MACHANG, July 20 — While many food vendors have raised prices amid rising ingredient costs, a trader in Kampung Raja here has kept her meals at RM1 a bowl for nearly a decade, ensuring the community can still enjoy affordable hot food.
Aminah Awang, 58, said she ventured into the food business in 2016 after closing her provision shop, driven by her passion for cooking.
She said the idea of offering RM1 meals came from her second daughter, Ku Nur Ainna Atiera, 31, who wanted to provide affordable food for children and students in the village, particularly after school.
“The RM1 menu includes mee sup, bihun sup, kuey teow sup, nasi air, grilled sausages, Air Batu Campur (ABC) and Air Batu Jagung (ABJ),” she told Bernama recently.
She also serves rice with minced chicken for RM3, Nasi Bujang for RM2.50 and Maggi Kari for RM3.
Despite the low prices, each meal includes mustard greens and shredded chicken to ensure customers enjoy a filling and nutritious meal.
Aminah said rising ingredient costs have not stopped her from maintaining the RM1 price, as she sources supplies at lower prices from local suppliers while keeping operating costs under control.
“Alhamdulillah, although the profit margin is small, I still make a modest income. What matters most is that customers can enjoy affordable meals and I can continue running the business,” she said.
The business is now run with the help of her fourth daughter, Ku Nur Ainna Ariesya, 23, and four employees.
The shop operates from Sunday to Thursday, from noon to 7 pm, selling between 200 and 250 bowls of food daily. It attracts customers not only from Kelantan but also from Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
Aminah said maintaining the RM1 price was not merely a business strategy but a way of giving back to the community, particularly low-income families.
“I see this as a form of charity. Families with many children or those who are less fortunate can still enjoy a wholesome meal at an affordable price. That is what makes me happiest,” she said.
Meanwhile, customer Maria Nasuha Fauzi, 27, said the shop had been her preferred dining spot for the past four years despite being about a 30-minute drive from her home in Kampung Bukit Arang, Kuala Krai.
She said she is often accompanied by her cousins, who are drawn to the unique RM1 menu, which is difficult to find elsewhere.
“The food is affordable, delicious and filling, even with just one serving. I usually order the noodle soup with ABC, and this is one of the few places that still serves meals everyone can afford,” she said.
Earlier, a TikTok video by content creator Senok Perut featuring Aminah’s RM1 noodle soup went viral, attracting more than 1.3 million views. — Bernama
