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We want this guy’s incredible luck — while most folks just hope for a windfall when buying Toto, Ivan Leong has had an unusually solid run with striking the lottery. In 2013, he bought a $3.50 Quick Pick ticket from a Singapore Pools outlet at Chinatown Point, and ended up winning a million dollars . No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg . 1 5 He split the windfall with his now-wife Stephanie Ng, 33. The couple bought a HDB flat, and gave the remaining money to Ivan’s parents. He then started working as a financial advisor before he left to apprentice at a roast meat stall, and eventually opened his own stall called Char Siu Lang . Right off the bat, Ivan’s shop at a Bukit Merah coffeeshop attracted long queues for his sultry house-roasted pork. He did well enough to open an outlet in Ang Mo Kio in 2022. Oh, and won another $3,000 that same year from a System 7 Toto ticket. But last February, he abruptly closed his Bukit Merah flagship due to a severe manpower crunch, and has been operating out of his sole Ang Mo Kio outlet ever since. 2 5 He’s back with a new outlet Fast forward to this year, Ivan has found another opportunity to open an outlet, this time at a newly-revamped coffeeshop at Blk 326 Woodlands St 32. The kopitiam, which reopened today (May 26), also houses two other young hawker-helmed stalls: Aw’s Signature Minced Pork Noodle and Duck Generation3, the latter run by the third-gen owner of braised duck specialist Yu Kee. 3 5 Customers can get the same menu offered at Ivan’s other stall, like the signature Char Siu Rice/Noodle ($5) , Roast Pork Rice/Noodle ($5) and Roast Chicken Rice/Noodle ($4.50) . For a platter with all three types of roast meat, you can go for the Trio Rice/Noodle ($8) . There are also a la carte options like Char Siu ($6/100g) , Roast Pork ($6/100g) and Roast Chicken ($16 for half/ $30 for whole) . For heartier carbs, Ivan also offers Hakka Noodle ($2.50) stir-fried with veggies, and a mod side, Japanese ramen-style Lava Egg ($1 each) . 4 5 According to Ivan, he has had to increase his menu prices this year by about 10 per cent due to “GST and suppliers’ price hike”. And just for fun, 8days.sg asked him if he had struck the lottery again. Amazingly, he did. Just last month, Ivan spent $3 buying Toto, but narrowly missed the grand prize by two numbers. “A little close,” he chuckles to us. That said, he still won $50. Not bad at all. Better luck next time, we say. “Ya, have to wait for the big mega jackpot,” he replies hopefully. “I wish I will strike again.” 5 5 The pragmatic millennial reckons that he will still be a hawker even if he landed another major lottery windfall, like what he did when he scored a million dollars and opened a char siew stall with his wife, who now works with him. He gets enormous satisfaction from customers enjoying his food. “Today I just mass broadcasted [my new stall’s opening] to my customers, and so many people replied with kind words. I was touched that they appreciated and remembered my food,” he shares. There were also Char Siu Lang fans who requested Ivan to reopen his Bukit Merah stall beside ABC Brickworks market. He says: “But I would like to settle down at Woodlands first, then I will start planning again.” Char Siu Lang’s Woodlands outlet is at Stall 6 Maxim Stars Coffeeshop, #01-103, Blk 326 Woodlands St 32, S730326. Open daily 11am-7pm. www.facebook.com/CharSiuLang No 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