MACHANG: As the cost of eating out continues to rise, one food vendor in Kelantan has held firm to a promise she made nearly a decade ago – to serve hot meals for just RM1.
Aminah Awang, 58, says keeping prices low is less about business than making sure everyone – especially families and schoolchildren – can still afford a hearty meal.
She began selling food in 2016 after closing her grocery store – her second daughter, Ku Nur Ainna Atiera, suggested offering affordable meals to children and students in Kampung Raja.
Today, diners can still enjoy a bowl of mee sup, bihun sup, kuey teow sup or nasi air for RM1. The same price also applies to grilled sausages, air batu campur (ABC) and air batu jagung.
More substantial options include rice with minced chicken for RM3, nasi bujang for RM2.50 and Maggi kari for RM3. Even at RM1, every bowl comes with shredded chicken and mustard greens.
Aminah said rising ingredient costs have made running the business more challenging, but careful sourcing and tight control of operating expenses have allowed her to keep prices unchanged.
“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 eatery is run with the help of her youngest daughter, Ku Nur Ainna Ariesya, and four employees.
Open from 12pm to 7pm Sundays to Thursdays, she serves between 200 and 250 bowls a day and attracts customers from beyond Kelantan, including Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
For Aminah, the biggest reward is knowing the meals make a difference.
“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.
One regular customer, Maria Nasuha Fauzi, has been making the 30-minute drive from Kuala Krai for the past four years.
She often visits with her cousins, drawn by a menu that has become increasingly rare in today’s economy.
“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.
The humble eatery recently gained national attention after a TikTok video attracted more than 1.3 million views, introducing Aminah’s RM1 meals to an even wider audience.
