Cai fan (economical rice) is the equivalent of McDonald’s in the hawker food realm for many Chinese Singaporeans—a fuss-free option with an ever-moving queue, its charm lies in its affordability, variety, and the efficiency of the cai fan auntie/uncle.

Also, it is the answer to the million-dollar question—what to eat for lunch? Well, for most Asians, rice with meat and vegetables is a staple on the dinner table at home and is always a trusty option. Just like your standard order at McDonald’s, you get what you expect (most of the time, even a tilted, out-of-place melted cheese of a Fillet O Fish burger). Thus, more often than not, we gravitate towards this stall with a glorious array of dishes, reciting, within seconds, our standard combination: ‘2 (portions of) meat 1 veg (vegetable), 1 meat 1 veg 1 egg, 1 meat 2 veg’.