One of Singapore's most popular hawker centers is set to close in August as the owners decide to retire.
Lim's Fried Oyster in Berseh Food Court on Jalan Besar has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Tripadvisor.
Owners Lin Weifa and his wife Pan Huiling, both 73, opened the restaurant in 1977. Pan said they didn't want to wait until they were too weak to retire but wanted to stop while they were still healthy. The food court is also set to undergo a renovation in September, so now is the perfect time to close.
To serve customers for decades, Mr. Lin and Ms. Pan have been busy all the time. They often sleep during the day and stay up at night. "We usually get home at 4-5am and can only sleep after 8am," Ms. Pan added.
The restaurant's announcement has left many diners regretful. In recent days, many diners have lined up in front of the restaurant to wait to enjoy their favorite dishes. "People have heard that we are closing so they come here more. The restaurant has been busier than usual these past few days," Ms. Pan said on April 7.
Shin Min came to the restaurant around 5pm on April 5 after hearing about the restaurant's closure on social media. At that time, the couple was preparing an order of 30 servings and had to open the restaurant an hour early. Even so, there were already about 30 customers lining up. Ms. Shin said she was sad that the restaurant was closing but also happy that the owners could retire while still in good health.
"Since I was a kid, I've loved fried oysters with eggs. I lined up at 6pm and after about 30 minutes of waiting, I got to eat my favourite dish. It's a shame that the restaurant is about to close," said Chen, another customer.