Bhai Sarbat hawker opens first outlet outside of Kampong Glam after S$200,000 losses from pandemic

Speaking to 8days.sg back in 2021, a despondent Asgar shared that he was barely hanging on, earning only between $100 to $300 a day as his business had fallen by 80 per cent. “My own salary never come, never mind. But I want to pay my staff. Then not enough left for my rental. I save zero per cent. That’s why I’m very scared. What to do?” he said in colloquial English.Losses from the lockdown, plus a short-lived Bhai Sarbat Restaurant he opened in 2020 and closed eight months later due to a lack of manpower, racked up to about $200,000 for Asgar. His uncle had opened the drinks stall in 1977, and Asgar officially took over the biz in 2018.
Thankfully, his shop has managed to weather the tough pandemic years, and Bhai Sarbat is now back to thriving. “Kampong Glam is better now. Now Covid finished already, everywhere start to open,” he tells us happily.What’s more, he opened his first outlet outside of Bussorah Street just two days ago, at Muslim-friendly kopitiam Lepak One Corner’s new Sengkang outlet.“I want to expand my business for my children. Of course lah (laughs). I try my best. It’s a struggle to succeed for life, for children, for family,” says the father-of-four, who has three sons and a daughter. Two of his sons are currently helping him run his Kampong Glam and Sengkang stalls.What kept him going was a sense of tenacity. “I can’t give up my hope. What I dream, I want to do. I want to have Bhai Sarbat in every corner of Singapore,” he declares.Enter F&B entrepreneur Winson Ng, 31, whose Muslim convert father owns halal coffeeshop chain Yassin Kampung. Their latest outlet, called Lepak One Corner, opened recently at Anchorvale Road.
Menu-wise, Asgar offers the same dizzying selection of beverages at his Sengkang outlet. There are over 50 options, including his signatures like Teh ($1.80 hot/ $2.50 iced), Teh Halia ($2 hot/ $3 iced), Teh Masala Bru ($3.50/ $4), Teh Campur ($1.80), and funkier picks like Kopi Halia ($2).You can also get snacks to go with the drinks, like Potato Puff ($2.50), Mutton Puff ($3), Ayam Nasi Lemak ($3.50) and Ikan Nasi Lemak ($2.50).Bhai Sarbat’s Sengkang outlet is at 326 Anchorvale Rd, #01- 01, S542326. Open daily 7am-11pm. www.instagram.com/bhaisarbatsgNo part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.8days.sg is now on #tiktok! Follow us on www.tiktok.com/@8dayseat