Queue, queue, queue...what will you be queuing for?

[bigozt]

In n Out blur-ger and Kway Filet pop up - that is the best they can do. Uncle MacDonna got the island covered already. Good also, cheaper than these pretenders

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Fans wait 7 hours in the rain for (G)I-dle’s Minnie at Chagee VivoCity opening​

(G)I-dle’s Minnie made a special appearance at the opening of Chinese tea brand Chagee’s second flagship store at VivoCity on Jan 11.PHOTO: CHAGEE
Lim Ruey Yan
Jan 13, 2025

SINGAPORE – The incessant rain over the weekend did not deter fans from waiting for up to seven hours to catch a glimpse of K-pop girl group (G)I-dle’s Minnie.

The 27-year-old star made a special appearance at the opening of Chinese tea brand Chagee’s second flagship store at VivoCity on Jan 11.

Some of Neverland, the fandom of (G)I-dle, arrived at the shopping centre as early as 4am, even though the Thai singer arrived only at 11am.

Fans donned raincoats or used umbrellas, with queues stretching to the second and third floors of the mall.

Minnie, whose real name is Nicha Yontararak, greeted them soon after going on stage.

She said that her favourite Singapore food is bak kut teh and that she also likes laksa, kaya toast and chilli crab, the “favourite food” of many South Korean celebrities, Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News reported on Jan 12.

Minnie also tried three Chagee drinks – Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Peach Oolong Milk Tea and Da Hong Pao Milk Tea – and said her favourite is Da Hong Pao.


Three fans were also invited on stage to perform (G)I-dle’s hit 2023 song Queencard during the Dance Challenge segment of the event. The singer picked a winner, who received a Minnie standee, exclusive signed merchandise and a photo opportunity with her.

Minnie was last in town in October 2023 when (G)I-dle – which also comprise Miyeon, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua – performed at the Singapore Indoor Stadium as part of their I Am Free-ty World Tour.

She is scheduled to release her first mini-album, Her, on Jan 21.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

KFC’s Mofusand keychains resold by scalpers for as much as $50 on Carousell on first day of promotion​

The coveted cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Mofusand.PHOTOS: LIM YAOHUI, KFC

Ang Qing
Jan 14, 2025

SINGAPORE - Fans of a dewy-eyed cat donning a chicken bucket sold by fast food chain KFC have become the latest target of scalpers.

The coveted cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Mofusand, a popular Japanese cat illustration series, which released limited stocks of the trinkets, as well as sticker packs and red packets to dine-in and takeaway customers at 11am on Jan 13 to promote KFC’s cereal chicken.

For every cereal chicken box or cereal chicken burger box purchased, customers are allowed to buy one keychain for $12.95, with a new design launched each week over three weeks.

Each customer is limited to two keychains.

By 4pm, merchandise of the fluffy cat was being resold for up to $50, with The Straits Times finding some 70 listings on shopping platform Carousell.

One reseller even took pre-orders for designs that have not been released, in exchange for $40.

Sticker packs and red packets, which were given away for free with conditions attached, are priced between roughly $8 and $12 on Carousell.

According to KFC, the sticker packs are free for patrons who spend at least $12 in a single receipt on breakfast at its KFC Breakfast stores. The red packets are given out free to those who purchase cereal chicken or cereal chicken burger bundles.

The cat keychain is part of a collaboration between KFC and Japanese brand Mofusand.PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM CAROUSELL
Braving the rain, fans flocked to outlets around the island on Jan 13 to snag queue tickets for the keychain.

However, several reported their disappointment and frustration on Facebook as they left empty-handed.

KFC said on social media on Jan 12 that queue tickets would be handed out by restaurant staff at 11am on each launch date to customers who were physically in the queue.

It added that the ticket must be redeemed by 1pm on the launch dates, and the keychains would be considered sold out once the tickets were fully distributed.

Facebook user Shi Ting claimed to have left empty-handed, despite obtaining a queue ticket and lining up for about two hours for the keychain.

“This is totally ridiculous. What’s the point of having the queue ticket?” she said.

Others expressed confusion about whether the merchandise would be sold for the rest of this week.

In a media reply at about 10pm, a KFC spokesperson said its chicken bucket-wearing cat keychain was “mostly sold out” across all its stores, with many outlets selling out the keychains within three hours of launch.

She also praised several caring customers who were seen giving their queue tickets to strangers so that more people could purchase the merchandise.

Responding to online complaints, she added that KFC is looking into improving the process for the sale of another Mofusand keychain next week.

Fans of the cosplaying cat can try their luck again on Jan 20 and 27, when other designs of the cat donning an egg tart and a drumstick respectively will be released.

Meanwhile, a 20cm-long soft toy of a Mofusand cat wearing a chicken bucket on its head will be launched on Feb 5 for $19.95 at selected stores.

Sales of the exclusive merchandise end on Feb 18.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Jewel’s Pokemon Centre halts card set launch amid 1000-strong crowd; police called in​

Large crowds showed up hours ahead of the 10am launch at Jewel Changi Airport.PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM AWI3GANG/TIKTOK

Ian Cheng
Jan 17, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Pokemon Centre Singapore halted sales of a new trading card game set in its Jewel Changi Airport store on Jan 17, after large crowds showed up hours ahead of its 10am launch.

By about 9.15am, the crowd had swelled to more than 1,000 people and obstructed several walkways in the area, the police said.

Videos posted on social media platforms show throngs of people outside the retail outlet, eager to get their hands on the latest Prismatic Evolutions set featuring fan-favourite Pokemon Eevee and its evolved forms.

One TikTok user said fans had started queueing from 11pm the night before.

However, many left empty-handed and disappointed after the store announced shortly before the scheduled launch that it would not be selling the cards in the physical store, citing safety reasons.

Those present were told that they could buy the cards from Pokemon Centre’s Shopee Singapore online store from 10am instead.

The police said that they received a call for assistance at about 6.10am and found more than 200 people gathered outside the store when they arrived.

Minutes later, the group had swelled to over 500 people, before reaching its peak of more than 1,000 people at around 9.15am.

The Pokemon Centre called off the product launch at around 9.20am, and officers from the Airport Police Division helped with crowd dispersal.

In a post on Jan 17, the Pokemon Singapore Facebook page said that it would not be selling the cards from Jan 17 to 19 in the physical store “to ensure a safe environment” for visitors.

It added that it is “unable to provide a specific date for when in-store sales will resume”.

The sudden announcement drew mixed reactions from social media users, with some saying the move was “understandable” to protect the safety of the public.

Others, however, criticised the store’s lack of crowd control, despite there being expectations that a large number of people would turn up, as with previous launches.

Facebook user Leonard Foo said: “Perhaps (it) would have been less disappointing if there was something like (an) online ballot system.”


The police said they were disappointed that the retailer did not anticipate the huge crowds and put in place adequate crowd control measures, which would minimise public safety risks.

“It was fortunate that no injuries or breaches of peace occurred for this incident,” they said.

They urged retailers and event organisers to work closely with premise owners to implement effective crowd control measures during such events.

These include identifying suitable and sufficient queueing space, establishing proper queue management systems to regulate crowd flow, and deploying additional security personnel and staff to manage crowds.


A spokesperson for Jewel Changi Airport, in response to queries from The Straits Times, said that the safety of visitors is important.

“We work closely with all our retailers for their events, and remain committed to supporting them in the implementation of effective crowd control measures whenever large crowds are anticipated,” the spokesperson added.

In an advisory on Jan 15, the Pokemon Singapore Instagram page said that queueing overnight for the launch was not allowed, and those who did so may be refused entry into the store.

The post added that there were plans to distribute tickets to customers that would allow them to purchase one product each on a first come, first served basis.

However, Pokemon Singapore also said it reserved the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice.


The Pokemon Centre edition of the Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box contains 11 packs of cards – two more than the nine packs included in regular versions of the product. It also contains two promotional cards, as well as other card game accessories and paraphernalia.

The product was listed on the official Pokemon Store on Shopee Singapore for $109.90, though it was reportedly sold out almost instantly.

Some shops in countries such as Japan and the US have made similar decisions to stop in-store sales of the set, following previous instances of fights breaking out at product launches. There were also cases of fans breaking into shops.

US card shop Retro Emporium, located in Kent City, Washington, said in an Instagram post that it had “struggled with this decision, but at the end of the day, we will NOT sacrifice our safety for... cardboard”.

“The overly aggressive (and entitled) behaviour coming from collectors/resellers has reached a whole new level, so, we’re OUT on this one. Sorry to those who are not part of the problem... we have tried to be fair and keep everything accessible, but we just can’t this time,” it said.

Rarer card variants of Eevee and its evolutions from other Pokemon card sets have been resold at eye-watering prices online.

These include an original printing of the Gold Star Umbreon, an evolved form of Eevee, which was listed on trading card game website Troll And Toad for US$3,299.99 (S$4,510).

An eBay listing of the same card was last sold at £2,999 (S$5,000).

English-language full art special illustration cards featuring Eevee and its evolutions from the latest Prismatic Evolutions set.PHOTO: THE POKEMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL
Currently, the Japanese full art special illustration versions of Eevee and its evolutions from the Japanese-language equivalent set are valued at around $80 each, with the most expensive of the lot, Umbreon EX, going for $613. The next most expensive is Sylveon EX, which goes for $218.

Market prices for the English-language sets are currently unavailable, but are expected to be higher than the Japanese versions as the odds of getting a specific higher-rarity card are much lower.

For instance, a listing for the English full art special illustration of Sylveon EX sold on eBay for US$729.99 on Jan 16.

The overwhelming demand has prompted stock cuts in trading card game shops worldwide, with the Pokemon Company International releasing a statement to address the shortage.

“We’re aware that some fans may experience difficulties purchasing certain Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG): Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions products at launch due to high demand impacting availability,” a spokesperson told gaming website IGN.

“We understand this inconvenience can be disappointing for fans, and we are actively working to print more of the impacted Pokemon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity to acknowledge this.”

The Pokemon trading card game has exploded in popularity in recent years – not just among fans of the game, but also among investors who had little or no past interest.

In 2021, US YouTuber Logan Paul made a record-breaking trade worth US$5.28 million in a Dubai hotel room to a “mystery” seller for a professionally graded Pikachu Illustrator card. Only 41 are known to be in circulation, with Mr Paul’s copy being the only one that was professionally graded at a perfect “10”.

The gold rush has also sparked a boom in fake cards. Mr Paul, for instance, paid US$3.75 million in 2021 for a “sealed and authenticated” box of first-edition booster packs that turned out to contain G.I. Joe cards instead, according to one of his videos.

There are currently more than 64.8 billion cards printed worldwide.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Sneakerheads flock to first day of Sneaker Con SEA 2025​

Sneaker Con is in its third year and continuing on Feb 23 from 11am to 9pm.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Srinidhi Ragavendran
Feb 23, 2025

SINGAPORE - The buzz was palpable on day one of Sneaker Con SEA 2025 in Singapore, as sneakerheads roared and cheered – with some even holding their prized sneakers aloft when renowned American sneaker designer Steven Smith and Japanese influencer Rae Lil Black took to the stage during the meet-and-greet on Feb 22.

Now in its third year and continuing on Feb 23 from 11am to 9pm, the convention is set to attract 18,000 attendees across both days. Held in Halls E and F of the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, it hosts top sneaker brands, leading creators and a new non-ticketed food zone, GastroBeats Takes The Streets, featuring 15 street food vendors.

Sneaker Con SEA first-timers Carl Iyog and Sher Low, both 27, made a stylish debut in matching Air Jordan 1s. Eager to refresh their collection, Mr Iyog, an army regular, felt the event was the place to score some “interesting” kicks.

Their search paid off when they discovered a matching pair of grey Air Jordans for sale at one of the booths. The couple will meet the vendor at a later date to collect their sizes.

“The market price is apparently $170 per pair, but we might get it for lower,” said Ms Low, who works in human resources.

Mr Carl Iyog and Ms Sher Low with their matching Air Jordans.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Culture Kicks, a popular Philadelphia-based media and sneaker company known for its unboxing videos and sneaker purchases from fans, drew a snaking queue outside its booth as many hoped to sell their shoes directly to the team.

Standing in line was 22-year-old Sean Seah, who was waiting with 20 boxes of shoes. He said he brought about 80 pairs for resale, with the rest in his car.


The undergraduate, who attended Sneaker Con SEA in 2024, said: “You get to meet people from other countries who own stores. You can make good connections here. I still sell to people I met during the event last year.”

Sneaker aficionados in a queue to sell shoes to Culture Kicks.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
The most expensive pair he plans to resell is the Travis Scott x Fragment Air Jordan 1 Low, which he bought on e-commerce marketplace Carousell for $1,800.

Headlining in 2025 was the “Godfather of Dad Shoes” Smith, 60, who designed iconic creations for major brands like the New Balance 574, Reebok InstaPump Fury and Nike Air Zoom Spiridon Cage, and now serves as head of creative innovation at Crocs.

Designer Steven Smith showing fans at Sneaker Con 2025 his Crocs on Feb 22.ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
One of Smith’s fans who managed to snag his autograph was Ms Edlyn Tang, a 20-year-old undergraduate who bought a pair of Jordan Brand: Unbannable sneakers for $269.

Of her third time at the event, she said: “Sneaker Con is meaningful to me as it is a community I have grown to love, from shoe designers, collectors and the average Singaporean who comes to learn more about shoes and leaves as a fan.”

Sneaker aficionado Edlyn Tang, 20, with her Jordan Brand: UnbannableST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Tickets for Sneaker Con SEA 2025 are priced at $35 (general) and $55 (premium) and are available at sea.sneakercon.com

 

[k1976]

We should have a Rolex Con de woh

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Burger & Lobster fan braves queue for 1-for 1 deal at Jewel, finds lobster shell in her food​

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Cherlynn Ng​

24 February 2025
Submitted by Stomper Cappuccino, Latte


A woman who visited Burger & Lobster for a 1-for-1 promotion ended up getting more than she bargained for: Lobster shells in her food.

Stompers Cappuccino and Latte said they visited the restaurant's Jewel Changi Airport outlet on Feb 21, at around 11.45am.

They had headed down together after hearing about a 1-for-1 deal for the restaurant's famed lobster rolls.

Cappuccino recounted: "There was a short queue when we arrived and more people gradually joined the line. We had to wait quite a bit not because there were super duper loads of people, but because of the slow service.

"The staff were slow, appeared uninterested and had no sense of urgency. Customers in line were not seated even though there were several empty tables, some of which remained unclear for some time.

"Jewel's glass ceiling meant it was a rather uncomfortable wait in the heat too."

The duo were seated at about 12.20pm.

Cappuccino added: "The service was more satisfactory this time. A male staff member explained the promotion to us, led us into the restaurant (where it was still very warm) and served us water.

"Our lobster rolls arrived shortly after and it was enjoyable... for me at least."

Unfortunately, Stomper Latte could not say the same as she found lobster shells in her food. She spent the meal picking out the shells.

She told Stomp: "I was disappointed. I'd been really looking forward to the lobster roll and even though it was on offer, it's not the cheapest meal out there.

"The lobster roll was delicious but I cannot deny biting into the pieces of lobster shell halfway through my meal marred the entire experience."

Their pair of friends informed a female staff member about the issue, but the latter simply said she would tell the chef and there was "no apology or anything."

The 1-for-1 lobster roll promotion is available for dine-in at Burger & Lobster's Jewel Changi Airport outlet from Feb 18 to Feb 25. It is an ala carte item and priced at $41++.

According to the restaurant's website, the daily cut off time for customers to have their names on the waiting list is 8pm.

However, some patrons said they were not aware that there was limited availability and ended up making a wasted trip after stocks ran out early.

One diner also noted that service standards were lacklustre, similar to what Stomper Cappuccino said.

While there is at least one positive Google review about the promotion, it seems to have left more people feeling crabby than happy.

Cappuccino added: "The overall experience was appalling, especially considering the touristy setting! What will people think of Singapore?"

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Queue for The Monsters x One Piece outside Pop Mart

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Eight minutes with Jisoo: Blinks flock to Orchard for Blackpink star’s appearance​

More than 2,000 fans packed the first two levels of Orchard Central for a glimpse of Jisoo.PHOTOS: ST READER, AZMI ATHNI
Srinidhi Ragavendran
Mar 08, 2025

SINGAPORE – Elenore and Isabel Chaudhuri thought they were headed to the Decathlon sporting goods store after school. Instead, the sisters aged 10 and six found themselves in the middle of a sea of screaming fans at Orchard Central, where they saw their idol, Jisoo of Blackpink, in person for the first time.

Their parents, Mr Dip Chaudhuri and Ms Deborah Fray-Chaudhuri, both 41, had secretly planned the surprise for over a week, deciding to skip the girls’ usual gym and piano lessons. The family arrived at around 4.20pm.

“The girls are huge fans of Blackpink. Their songs are the only ones that play in our house and car,” says Mr Chaudhuri. “They even know the Korean lyrics.”

Sisters Elenore (left) and Isabel Chaudhuri, who were surprised by their parents with a chance to see Jisoo at Orchard Central.ST PHOTO: SRINIDHI RAGAVENDRAN
The sisters were among more than 2,000 fans who packed the first two levels of Orchard Central for a glimpse of the 30-year-old K-pop star, who is part of the four-member South Korean superstar girl group, Blackpink. The other members are Jennie, Rose and Lisa.

Jisoo made an appearance at Amortage at Far East Malls, a pop-up concept store celebrating her debut solo mini-album Amortage, which was released on Feb 14.


Arriving at 5.19pm, she waved and blew kisses to her devoted Sooyas – the affectionate name for her fan base – and walked down the snaking queue which stretched throughout the space at level 1.

After interacting with her fans who cheered and waved their handmade signs exuberantly, she signed an Amortage poster and left by 5.27pm.

For many fans, just an eight-minute glimpse of the star was worth the hours-long wait.


Ms Alycia Lee, 24, was one of the first few to arrive at 8am, taking advantage of a class-free day at university to secure a good spot at Coffeesmith cafe.

A fan of Blackpink since their debut showcase in 2016, she also attended the group’s 2023 concert in Singapore at the National Stadium. “It was euphoric, surreal and definitely worth the wait,” she says. “I think I screamed a bit too loudly.”

She also bought the Amortage album and a Singapore-exclusive limited-edition Shumon baby keychain – Jisoo’s hand-drawn character.

Ms Lee also made new friends in the crowd, including Ms Reina Tan, 24, who works in banking and took leave to see Jisoo. A long-time fan, Ms Tan has followed Jisoo before she made her debut, and was her fan of her performance from when she was just a trainee in 2016.

The Amortage pop-up will have a month-long run at Orchard Central from March 5 to April 6.ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Some lucky fans managed to snag the coveted Amortage album, worth $23.90 to $29.90, for free.

One of them was 11-year-old Chen Xing Zi, a pupil from St Margaret’s Primary School. She won a copy after correctly naming five of the singer’s nicknames, which include “Jichu” and “Turtle Rabbit Kim”. She attended the event with her friend Goh Jing Ru, 11, heading over after school to catch the rare appearance.

“It is my first time winning something, and I’m super happy since I have been a fan of Blackpink for five years,” says Xing Zi.

Chen Xing Zi (left) and Goh Jing Ru posing with the Amortage album Xing Zi won.ST PHOTO: SRINIDHI RAGAVENDRAN
For a star who needed only eight minutes to leave a lasting impression, Jisoo’s presence was enough to send fans into a frenzy.

The Amortage pop-up, conceptualised to resemble a cinema with different rooms inspired by Jisoo’s music, will have a month-long run at Orchard Central from March 5 to April 6. The Singapore edition is the first of its kind in the region.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Over 2-hour wait to Woodlands Checkpoint as March school holidays begin​

The heavy traffic is caused by tailback from Malaysia. PHOTO: ST FILE

Rhea Yasmine
Mar 15, 2025

SINGAPORE - The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said travellers driving into Malaysia by car can expect to wait more than two hours to reach Woodlands Checkpoint, as the March school holidays kick off.

In a Facebook post on March 15, ICA said that as at 9.10am, the queue for cars heading north has extended to beyond Woodlands Avenue 3, Exit 10A.

“Estimated waiting time to Woodlands Checkpoint is more than two hours,” it said, adding that the heavy traffic is caused by tailback from Malaysia.

ICA had earlier warned commuters of heavy traffic at the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints ahead of the March school holidays and upcoming Hari Raya Puasa.

The school holiday period began on March 14 and will last until March 24, while the Hari Raya Puasa holiday period is from March 28 to April 1.

ICA encourages those travelling by car and motorcycle to use QR codes instead of passports for faster and more convenient immigration clearance.

It said that during the Chinese New Year period in January, travellers in cars waited up to three hours during peak periods for immigration clearance due to traffic tailback from Malaysia.

​

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Travellers advised to postpone non-essential trips to Johor amid heavy traffic at land checkpoints​

A view of the traffic at the Woodlands checkpoint on March 21 at 9.40am.PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM ONEMOTORING

Rhea Yasmine
Mar 21, 2025

SINGAPORE - Travellers from Singapore are advised to postpone any non-essential trips to Johor as continuous heavy traffic is expected at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints this weekend, said the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Heavy traffic at the two land checkpoints since the start of the March school holidays - which began on March 14 and will last until March 24 - has been worsened by the monsoon surge, according to ICA in a Facebook post on March 21.

Heavy rain had battered Singapore and Johor since March 19, causing flash floods at several areas for two consecutive days. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) had forecast that the downpour will last till March 21.

ICA said that those who travelled to Johor by car and motorcycle had to wait more than two hours to clear immigration.

“ICA expects continuous heavy traffic this weekend and advise travellers to defer non-essential travel, if possible,” it said.

In an update on March 21 at 9.22am, ICA said there was heavy traffic at Woodlands Checkpoint for those headed to Johor, due to tailback from Malaysia.

It also advised motorists heading to the land checkpoints to avoid queue-cutting, amid reduced visibility due to the rain and cases of road accidents over the last two days.


“Those who wish to continue with their journey should expect delays and are advised to check the traffic conditions before embarking on their journey,” said ICA.

 

[True Believer]

To cope with living in the most expensive city in the world, S'poreans have to Q to "buy hope" from SG Pools.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Elderly residents queue up early, bag over $12 of groceries with $1 ticket at Ci Yuan CC​

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1 April 2025
Chin Soo Fang
The Straits Times
March 29, 2025

The start time for a $1 Marketplace in Hougang was 10am on March 29, but by 8am a queue of about 300 people had already formed at the venue, Ci Yuan Community Club.

These early birds were among 1,000 residents who had pre-purchased a $1 ticket to be part of the event, entitling them to bag groceries worth about $12 to $13, including cabbage, lettuce, oranges and lemons.

The produce was provided by the Hougang Village Merchants’ Association in support of the marketplace, which was hosted by the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang Citizens Consultative Committee and Ci Yuan CC’s management committee.

Mr Darryl David, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, who turned up at about 9.30am and saw the long but orderly queue of mostly senior citizens, decided to start the event earlier.

“Don’t worry, don’t rush, take your time. And after you have taken everything, there are many other activities for you to check out here,” he told the participants who came with bags and supermarket trolleys.

Homemaker Koh Chai Hong, 70, who was among the earliest to queue, said: “I didn’t suffer any loss, it’s worth it. This is fun and I came early to mingle with the people in the queue since I’m bored at home.”

Ms Laxie Mary Sequeira, 76, a retired insurance professional, said she was glad that for $1, she could get something “fresh and substantial” as “every bit helps” to cope with the cost of living.

Retired insurance professional Laxie Mary Sequeira said she was glad she could get something “fresh and substantial” as “every bit helps” to cope with the cost of living. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG

She took part to connect with fellow residents too. “Maybe I can get to know 50 people at this event today,” she quipped.

The $1 Marketplace is the first of three similar events, organised as part of SG60 activities to mark Singapore’s diamond jubilee in the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang area, to foster stronger connections, care and active contribution within the community.

Mr David said: “It’s not like you come and then we give you a pack and then you go off. We want to build that sense of community where people come down and participate and have something to look forward to.”

He added: “It’s an opportunity to unite the Ang Mo Kio-Hougang community, bringing together heartland merchants and residents to celebrate our collective strength and solidarity.”

On March 29, the marketplace also had an SG60 message board where one could leave messages of gratitude and support for heartland merchants.

The organisers also launched a stamp card initiative to encourage participation at monthly SG60 events, including Racial Harmony Day and National Day carnivals. Ang Mo Kio-Hougang residents who attend at least two events will receive a $60 FairPrice voucher per household.

There is a stamp card initiative to encourage participation at monthly SG60 events, including Racial Harmony Day and National Day carnivals. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG

Mr Francis Swee, president of Hougang Village Merchants’ Association, said the marketplace is one way to give back to regular customers of its more than 100 members.

“The items we picked align with the ‘Heng Ong Huat’ prosperity slogan that we have in this area,” he said. “(These) included ‘prosperous’ items like oranges, pineapple and cabbage.”

The association, which will organise a trade fair in Hougang Village with about 30 stalls for 19 days starting on April 26, is also planning to give about 1,000 vouchers to residents to spend at participating outlets in May.

The next two $1 Marketplace sessions will take place on April 27 and June 22 at the same venue, with $1 vouchers on sale at Ci Yuan CC.

On the upcoming $1 marketplaces, Mr David said the organisers are still engaging the partners on what to provide for the residents.

“In a way, it’s something the residents can look forward to with a sense of anticipation,” he added. “One certainty is that for $1, whatever you get will be much more than $1. The items must also have a practical use for the residents.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Travellers to Johor can expect five-hour jam due to heavy traffic at Tuas Checkpoint: ICA​

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority said there was “extremely heavy departure traffic” at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints on the morning of May 3.PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

Eileen Ng
May 03, 2025

SINGAPORE - Travellers driving to Malaysia by car can expect heavy traffic at the two Singapore checkpoints, with Tuas Checkpoint itself facing five hours of traffic jam, as Singaporeans rushed to Johor on Polling Day.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said there was “extremely heavy departure traffic” at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints on the morning of May 3, with tailback from Malaysia reaching the two checkpoints.

The tailback at the Second Link is about 5km and has reached Tuas Checkpoint, ICA posted on its Facebook account at 12.22pm.

“Travellers can expect delays of up to five hours or more,” ICA said, as it reminded travellers to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey.

Checks by The Straits Times on two popular real-time traffic apps showed a waiting time of between three and six hours on both the Causeway and Second Link.

At 11.18am, Beat The Jam app estimated the waiting time to be as much as six hours at the Causeway, and three hours at the Second Link.

Meanwhile, checkpoint.sg app showed a waiting time of up to 170 minutes and 135 minutes to clear the Causeway and Second Link, respectively.

As Polling Day for 2025 falls on May 3, which is a Saturday, MOE has declared May 5 to be a school holiday and a day off-in-lieu for all staff at the MOE schools.

This means it is a long weekend for students and staff at MOE schools.

Classes will resume on May 6, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on April 16.

However, May 5 is not a compulsory day off for working adults.

If Polling Day is a non-working day for the employee, he is entitled to either a day off or salary in lieu, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on April 15.

The day off should be discussed between employers and employees and is not the next Monday (May 5) by default.

If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, he is entitled to an extra day’s salary for the day’s work, or be given a day off.

Employers also have the additional option of granting time off in lieu, should employees work on the public holiday.

 

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Heavy traffic expected at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during Vesak Day long weekend​

Travellers waited up to three hours to clear immigration during the Good Friday long weekend in April.PHOTO: ST FILE

Rhea Yasmine
May 05, 2025

SINGAPORE – Those heading for Malaysia through the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the upcoming Vesak Day long weekend from May 8 to 13 should expect heavy traffic and longer clearance time.

Vesak Day falls on May 12, 2025.

In a statement on May 5, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said travellers can consider taking the cross-border bus services during this period to avoid congestion.

Bus operating hours and timings can be found on the Land Transport Authority’s MyTransport.SG app or the bus operator’s website.

Motorists are advised to check the traffic situation at the two land checkpoints before embarking on their journeys.

Motorists and those travelling by bus are also encouraged to use QR codes in lieu of passports to clear immigration more quickly.

Singaporeans who travelled to Malaysia by car on Polling Day on May 3 faced traffic jams lasting as long as five hours at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

During the recent Good Friday long weekend from April 17 to 21, more than 2.4 million people crossed the two checkpoints.

The first day of the long weekend saw a peak of over 555,000 travellers.

Those who crossed the checkpoints by car waited up to three hours to clear immigration during the peak periods, owing to a traffic tailback from Malaysia.

 

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Diners form snaking queue stretching across Westgate for $0.20 Astons deal -- and most don't mind the long wait​

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McKayla Ong

Lunch hour usually means long queues at restaurants.

But with Astons Singapore offering $0.20 meals at all its outlets on May 15, this means a long snaking line across the mall, even on a weekday afternoon.

The promotion is part of the restaurant chain's 20th anniversary celebration. Dine-in customers can get Astons' signature Grillworks Chicken with two sides for just $0.20.

Stomper S shared photos showing what looks like an endless queue of customers outside Astons Specialities at Westgate mall at around 11.40am, which she estimates stretched around 200 metres long.

She said: "I was going to eat there with my friends after we heard about the offer, but we ended up going elsewhere to eat after we saw the length of the queue. It's an amazing offer, but not worth the time spent queuing for me."

But it appears that not everyone shares her sentiments. When the Stomper passed by Astons Specialities again at around 1pm, the queue had grown even longer.

The bargain proves once again that when the price is right, Singaporeans are more than willing to queue, no matter the time or day.

 

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Very heavy traffic expected at Woodlands, Tuas checkpoints during June school holidays: ICA​

ICA advised people to consider taking the bus into Malaysia instead.PHOTO: ST FILE

Carmen Sin
May 23, 2025,

SINGAPORE – People driving into Malaysia during the June school holidays, particularly over the Hari Raya Haji long weekend from June 6 to 9, should expect traffic congestion and longer wait times at the two land checkpoints.

On May 9 – the Friday before the recent Vesak Day long weekend – tailbacks from Malaysia caused motorists to wait up to three hours to clear immigration, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on May 23.

More than three million people crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from May 8 to 13, it added, with the crowd peaking on May 9 at over 546,600 travellers.

Forecasting “very heavy” traffic in June, ICA advised people to consider taking a bus into Malaysia instead.

Bus operating hours and timings can be found on the Land Transport Authority’s MyTransport.SG app or bus operators’ websites.

ICA urged people to check traffic conditions before starting their journey during the peak period.

Motorists and bus commuters are encouraged to use QR codes instead of passports to clear immigration more quickly.

 

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Queues at VEP application centres in Singapore, JB after news of enforcement from July 1​

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On June 5, motorists showed up at VEP centres in Woodlands in Singapore and Danga Bay in Johor Bahru because they needed help with signing up.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

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Singapore-registered vehicles entering the country from July 1 without a valid VEP will be fined RM300.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

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The crowd waiting outside the VEP office in Woodlands on June 5.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

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A sign informing applicants that they need an appointment is seen outside the VEP office in Woodlands on June 5.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
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Lee Nian Tjoe and Harith Mustaffa
Jun 05, 2025

SINGAPORE/JOHOR BAHRU – Waves of Singapore motorists showed up at Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) application and installation centres in Singapore and Johor Bahru a day after Malaysia announced that enforcement of the VEP will start on July 1.

Singapore-registered vehicles entering the country from that date without a valid VEP will be fined RM300 (S$91), Malaysia’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on June 4. The drivers will have to pay the fine and complete their VEP registration before leaving Malaysia.

On June 5, motorists showed up at VEP centres in Woodlands in Singapore and Danga Bay in Johor Bahru because they needed help with signing up on the online portal or had problems activating their radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

VEP-registered vehicles need to have RFID tags installed and activated in order to make payments for Malaysian expressway tolls and the road charge when entering Johor via the two land checkpoints.

The counters in Malaysia are operated by TCSens, Malaysia’s ministry-appointed vendor for handling VEP registrations; while the one in Singapore is run by My VEP, a separate company, in collaboration with TCSens.

Between 9.30am and 10.30am, around 40 persons were seen queuing outside the My VEP office in Woodlands Industrial Park. They include motorists collecting their VEP RFID tags and those needing help with applications. Those without appointment slots were turned away.

Around lunchtime at the TCSens inquiry centre in Danga Bay, more than 60 motorists were seen queuing to seek assistance from staff to troubleshoot their VEP registrations. The centre allows walk-in inquiries.

Mr Latiff Saleh, 64, who did not have an appointment, left the Woodlands centre in Singapore without getting any assistance. He needed help to terminate the existing VEP registration of his car, which was tagged to its previous owner, as he was not able to do so online.

On hearing the June 4 announcement, he tried to log in to the VEP portal to restart the application process, but faced difficulties. He had not decided whether to try his luck at Danga Bay soon, or wait for the rush in Woodlands to subside before getting an appointment.

Inquiries had been decreasing prior to the June 4 announcement, and appointment slots had been available daily since March, said Mr Ng Poh Heng, manager of My VEP. But by the morning of June 5, all the slots until June 20 had been taken up, checks by The Straits Times found.

Ms Esther Chua, 50, received her VEP RFID tag earlier in 2025, but found that it could not be fitted to her car as required. The finance executive did not get around to exchanging the tag until after hearing the latest news.

“The Malaysian side seems to keep changing their mind, so I didn’t feel the need to get it fixed (so soon),” she said at Woodlands on June 5.

The latest move to enforce the VEP comes eight years after the plan was first mooted in 2017. Implementation of the system was shelved twice, in 2019 and again in 2020.

It was rolled out in October 2024, but foreign vehicles found without valid VEPs were given reminders to get registered and not fined.

More on this Topic
Many Singaporean motorists relieved to have VEP ready ahead of July 1VEP requirement for S’pore-registered cars to be enforced by Malaysia from July 1
At the Danga Bay inquiry centre on June 5, waiting times were long, with motorists saying they began queuing from as early as 6am for the counter to open at 9am.

One of the motorists, a 76-year-old Singaporean retiree who wanted to be known only as Mr Chong, said that his VEP application was rejected in October 2024 because it was missing insurance documents. He said he never heard back after he replied with the documents.

“Suddenly, they said they are going to enforce this July. This is very troublesome,” he said, adding that the announcement on June 4 caught him by surprise.

Singaporean interior designer Andrew Ho, 44, who arrived in Danga Bay at 9am, waited five hours to get help from TCSens staff. His VEP RFID tag could not be read at the Malaysian customs gantry.

A TCSens staff at Danga Bay told ST that by 2.30pm, he had already assisted more than 100 motorists, compared with the daily number of 130 cars that the centre had handled in the past few months.

Singaporean interior designer Andrew Ho (right) waited for five hours at the Danga Bay TCSens VEP centre before he was helped by staff (in black).ST PHOTO: HARITH MUSTAFFA
Mr Loke told reporters on June 4 that foreign-registered private vehicles have had ample time to be VEP-registered since the call to do so was made in May 2024.

The minister added that 231,018 Singapore-registered private individually owned vehicles have signed up for the VEP, with 15 per cent yet to activate the RFID tags.

Meanwhile, skip-the-queue VEP services in Singapore are seeing an uptick in inquiries. These services apply for the VEP on the motorists’ behalf, saving drivers the hassle of making the online application or queuing at the counters.

Mr Derrick Heng, director of Radiant VEP, which offers skip-the-queue services, said inquiries have spiked since the latest announcement after getting around 10 queries daily from the beginning of 2025.

“We received about 30 inquiries on June 4, and our office (in Kaki Bukit) was full, with motorists coming in to apply for the permits at the last minute,” he said.

Mr Jason Koay, director of accounting and secretarial firm Bizwise Management, which advertises its VEP application assistance service on Carousell, said he helped with 50 applications on June 5, up from a norm of two to three inquiries a day since March.

A TCSens spokesman urged Singaporean motorists to register promptly for the VEP via the website, as it is anticipating a surge in applications and appointments at its four centres in Johor Bahru and Singapore.

“Motorists must ensure that the VEP RFID tags are securely fixed on their vehicles and activated for use once they have received them,” he added.

 

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Why restaurants like Scarpetta do not take reservations​

Mr Theeviyan Raja (left), a front-of-house staff member at Scarpetta, welcomes diners as the restaurant opens for dinner. By 6pm, around 80 customers had joined the queue.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Cherie Lok
Jun 07, 2025

SINGAPORE – Dining out is a fairly straightforward process in Singapore, swathed, for the most part, in the certainty of a guaranteed seat.

You pick a place, punch in your details and rock up at the prearranged hour. Recognition glints in the host’s eyes as your name surfaces in the system. The food arrives after a while. You pay, you leave. In some cases, a special reservation link is sent to your e-mail, and the cycle begins anew.

But what happens when a restaurant eschews convention for the unpredictability of a walk-in system? Suddenly, it is anyone’s game. The question becomes not just what to order, but also what time to show? How long to wait? When to throw in the towel and leave?

Restaurants that do not take reservations argue that there is a method to the madness. At Scarpetta, a viral pasta bar in Amoy Street, queues start an hour before doors opens. Once, the line stretched 10 units down to the food centre at the mouth of the street.

The situation is a lot neater now that the restaurant has introduced a new system. The first 28 guests are seated when doors open and everyone else is given a time to return, their names scribbled down on a tiny blackboard.

“It’s much better than what we had before, with just a straight queue. Some people would wait 2½ hours in the hot and humid weather, so they would be really grumpy and hangry (hungry and angry) by the time they got in,” says owner Aaron Yeunh, 32.

Service moves fast. Each seating lasts about an hour, and Scarpetta can accommodate three or four rounds of guests every night. This, Mr Yeunh says, is the only way he can sell handmade pasta in the middle of town for $17 to $26.

“The only way to charge these prices is with high volume. And if I need volume, I can’t take reservations because that would limit my dinner seatings to two a night.”

Queues at Scarpetta tend to snake along Amoy Street, once even reaching Amoy Street Food Centre.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
For restaurants like Mensho Tokyo Singapore at Raffles City, doing away with bookings helps to democratise the dining experience. No number of bots or connections will make the line move any faster. “This ensures that every guest has an equal opportunity to enjoy our ramen, creating a welcoming and fair experience for all,” says a spokesperson for the Japanese chain.

Likewise, Mr Lim Kian Chun, 33, chief executive of Ebb & Flow Group, which runs popular Italian restaurant Casa Vostra at Raffles City, adds: “Physical queues keep things simple and accessible to customers of all ages, especially our segment of older customers who are less familiar or comfortable with digital reservation systems.”

Cancelling cancel culture​

It is a type of survival tactic too. With cancellations rising across the board – Mr Yeunh says that a 20 to 30 per cent cancellation rate, which some restaurants are experiencing, is enough to kill a business – it is sometimes easier not to section off seats in advance.

Mr Lim says: “Implementing reservations introduces the element of unpredictability with no-shows, late arrivals and variable dining durations, which can disrupt the dining experience for others.”

By eliminating the logistical scramble, staff can focus on the parts that count the most: food and service. And that extra bandwidth comes in especially handy when walk-in traffic continues unabated throughout the night.

The first 28 guests are seated when doors open and everyone else is given a time to return, their names scribbled down on a tiny blackboard.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Mr Yeunh recalls: “We were really grateful that response was so overwhelming when we opened in February, but part of the issue was that we were running out of food. So, people would wait two hours, only to find that we’ve sold out half the menu. I imagine that would be incredibly frustrating.”

The seven-person team, now fortified with two extra chefs, has since fine-tuned operations to guarantee that all guests who wait in line will be able to order whichever dishes they came to try. They try to estimate based on the capacity of the restaurant, but as a general rule, “we make as much as we can”.

Casa Vostra’s team also had to adjust to the daunting task of keeping up with demand while maintaining a consistent quality of food and service. Over a year in, Mr Lim says they have got the hang of things. “We’ve worked very hard to improve our daily operations and food and service standards, and have managed to reduce waiting times while continuing to serve the same volume of customers.”

Great expectations​

The longer the queue, the higher the expectation.

“It best be worth the wait,” quips chef consultant Fiona Tang, 35, who eventually snagged a seat at Scarpetta 2½ hours after arriving.

Her sentiment is echoed by fellow diner Kelly Pohan, a 17-year-old student who visited Scarpetta in May. “The food does not just have to be good, but also good enough to justify wasting two hours.”

However, she also relished the anticipation of waiting to try very in-demand restaurants, which “creates more excitement”.

Service at Scarpetta moves fast, with most diners finishing their meal within an hour. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
For 20-year-old undergraduate Raen Tan, a snaking queue – like the one she joined outside Casa Vostra – is a worthwhile gamble. “It suggests that the food is either good or new. As someone who’s adventurous, I’d be willing to queue to try new things that are popular or raved about.”

Besides, as Ms Joey Chua, 29, a liquefied natural gas market analyst, points out: “I can do many other things, such as read, look through e-mails, reply texts or daydream while queueing. To me, it doesn’t really count as a waste of time.”

In Singapore, where queueing has all but been gazetted as a national pastime, hers is far from an atypical view.

Dr Hannah H. Chang, associate professor of marketing at SMU, says it is an example of social proofing – a phenomenon in which people make decisions by following the actions of those around them – that has found special resonance here.

“Queue culture is sometimes discussed as a demonstration of kiasuism, that if you don’t queue, you may miss out on a good deal, experience or product.”

Mr Sai Ming Liew, a senior adviser at global research and innovation consultancy Behavioural Insights Team, adds that while the tipping point may come when customers feel that a queue is not moving fast enough, the sunk cost fallacy sometimes keeps them in place longer than intended.

“The longer people spend in a queue, the more they start to feel a sense of psychological ownership over the object or experience they’re waiting for. Because people are naturally averse to losses, this can make them reluctant to walk away, even if it might no longer be worthwhile,” he notes.

Though this fear of missing out has proved something of a boon to Scarpetta, Mr Yeunh laughs off accusations that he is creating a queue for the sake of it.

“I always tell the team that we have to deliver. Don’t skimp on the hospitality. Don’t skimp on the food. Be super focused. Take our food really, really seriously.”

In the past, before the blackboard system freed customers from having to stand in line outside the restaurant, staff would try to sweeten the wait by handing out free drinks. Refreshments are also distributed outside at restaurants such as Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu at Raffles City.

Nonetheless, some restaurants have caved and done away with their no-reservations policy. Spanish restaurant Esquina opened in 2012 and started accepting bookings in 2014, after it added a dining room on the second floor.

Though walk-ins are more efficient for a busy restaurant like his, chef-owner Carlos Montobbio, 38, concedes that bookings made a big difference to the guest experience.

“We care a lot about service, and having people wait outside – especially if it’s a business dinner, a date or regulars coming back – just didn’t feel right. Letting people book a table gave them a much more comfortable and reliable experience,” he says.

Others, like local cuisine chain Great Nanyang, which gets multiple queries a week about whether it takes reservations, have found a compromise of sorts. Since April, groups of at least 10 diners can secure their seats at any of its outlets in advance.

“As our customers have different dining time periods, it is difficult to get available empty tables side-by-side to combine for larger groups. To cater to groups of this size, we need to plan and set aside tables in advance,” says founder Keith Kang, 42.

Though he is wary that the sight of empty tables may provoke some unhappiness among walk-in guests, no complaints have been made so far.

Casa Vostra’s Mr Lim is also grateful that most customers understand the reasons for the restaurant’s policy, and vows to go the extra mile to maintain that trust. He says: “Our team makes every effort to offer attentive service and maintain relationships with our regulars – from remembering their favourite dishes and preferences to connecting with them each time they dine.”

Worth the wait?​

The next time you find yourself staring down the barrel of a weekend with no prearranged plans, try your luck at one of these no-reservations restaurants – the final bastions, some might say, of dinnertime democracy.

Scarpetta​

Cacio e Pepe pasta with Crispy Guanciale from Scarpetta.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Where: 47 Amoy Street
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 6 to 10.30pm (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), 6 to 11pm (Thursdays), 6 to 11.30pm (Fridays and Saturdays)
Info: @scarpetta.sg on Instagram

This chic 28-seater was modelled after the pasta bars of London – think Padella, the perennially popular Borough Market institution, and the like. So, it was that ethos of casual excellence that Mr Aaron Yeunh, who lived in the English capital for over a decade, sought to recreate here: great food at fair prices, without so much as a whiff of pretentiousness.

Scarpetta’s menu is lean and disciplined. It is split into four modest sections, with most prices hovering around the $10 to $20 range. The most expensive thing on sale is al granchio e limone ($26), a dish of taglioni with blue swimmer crab and confit garlic that would, in most other centrally located restaurants, have retailed for upwards of $30.

There is undeniable finesse in the way pasta here is twirled – continuously and right before the eyes of hungry, restless diners too.

The cacio e pepe ($20) is really a pasta alla gricia, with a black pepper-pecorino romano base and crispy guanciale topping. Whatever its name, it is a textural delight, perfect for anyone who prefers his or her pasta al dente and salted with pockets of fried fat.

All’assassina from Scarpetta. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
The all’assassina ($18) with pomodoro tomatoes and chilli is more divisive, says Mr Yeunh. Diners might be forgiven for mistaking the messy nest of slightly burnt strands for a kitchen accident that snuck onto the table. But the char is intentional, and elevates the springy, spicy noodles in the same way wok hei breathes fragrance into a plate of bee hoon.

Cut the heaviness with a radicchio salad dressed with a truffle vinaigrette and showered in parmigiano cheese ($14), before diving into the sweet embrace of dessert – milk gelato draped in extra virgin olive oil and flaky salt ($6).

Tip: Visit during off-peak hours, such as 1.35pm on a weekday or after 8.45pm for dinner.

Mensho Tokyo​

Mensho Tokyo Singapore is famous for its chicken soup ramen. ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK
Where: 03-43 Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road
Open: 11am to 9pm daily
Info: @menshotokyo.sg on Instagram

Mensho Tokyo, a Japanese ramen chain whose San Francisco outlet is currently listed in California’s Michelin Guide, arrived in Singapore in July, trailed by hordes of curious diners eager for a sip of its umami-rich soup.

Its signature toripaitan ($28++) layers A5 wagyu chashu, smoked pork chasu, duck chasu, chicken chashu, king oyster mushroom strips and ajitama eggs on wavy wheat noodles. All this is steeped in a creamy chicken broth that does not immediately knock you out in the way that pork, with its stronger flavour, sometimes does.

A dry alternative exists in the form of the A5 wagyu aburasoba ($41++), which blankets its chewy wheat noodles in two types of Miyazaki beef. A sauce made of barrel-aged shoyu adds savoury depth to this oily, indulgent bowl of noodles.

Other more unconventional options include the duck matcha ($25++) and chilli crab ramen ($28++) – a Singapore-exclusive tribute to a local classic – which have yielded mixed reactions from diners.

The restaurant also serves up a bevy of sides, like fried chicken ($12.80++) perfumed with Japanese black vinegar, crispy enoki chips ($8.80++) and torched corn with tare sauce ($8.80).

Tip: Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, when the restaurant tends to be quieter – you might even be able to enter without queueing. As wait times can reach up to 30 minutes on weekends, guests are encouraged to arrive early.

Tonshou​

Hire katsu set from Tonshou.ST PHOTO: CHERIE LOK
Where: 51 Tras Street
Open: 11am to 9pm daily
Info: @tonshou_sg on Instagram

Tonshou is a Korean pork cutlet chain more than capable of going toe to toe with the top Japanese tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore. Its not-so-secret weapon? A charcoal-grilled pork cutlet that redefines what tonkatsu should look and taste like.

Instead of rectangular blocks trimmed with fat – though it has those too – Tonshou’s Instagram-famous hire katsu set ($28++) rolls in on blushing pork loin medallions. A meticulous four-stage cooking process packs the juices into the meat, ensuring the cutlet remains crispy yet succulent.

The rosu katsu set ($28++), on the other hand, more closely resembles the version of this dish typically found at Japanese eateries, and offers much of the same textural duality, plus an added burst of fat.

These breaded slabs of gold can also be stuffed between bread. A pork cutlet sandwich costs $21++, while a shrimp tempura sandwich goes for $24++.

Because this is a Korean chain, all sets come with a small saucer of kimchi. The usual accoutrements follow too: miso soup, shredded cabbage and rice.

Tip: The restaurant uses a QR-based remote queueing system, so join the waitlist before travelling to the restaurant to minimise waiting time. It is also in the process of setting up a reservation system.

Casa Vostra​

Italian restaurant Casa Vostra has updated its menu with new dishes.PHOTO: CASA VOSTRA
Where: 01-49/50/51 Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road
Open: 11.30am to 10pm daily
Info: casavostra.sg

After a year at Raffles City, casual Italian joint Casa Vostra is still commanding formidable queues, even on weekday evenings.

To keep up with the hype, the restaurant refreshed its menu in April, unveiling homely fare such as the aglio e olio ($15) inspired by the recipe of chef-owner Antonio Miscellaneo’s mother. It tosses in sun-dried tomatoes for some summery pizzazz.

The beef cheek parpadelle ($25) is another new entrant worth waiting for. Silky pasta sheets act as the perfect vehicle to sop up a rich and meaty ragu stewed with tomatoes and smoked speck.

A smattering of new sides have wound their way onto the menu too. For example, the baked scamorza ($6), a dangerously gooey puddle of melted cheese drizzled with honey.

Last but not least, no trip to Casa Vostra is complete without a slice of its trademark Newpolitan pizza, dressed up this time with the sweet-savoury melange of Parma ham, fig puree, rocket, Parmigiano Reggiano, candied walnuts and Fior di latte mozzarella ($26). As always, the crust – whipped into shape by a long process of fermentation and baking – is perfectly airy and crisp.

If its sweet undertones do not suit your palate, there is a steady selection of traditional flavours to pick from, all affordably priced and well under the $30 mark.

Tip: Drop by from 2 to 5pm, the restaurant’s off-peak hours.

 

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Delays expected at Woodlands Checkpoint for Johor-bound travellers, even after 3-hour jam subsides​

The Causeway between Singapore and Malaysia, seen here on May 20, is one of the busiest land crossings in the world. PHOTO: ST FILE

Sherlyn Sim
Jun 14, 2025

SINGAPORE – People driving into Malaysia on June 14 should expect delays owing to a tailback from Malaysia at the Woodlands Checkpoint due to heavy departure traffic, even after a jam that left motorists with a wait of over three hours had subsided.

In a Facebook post at 11.24am, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that the tailback from Malaysia had extended beyond Exit 10A of the BKE in Woodlands due to “very heavy” departure traffic.

In an update at 3.35pm, ICA did not state how far the tailback from Malaysia extended to, but still warned of delays. It advised travellers to check traffic conditions before embarking on their journey, and said it would provide updates on its Facebook.

In May, ICA said that people driving into Malaysia during the June school holidays should expect traffic congestion and longer wait times at the two land checkpoints.

It also previously warned drivers not to jump the queue at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

If they get stopped by ICA officers, they will face having to make a U-turn and rejoin the queue.

They could also be blacklisted and face further disciplinary action from the authorities.

On May 9 – the Friday before the Vesak Day long weekend – tailbacks from Malaysia caused motorists to wait up to three hours to clear immigration.

More than three million people crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from May 8 to 13, ICA added, with the crowd peaking on May 9 at over 546,600 travellers.