Chinese delivery rider sparks curiosity after flying to Singapore for curry puff order
A Chinese man wearing a Meituan food delivery uniform has sparked online discussion after he was reportedly seen in Singapore buying curry puffs for a customer in China as part of a “cross-border food order”.
The incident occurred on 31 Aug when a Chinese user, based in Singapore, shared a video on Xiaohongshu, showing the man waiting at Hong Lim Curry Puff in PLQ Mall.
Rider reportedly flew to Singapore for order
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the Original Poster, Chloe, said she approached the man after noticing he appeared to have difficulty communicating with the shop staff.
She was surprised to find him wearing a Meituan uniform. The man reportedly explained that he was fulfilling a “cross-border order” placed by a Chinese customer.
Source: CHLOE番茄力 on Xiaohongshu
The customer was a Chinese business owner who had tried the curry puffs during a previous visit to Singapore and wanted to have them again, she explained.
The man reportedly said the customer paid RMB2,400 (about S$454) for his flight ticket, while the curry puffs cost S$13.50.
Online users debate whether order was genuine
The video attracted widespread attention online, with some users fascinated by the lengths taken to satisfy a food craving.
One commenter wrote that while spending heavily on food might seem excessive, they would do the same once they became wealthy.
Others questioned whether the incident was a marketing stunt.
Translation: Could this be a marketing stunt by the outlet?
Source: Xiaohongshu
Ms Chloe clarified that she was not sponsored or hired to film the video, describing the encounter as a coincidence.
Founder rushed to store to assist her struggling staff
The Straits Times (ST) reported that the part-time employee, a newly hired Myanmar national, at the counter could not speak Mandarin.
37-year-old Hong Lim Curry Puff founder Victoria Loh rushed to the scene after the staff called her for assistance.
There, she was asked by the rider whether he could pay via WeChat Pay or AliPay, two digital wallet platforms widely used across China.
Ms Loh said her shop did not accept either payment platform.
Source: CHLOE番茄力 on Xiaohongshu
She initially assumed the man was an ordinary customer and directed her staff to proceed as normal.
Ms Loh only discovered he was not a regular delivery driver when a woman, identified as the Xiaohongshu user, began shouting “Meituan”.
Paid order with cash note
The rider paid for the S$13.50 purchase using a S$50 cash note.
“They must have been craving it really badly. The world is truly full of surprises,” Ms Loh said, adding that she advised the rider on storage instructions for the trip back.
She noted that the rider was not filming himself, suggesting the act was not a social media stunt.
Calls grow for Meituan to enter Singapore
The incident also sparked discussions about whether Meituan would expand into Singapore.
Some users questioned the man’s identity and raised concerns about visa regulations, saying it was unusual for someone to travel overseas while wearing a delivery uniform.
Source: CHLOE番茄力 on Xiaohongshu
Some Singaporean users also called for Meituan to launch locally, with one commenting: “Meituan, come soon.”
According to Shin Min Daily News, Meituan customer service representatives officially denied offering international delivery, saying reports of cross-border ordering services are “untrue” and unsupported by the platform.
Also read: Thai GrabFood Rider Flies To S’pore For Chicken Rice Order, Grab S’pore Says Video Is Fictional
Thai GrabFood Rider Flies To S’pore For Chicken Rice Order, Grab S’pore Says Video Is Fictional
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Featured image adapted from Xiaohongshu.
