---
title: "‘I couldn’t finish my food’: Diner disgusted by man seemingly plucking facial hair at Chinatown hawker centre"
url: "/singapore-seen/i-couldnt-finish-my-food-diner-disgusted-man-seemingly-plucking-facial-hair-chinatown-hawker-centre"
published: "2026-10-20T07:29:22.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-20T07:29:22.000Z"
section: "Singapore Seen"
authors: ["Fayyadhah Zainalabiden"]
tags: ["Singapore Seen","Chinatown","hawker centre","hygiene","disgusting"]
---

# ‘I couldn’t finish my food’: Diner disgusted by man seemingly plucking facial hair at Chinatown hawker centre

Public dining spaces are meant for everyone, but not everyone observes the same standards of hygiene and etiquette expected in these spaces.

Stomper Janelle Lim was left disgusted after spotting a man seemingly plucking his facial hair while seated at a table at Chinatown Complex Food Centre.

The sight was enough to put her off her meal, prompting her to share her experience with Stomp.

## Man sitting alone at Chinatown hawker centre seemingly plucks facial hair

Lim was having lunch at the hawker centre at about 1pm on Oct 17 when she saw an “uncle plucking his beard and dirtying the table”.

Videos shared with Stomp show a balding man holding what appears to be a pair of white tweezers in one hand.

He intermittently brings the tool towards his face, seemingly to pluck at his facial hair, before rubbing his upper lip area with his other hand.

According to Lim, the man, who was alone, was not dining but had occupied the seat for “quite some time” — between 45 minutes and an hour.

Lim and her boyfriend, who was seated next to her, watched the man repeat the actions for some time.

“I felt very disgusted and could not finish my food,” said the Stomper. “I feel that this should go on Stomp to warn other irresponsible diners that their actions are being watched in public.

“Many of them are taking advantage of public areas such as food courts or kopitiams as their own personal bathrooms. It is also not my first time seeing Singaporeans being so irresponsible and unhygienic in public areas.”

Lim said she did not report the incident to the authorities and decided against approaching the man for fear that he would become aggressive.

She added that some other diners had also noticed his actions but did not dare to approach him.