$88 for 1kg of bak kwa? Redditor stunned by price at store

$88 for 1kg of bak kwa? Redditor stunned by price at store
PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit

With Chinese New Year around the corner, many are rushing to get their hands on some bak kwa (barbecued sliced pork). 

A shopper took to Reddit on Sunday (Jan 21) to share the price of bak kwa sold at a Bee Cheng Hiang outlet.

The Redditor posted a photo which showed that applewood sliced pork was retailing for $52.50 per 600g and $88 per kg.

They wrote: "To be honest, I don't know what the market rate of bak kwa during Chinese New Year has been. But wow, this sure is expensive."

According to Bee Cheng Hiang, its applewood sliced pork was made from premium pork hind leg marinated in US imported applewood.

At around same time last year, the same item was priced at $78 per kg, marking a price increase of about 13 per cent. 

The Reddit post caught the attention of many online, with some agreeing that the bak kwa was overpriced. 

PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit/r/Singapore

However, some commented that they were willing to pay higher prices for premium bak kwa.

PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit/r/Singapore

One of them commented: "The applewood bak kwa has been and was always the most premium priced bak kwa since ages ago. This bak kwa isn't new at all. It's expensive during off-season, pre-2022 and will always be expensive now."

Another netizen pointed out that the applewood sliced pork is a gourmet version of the original bak kwa, and comes with a higher price tag.

PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit/r/Singapore

There are more affordable bak kwa sold at other chain stores such as Fragrance, other Redditors said.

PHOTO: Screengrab/Reddit/r/Singapore

A quick check on Fragrance's website showed that their signature sliced bak kwa is priced at $63 per kg.

This year, several bak kwa stores raised prices by about 10 per cent, and some had offerings that were priced at over $100 per kg, Shin Min Daily News reported on Jan 15.

At Lim Chee Guan, prices for its signature bak kwa rose from $78 last year to $80 per kg this year. Meanwhile, Fragrance was selling its signature sliced bak kwa at $66 per kg, up from $62 last year.

Premium bak kwa, such as Bee Cheng Hiang's Chilli Gourmet, was sold for $108 per kg this year, up from $98 last year. At Kim Joo Guan, the premium Iberico bak kwa also saw a price increase from $196 to $216 per kg.

A spokesperson for Lim Chee Guan told Shin Min that the prices of bak kwa are higher this year mainly due to the increase in labour costs and raw material costs.

Despite these challenges, the spokesperson added that Lim Chee Guan will try its best to absorb costs and avoid further price increases.

ALSO READ: 'Obvious case of cheating': Shopper pays $57.60 for 1kg of bak kwa, gets 'only 500g plus'

ashwini.balan@asiaone.com

For more original AsiaOne articles, visit here.

homepage

trending

trending
    Home-based food businesses stir debate among restaurant owners
    Israel-Iran battle escalates, civilians urged to evacuate target areas
    Cyclist, 54, seen lying face-down following accident with tipper truck along Tanah Merah Coast Road
    Just tired or something more? The overlooked mental struggles some new dads face
    Malaysian woman found dead in Johor, colleagues seek only known relative in Singapore
    Singapore's Covid-19 wave subsides after weekly infections climbed to 26,400 cases in April
    1 dead, 2 injured as gunmen open fire at group of diners in KL restaurant
    Anxious Harvard-bound Singaporeans press ahead with plans, even as some still don't have visas
    'In shock': British Indians mourn crash victims at London vigil
    'I miss you, dad': Sons speak on grief, growth and navigating life without a father
    $540 instead of $5.40: Porridge stall in Westgate seeks customer who overpaid by mistake

Singapore

Singapore
    • ICA arrests Malaysian man trying to leave Singapore by hiding in lorry
    • Foreigner arrested for suspected drug trafficking offences, over $110k worth of cannabis and Ice seized
    • Singapore's 15th parliament to open on Sept 5
    • 16 arrested for illegal horse betting in joint operation by Singapore and Malaysia police
    • 'Consultants' luring debtors to borrow more to exploit government bankruptcy avoidance scheme
    • Police Coast Guard rescues 63-year-old man off East Coast Park waters
    • 'Can't get through to anyone': Jetstar Asia passengers facing issues with refund applications
    • HSA raids nightclub at Coleman Street for sale and use of illegal e-vaporisers
    • Cultural group releases own video to clear the air over Gan Siow Huang handshake incident 
    • Man, 39, accused of housebreaking jumps bail, arrest warrant issued

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • BTS' Jin tries lie detector test, what untruths did the machine pick out?
    • Kim Soo-hyun's luxury apartment seized over unpaid advertiser's penalty fee amid Kim Sae-ron scandal
    • 'I thought I was a forgotten actress': Apple Hong touched by supporters' messages after Star Awards' popularity nomination
    • Ryan Lian reveals rocky 4 months, including grandma's death and 'eating huat kueh left out for prayer rituals'
    • Ye makes surprise appearance at Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial; judge considers removing juror
    • Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are engaged
    • Judge in Harvey Weinstein trial declares mistrial on rape charge
    • Sabrina Carpenter to release album titled Man's Best Friend on Aug 29
    • Stars harassed: Jungkook's house almost broken into by woman, chauffeur sells Orm's personal info to fans
    • Harvey Weinstein convicted of sex crime amid contentious jury deliberations

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Hello, Singapore: Malaysian bubble tea chain Tealive lands at Changi Airport, first outlet in the country
    • Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular coming to Singapore March 2026, waitlist now open
    • Durians for $1.95 at FairPrice annual fair this June
    • Restaurant Labyrinth to have 2-day collaboration with Culinary Class Wars' Choi Hyun-seok
    • Best buffet dining promotions in Singapore: Carousel, Colony, Edge, Peppermint, The Line buffet prices (June 2025)
    • Smart #3 Brabus review: Fun EV performance with a bit more sensibility
    • First-timer's guide to Costa del Sol
    • Touring a rare stretch of original 2-storey freehold terrace homes at Joo Chiat Place (from $3.02m)
    • Just opened in June 2025: New restaurants, cafes and bars in Singapore
    • Fan of PEANUTS? Meet Snoopy and Friends when you spend the June holidays at Compass One

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool
    • Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo
    • Ado concert review: Singer without a face ignites fans while in cage with only silhouette visible
    • EU and US authorities take down malware network
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?

Money

Money
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (June 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Estee Lauder Chairman Emeritus Leonard Lauder dies at 92
    • Love without a BTO flat: Tough housing choices facing mixed-nationality couples in Singapore
    • 9 best air-mile credit cards in Singapore (May-June 2025)
    • Trump approves Nippon Steel's $19b purchase of US Steel
    • Air India disaster is first fatal Boeing 787 accident
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (June 2025): Blackpink Visa presale, Lilo & Stitch Hawaii vacation, up to 50% off flights and more
    • More seniors to benefit as 3 local banks recognise CPF Life payouts as income proof for credit card applications
    • World Bank cuts global growth forecast as trade tensions heighten uncertainty
    • Queenstown 5-room loft breaks national HDB record at $1.65m

Latest

Latest
  • Macron rejects Trump's idea for Putin to mediate Israel-Iran crisis
  • Suspect in custody after shooting Minnesota lawmakers while posing as officer, ABC News says
  • Trump administration weighs adding 36 countries to travel ban, memo says
  • UK's National Crime Agency asked to investigate grooming gang cases
  • Paris Airshow opens under cloud of India crash, Mideast conflict
  • UK appoints first female head of MI6 spy agency
  • US-China trade truce leaves military-use rare earth issue unresolved, sources say
  • Trump says he hopes Israel and Iran can strike deal
  • Israeli military kills 41 people in Gaza, medics say

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • 'Family love keeps me going': Thai, 46, walks 700km to quit cannabis addiction
  • 'I was scared. I stood up and ran': Sole survivor of Air India crash reportedly jumped out of emergency exit
  • 'Overwhelming response': Less than 2,000 books left after Yale-NUS adoption drive, June 14 fair open to public
  • 'You got yourself a customer for life': Woman receives surprise gifts from SIA crew to celebrate her pregnancy
  • Bus swayed uncontrollably and was speeding: Survivors of crash which killed 15 students in Malaysia describe terrifying moments
  • 'Modern kampung spirit': Neighbours leave heartfelt notes on newly-weds' apology notice for wedding 'gatecrash' noise
  • 'A quiet spot to hang out': Car enthusiasts mourn closure of '40 tiang' Lim Chu Kang Road
  • 2 women arrested for theft at Changi Airport transit area within an hour
  • 40 Singaporeans going on 'Single's Inferno' trips to Japan to find love, minus the cameras
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.