A diner expresses disappointment over food portion size and quality at a local Japanese-Korean stall, calling it a “loophole” to cheat customers.

A Singaporean diner, Roi Roi, took to social media on February 2 to voice his frustration after purchasing a meal at a food stall near the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) that he felt did not live up to expectations. According to Roi, the food portion was so small that it resembled a “kindergartener’s meal,” prompting him to question whether food stalls are exploiting loopholes to deceive customers.

The meal, which Roi paid S$6.80 for, was from a Japanese and Korean food stall at the Blk 4 food court. He was particularly disappointed with the size of the food, which he described as unreasonably small compared to the images on the stall’s menu. “Picture is for illustration only,” the menu sign read, which Roi pointed out as misleading.

In addition to the portion size, Roi criticized the quality of the miso soup, claiming it “didn’t even have miso.” His post quickly garnered responses from other users. Some sympathized with his complaint, suggesting he should provide feedback to the stall’s management or simply avoid returning.

One user reminded others that the disclaimer on the menu is common across eateries, intended to warn customers that the actual food may differ from the pictures. “It’s nothing new,” they commented. However, Roi felt that such disclaimers were used unfairly, especially in Japan, where he believes customers get exactly what they see in photos.

Others, while acknowledging his dissatisfaction, pointed out that this is a standard practice in the food industry. “It’s just a decoration,” said one commenter, referring to the images on the menu.

Despite the differing opinions, the complaint reflects ongoing concerns about food quality, pricing, and transparency in Singapore’s food courts.