Same price, more food? How to stretch your dollar at the economic rice stall

Feeling short-changed by small portions and rising cai fan prices? You're not the only one.

One netizen recently turned to Reddit's r/askSingapore to crowdsource the ultimate value-for-money cai fan strategy, asking: "Are there any known 'strategies' people use to get the best value when ordering cai fan?"

The post sparked a spirited exchange - some half-jokingly suggested looking "disheveled and hungry" to win "sympathy scoops", i.e. a larger portion, while others dropped innovative tried-and-tested hacks to get the most bang for your buck.

Here are our "ABCs of ordering economic rice" - five simple rules to help you get the most value from your meal.

A: Always order meat first

Sometimes it's not just what you order, but when you order it. Redditors recommend ordering meat - or pricey dishes - first, as stall owners tend to scoop more generously at the start.

"Order the expensive meat first, and cheap vegetables last. They tend to scoop more when the plate is empty and less when it is full," said one user.

B: Be patient

Patience is key. Some stall owners may rush customers to name their next dish before finishing the current scoop - often leading to smaller portions.

To get around this, a Redditor suggested: "Don't call out the next dish until the server is done taking your dish. But at the same time, don't take your time asking questions and choosing."

The trick is to let them finish one scoop before moving on - enough time to get a decent portion, without holding up the queue.

C: Count portion sizes

Take note of how much food is left in each tray.

When trays are freshly topped up and piled high, stall owners might portion more conservatively to make the food last.

A Redditor suggested: "Look for those dishes with slightly over a portion left, chances are they will give you more."

D: Don't order dishes at the front of the stall

It's not just customers playing the game - stall owners have their strategies too.

Some place pricier dishes such as fish, salted egg chicken or sambal prawns front and centre, while tucking cheaper items further back to draw customers' attention (and dollars) to the premium picks.

Reddit users recommend scanning the full spread before ordering, and opting for dishes closer to the back of the stall if one's on a budget.

"Don't order the stuff in the front, usually their most expensive food is displayed more prominently to entice you to order. Like fish, salted egg chicken, sambal prawns, sotong or chicken drumstick," said a user.

E: End-of-day orders

When all else fails, timing is everything. Ordering near closing time can work in your favour, as stall owners may be more generous to avoid food wastage.

One user suggested: "Order at the end of the day, chances are they will give more to clear the food that would otherwise be discarded."

While there may be fewer choices left, your plate might end up a lot fuller.

Economic rice servers respond

Cai fan is a uniquely Singaporean experience - whether it's scoring your favourite combo or finding creative ways to stretch every dollar.

And while customers may have their own hacks, stall owners aren't blind to the struggle. Many say they do what they can to help, even if they know the "tricks" being played.

As one former economic rice server put it: "You all are really funny, we know all these tricks. Sometimes we really do our best for you."