A prata stall in Chinatown Complex Food Centre has been drawing attention online for serving what might be one of Singapore’s lowest-effort hawker meals — frozen prata paired with ready-made curry, with the owner openly admitting that “everything is instant”.
And the owner is totally okay with that.
Called Prata $1.30, the stall opened in mid-March and sells only plain prata at, you guessed it, $1.30 each. Interestingly, the price isn’t far off from fresh handmade prata elsewhere — a plain prata at Casuarina Curry costs $1.40, while it costs $1.70 at Springleaf Prata Place.
Don’t expect egg prata or cheese prata at this Chinatown stall though, as the menu is stripped down to the bare minimum. The only house-made item is reportedly the sambal sauce served on the side.
Hawker says he’s “lazy” and wanted a simple business
Speaking to 8world News, 60-year-old stall owner Liu Tianxian candidly explained that the concept was born out of his desire for a simpler life.
“I’m lazy,” he said matter-of-factly. “I wanted to do business in a very simple way.”
The former professional baker said he got the idea after frequently visiting Chinatown and wondering if he could become a hawker too without all the hassle.
Apparently, the answer was frozen prata.
No eggs, no cheese, no problem?
Customers hoping to customise their prata will be in for some disappointment.
“Some people ask me, ‘Can add egg?’ I [would] say [we] don’t have eggs. Then they would ask if there’s cheese,” Liu shared. “I tell them, if I don’t even have eggs, where would I get cheese from?”
Some customers reportedly walk away after hearing the answer, while others shrug and order his plain prata anyway.
The stall’s no-frills setup has also become part of its charm. Liu reportedly spent very little setting up the business, using tables and utensils bought online, while bringing appliances like refrigerators and pots from home.
Even the signboard is minimalist as it uses only three colours because Liu felt extra colours would cost more to print. “As long as people can see the prata and the price, [it is] enough already,” he explained.
Opens in minutes, closes in one
The simplicity extends to the stall operations too. Liu said he typically arrives around 6.30am and only needs five to 10 minutes to open shop.
Closing is even faster.
“One minute,” he claimed.
The stall has since become something of an online curiosity, with some people apparently visiting just to joke with Liu about his famously limited menu.
“They [would] purposely come and ask if I have eggs or cheese,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll tell them no, then everyone laughs because they already know the answer.”
Some netizens amused, others not convinced
Not everyone is sold on the idea of paying hawker prices for frozen prata. Some members of the public interviewed by 8world News said convenience mattered more than whether the prata was freshly made, while others felt they’d rather pay for handmade versions elsewhere.
Still, Liu seems unfazed by the chatter. To him, the stall is simply about making a living in the easiest way possible, and maybe having a laugh along the way too.
Prata $1.30 is located at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, #02-159, 33 Smith St, S050335. Open Tue to Sun 7am to 1.30pm. Closed on Mon.
Photos: 8world News
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