Nasi Berlauk Juedin Offers ‘Rahmah’ Price To Help The Less Fortunate

KUALA NERUS, July 6 (Bernama) -- Although the prices of essentials have gone up, a husband-and-wife team running a food stall continues to serve a variety of dishes at affordable ‘rahmah’ prices.

Driven by a desire to ease the burden of the less fortunate, Sabarudin Ramli, 42, and his wife, Ajuma’ Arasikim Din, 41, are determined to sell ‘nasi campur’ (mixed rice) with various dishes at just RM5 per serving at their eatery, Nasi Berlauk Juedin.

Sabarudin said that although their profit margin is small, he is content knowing that he is able to help his customers, especially those with large families.

“I started this business in 2014 with a budget rice menu priced at RM2.50 from a small stall in Kuala Nerus before we moved to our current location six years ago.

“The ‘rahmah’ concept was introduced just three weeks ago. Previously, our prices were like any regular eatery. But after many customers shared their struggles with the rising cost of living, my wife and I decided to make a change,” he said when met at his eatery in Kampung Tok Jiring here today.

Every day, the couple rises at 4 am to prepare more than 30 dishes, assisted by four employees.

Among the most popular menu items are ikan patin masak tempoyak, ayam berempah, udang masak lemak cili api, ikan tiga rasa and kerabu pegaga.

For the past three weeks, their eatery has been frequented by customers from Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Nerus and Marang.

“Ever since my eatery went viral on TikTok, we’ve been getting a non-stop stream of customers. They arrive as early as 10 am to dine in, and many also pack various dishes to take home.

“Alhamdulillah, all our customers are satisfied. Despite the low prices, we never compromise on quality. Many are surprised that seafood dishes like prawns in gravy are priced at just RM4 a plate,” said the father of three.

Sabarudin said their business operates from 10 am to 5 pm from Sunday to Thursday.

“But these days, our food runs out quickly. By around 1.30 pm, most dishes are already gone, so we have to close early. In the past three weeks, we’ve been serving about 300 customers a day and had to prepare larger batches of food to avoid disappointing customers,” he said, adding that iced tea and syrup drinks are also sold at just 50 sen per glass.

A customer, Muhammad Asyraf Haniff Zaki, 35, from Manir, said he was pleasantly surprised to find a place still selling mixed rice at RM5 and hoped that other traders would emulate such an initiative.

“Today, I came with my wife. We had two pieces of ayam percik, fried beef, patin tempoyak and ulam-ulaman. We also packed two pieces of chicken in gravy and prawns for our kids.

“I paid only RM30. Usually, for this amount of food, it would be no less than RM50. Definitely worth it,” he said.

-- BERNAMA