Earlier this week, a video of a woman going ballistic about a man who asked her out on a first date to Lau Pa Sat went viral.
In the original video, which has since been removed, she said she was deciding on what to wear for the occasion when she received a text from her date.
“The guy told me that we’re going to Lau Pa Sat. Seriously, why are men so terrible? I really don’t get it,” she continued.
She then ranted: “I don’t know, man. I’m done. I’m so done with this,” before gagging.
In the video, she also wrote: “IT’S THE FIRST DATE. For the context: Lau Pa Sat is a hawker centre/food court. It’s worse than fast food in my book. Dear Universe, stop sending me cheap and/or toxic men. Thanks.”
That video quickly received comments from netizens defending the much-loved hawker centre.
“We went [to Lau Pa Sat] for our first date. Beer, satay with good vibes and we walked around the town… We are married now. [You] Should focus on having a good time instead,” wrote a netizen, who was speaking from experience.
Another commented: “Lau Pa Sat is okay on a first date. I would love it, got more choice of food to choose (sic).”
Yet another wrote: “Satay and chill, why not?”
Some netizens also highlighted that food at the CBD hawker centre is in fact not cheap, with one even describing it as “atas” (aka high-class).
A netizen also snarked: “If I am Tom Cruise or some Kpop boyband (sic), would Lau Pa Sat be ok!?”
Meanwhile, TikTok content creator @/tannergoner shared his thoughts on why he thinks the girl was so mad about having her first date at the hawker centre.
He first questioned why the location of the date was decided so last minute.
He also reasoned that having the date at a hawker centre would have resulted in both parties perspiring throughout the meal.
“You guys are going to be sweating. Does that look presentable to you? She’s going to have a bad impression of you and you’re going to have a bad impression of her,” he asserted.
“You guys probably want to go to a well-ventilated place, or somewhere with air-con,” said Tanner, before side-tracking: “Honestly ah, would Saizeriya even be acceptable for a first date since it has air-con? Probably not!”
He then suggested that the ideal place to have a first date is somewhere that costs S$20-30 per person and with air-con.
“I’m sure that for subsequent dates, your partner or the person you’re dating wouldn’t mind Lau Pa Sat or any hawker centre and kopitiam. It’s just weird [to have your first date there],” he added.