicious meals. However, ordering can be a source of frustration. Many Singaporeans have encountered slow-ordering customers, resulting in long queues and wasted time. Online discussions reveal common experiences, such as customers who are unprepared or indecisive when it’s their turn to order. These inefficiencies disrupt the flow and cause unnecessary delays. According to recent studies, Singaporeans spend an average of 15 minutes queuing for food during peak hours.
One of my “uniquely” Singaporean pet peeves would be inefficient hawker orders. Here’s an example, guy waiting in front of me at the chicken rice store definitely has had at least 5 full minutes to think of what he wants. Once it reaches his turn, he orders, “Chicken rice.” OF COURSE LA, BRO.
Queueing Complications Here
The problem isn’t just about slow orderers. Specific preferences, ordering for large groups, and a lack of clear queueing systems all contribute to the chaos. Singaporeans often express frustration over customers who make numerous modifications to their orders, slowing down the entire process. The lack of a standardized queueing system in some hawker stalls further exacerbates the problem, leading to confusion and queue-cutting. As one Reddit user points out, ordering for family members with specific preferences significantly slows things down:
Thinking that you are next in line to order at a hawker stall, but then you realize the person infront of you is ordering for his whole family and each of his family members has specific preferences (e.g., no spring onions, no chilli, less chilli, more sauce etc..)
This is especially true during peak hours, like lunchtime, where every second counts.
Solutions to Order Faster
Fortunately, there are ways to improve the hawker ordering experience. Self-ordering kiosks and online ordering systems, like those used in McDonald’s, offer a faster and more efficient alternative. These systems allow customers to browse the menu, customize their orders, and pay without having to wait in line. Some hawker centres are also adopting QR code ordering, enabling customers to order and pay from their tables. Another solution involves being prepared with your order before reaching the stall. Knowing what you want and communicating it clearly can significantly reduce ordering time.
Love the self ordering kiosks for this reason. Even better then scan QR to order online / order in app. McDonald’s suddenly became awesome – literally order online then walk in to have food ready to pick up (/ table order – can be swanky if you know which table you’ll get if you send kids ahead to chope and report back table number)
Ultimately, a combination of technology and considerate customer behavior can make our hawker experiences more enjoyable and efficient for everyone. Let’s all do our part to keep the queues moving!
