Customer complains noodles smell like dirty rag, seller fires back

A man took to social media to complain that a bowl of wonton noodles from a Marsiling Mall hawker stall had a foul smell, comparing it to a "dirty rag".

The stall owner quickly dismissed the claim, stating taste preferences vary for each individual.According to the customer, he visited the stall on Feb 1 and noticed an unusual odour in his noodles.

He took it back to the stall for the owner to taste, but she insisted there was nothing wrong with it and that it was simply their "signature flavour"."I didn't argue with her and just paid for the food," he wrote in his Facebook group Complaint Singapore.

He also claimed that another customer had left a bowl of the same dish unfinished, complaining about the same "weird taste".The complaint post sparked heated discussion among netizens.

While some found it "disgusting" and vowed not to patronise the stall, others felt it could have been an isolated incident caused by oxidised ingredients or unclean cooking water.

Some defended the hawker, with one saying: "Don't try your best to kill a business and people's livelihood because of a poor experience that could be caused by human error."

Stall owner Xie, who has been running the business for over a decade, told Shin Min Daily News that she had never received such complaints.

"Food tastes are subjective. If you don't like it, you don't have to come here," she said.

"My business was good that day - I sold hundreds of bowls, and no one else complained. Maybe he's just used to a different flavour."

She further compared it to Michelin-recommended food, saying: "Even those don't always suit my taste. It's just a $4 bowl of noodles. If you don't like it, don't eat it."

Ms Xie assured that fresh ingredients are delivered daily, dismissing any concerns about spoilage.

"I don't pay attention to online comments. I serve hundreds of customers daily," she added.

"I can't please everyone."