A Malaysian hawker is going the extra mile to serve affordable meals to the community by introducing an all-you-can-eat concept while keeping profit margins to a minimum.
The 51-year-old vendor, known as Nicky, opened his stall last year. He primarily sells fried bihun (vermicelli), noodles, and kuey teow for just RM3 per person. Under this concept, dine-in customers can enjoy unlimited servings of noodles and basic dishes, while add-ons such as eggs, luncheon meat, and curry chicken are charged separately.
He was once a chef in the United Kingdom
Nicky’s initiative was inspired by the personal hardships he faced in the past, including periods when he went hungry. Before returning to Alor Setar, Kedah, roughly 10 years ago, he spent 17 years working as a chef in the United Kingdom and later continued his career at a hotel in Singapore.
As the eldest son, he felt a responsibility to return home to care for his family after his father fell ill. Following his father’s passing, Nicky has remained in Kedah to live with and support his mother.
Giving back to the community
“I also grew up poor and received help from others back then, so now I want to give back to society,” Nicky told China Press.
His stall now attracts hundreds of customers daily. To keep up with the overwhelming demand, Nicky fries approximately 20 catties (roughly 12kg) each of bihun, kuey teow, and noodles every day.
He noted that many nearby factory workers earn less than RM2,000 a month, and he hopes his affordable meals can help lighten their daily financial burden.
Navigating challenges and future plans
Running such a low-cost model has its hurdles. Nicky shared that some customers previously attempted to pack breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at once, costing RM9, as takeaway orders are charged per container.
In other instances, five people attempted to share a single RM3 portion, prompting him to put up a sign clarifying that the offer is strictly for one person only.
Currently, the stall operates daily from 7 am until approximately noon. However, Nicky plans to extend his hours to include a 4 PM to 9 PM shift, where he hopes to introduce additional dishes such as seafood yee mee.
