Halal-certified nasi lemak stall, The Coco Rice is set to pull down its shutters come end-Mar 2024.
Their stall at Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre will shutter on 27 Mar 2024, while the One Punggol Hawker Centre stall will close on 31 Mar 2024.
The Coco Rice announced these closures on their Instagram and Facebook pages on 6 Mar 2024, stating that they will bid a bittersweet farewell to their “physical presence”.
Nonetheless, they expressed much gratitude for the support from their loyal customers. Reassuring them that they’ll remain unwavering in their commitment to “delivering exceptional flavours”, they asked followers to keep their eyes peeled for upcoming updates.
The Coco Rice first opened their flagship Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre stall in 2021. They stand apart from other stalls with their nasi lemak kukus that uses a gorgeous steamed blue pea rice.
A second outlet at One Punggol Hawker Centre soon followed, this time specialising in Penang-style nasi kandar kukus.
“It is tough but I would say it is worth it,” said The Coco Rice’s founder Aries Chan, reflecting fondly upon the short yet fulfilling 3-year journey. She asserts that she has learned a lot from it, especially she started having limited experience in the F&B industry and has grown to helming a well-recognised stall that has received many accolades.
When asked about the reasons for closure, Aries cited several. The Coco Rice has grappled with manpower issues, given the gruelling nature of the hawker business.
The business also spares no effort in preparing high-quality dishes in terms of both taste and aesthetics. Aries added that this doesn’t entirely align with the prevailing mindset that hawker food should be cheap and fast.
Finally, in light of the ever-changing nature of the F&B industry, Aries feels that it is time to make a “strategic shift”. As such, she hopes to revitalise the brand and introduce new products in line with her mission to deliver authentic tastes and experiences to a wider audience.
In the meantime, The Coco Rice will stick around until the end of the month, so do head down for a final taste of their fragrant nasi lemak offerings.
Order Delivery (Tiong Bahru): foodpanda Deliveroo
Order Delivery (Punggol): Deliveroo