Meet Stella, a passionate food reviewer and content creator who has taken Instagram and TikTok by storm with her engaging reviews. With a keen eye for detail and a love for discovering hidden gems, she shares her culinary adventures, from trendy new eateries to timeless local favourites.
Her visually captivating content, combined with insightful recommendations, has earned her a loyal following of food lovers who trust her for the best dining spots. Whether it’s street food, fine dining, or viral food trends, Stella is always on a mission to explore and share the most delicious eats with her audience.
What inspired you to start doing food reviews on social media?
Before I started food reviewing, I was involved in e-commerce. During the MCO (Movement Control Order), I helped businesses with ‘live’ selling and promotions on social media. At that time, many physical stores had to close, so they had no choice but to transition online.
I started assisting these businesses by helping them establish an online presence to survive the pandemic. After MCO, when businesses were finally able to reopen, I naturally transitioned into food reviews.
Many business owners had realised the importance of social media—no matter how good your food is, if no one knows about it, it’s as if it doesn’t exist.
That’s how I embarked on this journey. I hope my sharing can help more people discover these businesses.
What gives you the most satisfaction from doing food reviews?
The most fulfilling part is receiving messages from business owners telling me that my video helped them attract more customers.
I stick to my goal—using my influence to help businesses gain exposure. During this journey, I’ve met many hardworking business owners, including elderly hawkers who don’t know how to use social media. They used to rely on walk-in customers, but after MCO, they struggled.
By featuring them in my videos, I realised I wasn’t just helping their business—I was supporting their employees’ livelihoods. That sense of fulfillment outweighs any challenges I face.
One buffet restaurant owner once told me that after my post, customers flooded in, and they couldn’t store enough food in their fridges! Knowing that my content can make such an impact and help businesses thrive is incredibly rewarding.
How do you choose which food or restaurants to review such as having any specific criteria?
I don’t have strict criteria because I believe taste is subjective. What I find delicious might not be the same for someone else. I choose based on my personal preferences, but my content isn’t limited to just high-end restaurants or buffets.
I like to explore a variety of places because we can’t eat the same thing every day! Apart from food, I also share lifestyle-related content, such as beauty and wellness.
For example, women love taking care of their appearance, so I also share experiences related to hair care, self-care, and daily lifestyle needs. My content isn’t restricted to just food.
Have you encountered any particularly interesting or challenging experiences while doing food reviews?
One of the fun aspects of being a food reviewer is meeting interesting business owners and engaging with my audience. Of course, I’ve encountered internet trolls, which was frustrating at first, but I’ve learned that no one can please everyone.
I also have fun moments, like when restaurant owners invite me to try cooking. For example, when I filmed at a fried kway teow stall recently, the owner tried to teach me how to cook, but I’m better at eating than cooking! These interactions make the job enjoyable.
How do you balance objective reviews with collaborations with restaurants or brands?
When I make videos, I don’t explicitly say whether the food is good or bad because taste is personal. Someone who loves bold flavours might enjoy something I find too salty, and vice versa. Instead of giving definitive judgments, I share what I see and taste, allowing my audience to decide for themselves.
Do you plan to venture into other areas, like opening a restaurant, writing a food book, or organising food events?
Maybe after eating for a few more decades, I’ll consider writing a book, but opening a restaurant? Definitely not! I only know how to eat, not how to cook. Through my interactions with food business owners, I’ve realised how tough the F&B industry is, and I truly respect their dedication.
For now, my goal remains the same—I want to continue using my influence and short videos to help businesses reach more people. Just like how I used to struggle with finding places to eat, people now rely on social media for recommendations. I hope my content saves my audience time while helping businesses gain more exposure.
Connect with Stella: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Editor’s note: Interview conducted in Mandarin and translated to English.
