Chinese New Year is never complete without dried barbecued pork slices, or locally known as bak kwa. There are many brands selling bak kwa in the market but people are going crazy about one particular brand.
The brand in the question is none other than Lim Chee Guan.
A video went viral recently, as Malaysians (and Singaporeans themselves) were surprised by the lengths the Singaporeans went to, just to buy bak kwa.
The video shows people waiting in a long line, patiently waiting for their turn to purchase the famous bak kwas for Chinese New Year. What’s so crazy is the length of the line!
Just when you thought the line was going to end, it doesn’t. It just keeps going throughout the 1 minute 30-second video!
According to The Hungry Geek, Lim Chee Guan prepares the most delicious, soft and tender bak kwa that bak kwa lovers can find in Singapore. The brand was established since 1938 and pride itself for producing traditional tasting bak kwa.
Source: The Hungry Geek
The brand only operates in Singapore and has 3 outlets with the flagship store located in New Bridge Road. If you’re thinking about stopping by to grab some, you will have to stand in line for hours before your turn.
As early as one week before the Chinese New Year, customers will be forming lines in front of the shop hours before the shutter opens at 9 am. After hours of braving through the chills in the early morning, don’t expect the customers to go easy on the bak kwa.
One netizen spotted someone who spent $5800 (RM 18,125) to buy 100 kg of Lim Chee Guan bak kwa.
Source: Liang Tang Ricky Facebook
Other netizen also shared pictures of their ‘trophies’ and experience on social media.
“I’ve waited in the line for 10 hours to get these,” said a netizen.
Source: Evangeline Huang Facebook
“Wah, the queue is worse than the one at custom,” commented another netizen.
Source: Lee San Liang Facebook
Not everyone has the patience to queue for hours. Instead of personally lining up at the shop, some employers pay their foreign workers $5 (RM15.60) an hour to camp overnight at the shop so they can buy the bak kwa, Today Online reported.
Source: Today Online
It’s reported that after they bought 70kg of bak kwa for their employers, the foreigners from Tamil Nadu earned $60 (RM187) including $10 (RM31) of meal allowance. Besides, they also get half a day off from work too! That’s not too bad isn’t it? And that’s one serious craze for bak kwa right there!
So guys, if you have any friend travelling from Singapore to Malaysia, remember to ask them tapao for you. The bak kwa may be pricey, but why not just join the craze while you’re at it right!
