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Famous 24-hour Taiwanese snack and supper spot, Yong He Eating House at 458 Geylang Road, may close by the end of Nov. The stall’s 46-year-old owner, Dong Han Zhong, has faced setback after setback, and thinks it’s the end of the road.
Dong Han is the 3rd-generation owner of Yong He Eating House. The stall traces its 60-year-old roots back to Taiwan, where Dong Han’s grandfather worked for its original owner before taking over the business. In 1986, Dong Han’s father opened the business in Singapore, and it has stayed ever since.
It’s been a saga of trials and tribulations for Yong He Eating House. The brand once expanded with a takeaway concept named Yong He Toast around Singapore in late 2021, with 3 outlets. However, they’ve all since closed. Dong Han’s father also fell ill in 2023, leaving his son to take over the business.
The final blow came when Dong Han’s elderly mother injured herself while helping out at the understaffed eatery.
A glance at Google Reviews paints a very bleak picture for the eatery. At 3/5 stars out of 1,686 reviews, the eatery’s fall from grace has been a slow erosion over the years, accelerated by the pandemic.
Scrolling down the list, painful 1/5-star reviews are a common sight. Many alleged that most items were sold out, food was not defrosted properly, and their You Tiaos (S$3) were either too hard or too soft.
Even Yong He’s iconic Cold Bean Curd (S$2.50) is not immune to criticism, with some claiming that the standard has dropped and the bean curd is tasteless. “Yong He’s standard was built by my parents. When I couldn’t maintain it, I felt like I failed them. It’s not Yong He that failed, it’s me,” Dong Han lamented to news outlets.
Dong Han is currently seeking S$300,000 for either a full takeover of the business or as an investment, to help keep it afloat. He says that he is open to negotiation, prioritising his beloved family brand’s future over everything else.
