Food Republic @ VivoCity — Restaurant in Singapore

Food selection is plentiful and most taste good. Prices are much higher compared to other food courts because it is targeted at tourists and always crowded.

low score is because it is not conducive for handicapped, the tables are filthy, and the cleaning staff have the worst attitude ever.

We have an elderly wheelchair user and there is No accessibility seating around. When i asked a female cleaner if there were specific tables for wheelchair users, she replied in Mandarin “how would i know? You go look yourself”.

When we finally found a place to sit, the male cleaner standing next to the table didn’t lift a finger to move the chair or table to help me manoeuvre the wheelchair in. Then when i asked him to clean the dirty table, he rolled eyes at me, shooed me away with the back of his fingers and cleaned the table disgruntledly.

Worse of all, later, a hapless African tourist who could not find a place to sit, asked to sit at a single table the cleaner had appropriated to place his dish rags and some trays on. The cleaner just gave the tourist a condescending look and didn’t bother to remove the dirty items or his cleaning trolley next to the table. The tourist had not much choice so sat down awkwardly and wolfed down his food next to a trolley of filthy cutlery and food waste.

Immediately after the tourist left, the cleaner cleaned up all the items and pushed his trolley away. Why couldn’t he have done that before or after the tourist sat there uncomfortably eating with his nose inches away from smelly plates, detritus and dish rags? I can only assume it was intentional bigotry. If this food court was target at tourists, what a terrible impression it must have left on thar tourist. It certainly made me ashamed of local “hospitality”.

I know cleaning is a thankless backbreaking job, and these cleaners are elderly and probably have financial difficulties hence still working at advanced age. But if they are not doing their jobs well (tables are noticeably dirty and there have been media reports of cockroaches) plus being rude and unpleasant to customers, something must be said. They’re either not sufficiently staffed or not trained properly. Either way, the onus falls on...

I HAD FOOD POISONING EATING HERE.

I work in Vivo City and frequently patronise the food republic. Yesterday 24/5 I decided to try the Korean Food stall that I haven't tried before.

Firstly, I would like to address the attitude of the staff named "Ma Sun". He was so so so rude when taking orders. Like we owe him a billion bucks and he stares at you, not asking any questions like "Beef or chicken"? He just rolled his eyes. The customer behind me which is a guy, was treated the same when he was placing orders. And he also was taken back by the staff's rude attitude.

When I collected my meal, I got the shock of my life. I've had many, beef sundubu in my life and I have never seen one like this. Please look at the attached photo. Anyone who knows, knows that IT ISN'T SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE THAT. I brought it to my colleague, and my colleague was shocked too. I proceeded eating, mind you the soup tasted like sewage water. I'm not even kidding, it's bland like water and has a dirty cloth taste in it. Me and my colleague both tried it, and it was the worst thing we've ever tasted. I looked at the meat and it literally looked like lymph meat. By one look, we coild tell the meat and vegetables wasn't fresh and it certainly made the soup tasted weird too.

I had a few spoons of the soup and rice (I did not eat the meat or veg). To the extent that I couldn't even look at it anymore, I then proceeded to get other food.

Today 25/5 I'm writing this review because I'm currently having food poisioning. I vomitted a few times and having severe stomach ache, took several trips to the bathroom too. PLEASE DO NOT PATRONISE THE KOREAN FOOD STALL WHEN YOU ARE HERE. SERVICE SUCKS...

For a brand new Foodcourt that was closed for 6 months for a mega renovation project, I can only say that the changes are really not much for the better.

The Air-Conditioning system which was appalling before renovation has hardly improved. I have given feedback a few times about the terrible Air-Con (and stuffy, smoky conditions) previously but it seems that the management has not listened. Many parts of this Foodcourt are still rather stuffy and quite warm - unacceptable in today’s 2025 environment. Kopi Tiam in Vivo City’s basement has a much much better Air-Con, for example, resulting in a significantly more comfortable experience.

As for the layout, it is worth pointing out that the tables & chairs are simply squashed way too close together, with barely any space between tables. It is awful to be dining in a Foodcourt where people are stuffed like Sardines in a can. NOT OK for a Foodcourt with a more premium positioning.

Also, it seems obvious that that the new layout favours getting as many Stalls in as possible - the detrimental effect is clearly felt in the fact that there is any hardly any room for people to move around and dine in comfortably once the Foodcourt gets super crowded during peak lunch times.

Price wise, many of the stalls are rather expensive for what they offer. Any add-ons will result in the price leapfrogging to almost restaurant prices that come with Service.

Overall, this new Foodcourt is a disappointment. I will continue to enjoy its older sister outlet - the Food Republic at Wisma Atria is excellent...