Canteen Two Unveils New Look

Canteen 2 reopens with new food stalls and a clean look, but students rue price hikes and old stalls that did not return.

By Elissa Teo

NEW LOOK: Canteen 2 opened its doors after a two-month renovation, boasting a refreshing look with new floor tiles, repainted walls and ceramic tables.
PHOTO: LIM MU YAO

Residents around Hall of Residence 2 are getting more diverse food options with the reopening of Canteen 2, but this also means paying more for their meals.

Three new stalls selling Korean dishes, Ramen, and Chinese steam buns were added to the line up after the canteen reopened on 1 Oct. Dirty floor tiles were replaced with new ones and the canteen walls received a new paint job. Round ceramic dining tables also replaced the former rectangular ones.

Lim Jia Ming, 23, a third-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said: “It is definitely cleaner and the canteen is less humid than before, perhaps because new air-conditioners were installed.”

With the newer and cleaner facilities, rent has also increased for stall holders, resulting in a rise in the food prices.

Mr Chen Jian Fu, 26, an assistant at the Ayam Penyet stall said rental costs increased by “some 70 per cent”. He said: “We had to raise the price of the steamed chicken set by S$0.40 (from $3.40 to $3.80) so that the business can survive.”

Despite the higher price for the ayam penyet set, Muslim students welcomed the reopening of the stall.

Siti Munirah Maria, 20, a second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) said: “Before Canteen 2 was reopened, I had to eat at Canteen 1 all the time as the other canteens were too far.”

“At least now there is another option for Halal food,” she added.

Meanwhile, Western food prices now are about $0.50 higher, while beverages cost $0.20 more on average.

Patrons whom the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to did not take too well to these increases.

Vivience Loh, 22, a third-year student from HSS, said: “I frequent Canteen 2 a lot, so paying higher prices for food every other day will mean a significant increase in my expenses.”

Some students missed the food of former vendors selling yong tau foo, chicken rice and soya beancurd.

Rachel Tan, 22, a second-year student from HSS, said: “The yong tau foo sold by the previous auntie was the only thing I liked from Canteen 2. But now that it is gone, I will not visit the canteen anymore.”

Despite the price hikes, some will still patronise Canteen 2 because of the convenience it offers.

Timothy Wong, 21, who stays in Hall 2, said he was willing to fork out more money than “take the hike up” to Canteen A for food.

“I take the higher prices as paying for the convenience,” he said.