Frequently asked questions

A surprise bag (we also call it a rescue bag) is unsold food that a partner store packs up around closing time and sells at a big discount, typically about a third of the usual price. You know the store and the kind of food to expect; the exact contents are a surprise, because they depend on what is left that day.

The food is surplus, not spoiled. It is simply what a store did not sell by closing time and cannot sell as fresh tomorrow, so instead of binning it, the store sells it at a discount. Partners only bag food they would still sell over the counter, and their food safety obligations stay exactly the same as for any other sale.

Every bag has a pickup window set by the store, for example 7pm to 9pm. Reserve and pay in the app, then drop by during that window and show the QR code on your order. The staff scan it with their phone and hand over your bag.

You can pay with PayNow, credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Payments are processed securely by Stripe, and prices are in Singapore dollars, inclusive of GST where the store is GST registered.

Yes. You have a 10 minute grace period after paying to cancel in the app for a full refund to your original payment method. The grace period does not apply if you reserve just before or during the pickup window, because by then the store is already counting on your pickup. If a store cannot fulfil your order, you always receive a full refund.

If you do not collect during the window, the store may have to dispose of the bag and no refund is due, just like any takeaway order left uncollected. Pickup windows are shown before you pay, so only reserve a bag you can collect.

Yes. Stores can declare halal certification and dietary tags such as vegetarian, and you can filter for halal in the app. These tags are declared by each merchant rather than verified by us, so if you have an allergy or a strict dietary requirement, please check with the staff at pickup.

Makan Rescue SG is available now on the App Store for iPhone. The Android app has been submitted to Google Play and is coming soon.

Every user gets a referral code in the app. You earn S$5 for each qualified friend referral, up to 5 friends, and S$20 for each food business you refer that joins and goes live on Makan Rescue. The full rules, including what counts as qualified, are in our referral terms.

We would love to have you. Bakeries, cafés, restaurants, hawkers and grocers can apply on our partner page in a few minutes: no listing fee, no monthly fee, no hardware, just a small commission when a bag sells. We will call you back within two working days.