#JOM: Mama Cah's halal bak zhang makes waves

New Straits Times

15-07-2025

WHAT began as a casual recipe video sparked a business idea that would take Mama Cah further than she ever imagined.
It all started with a single video in 2024. While filming her usual home-cooked recipe content, Mama Cah, a passionate home chef, shared a clip on making halal bak zhang, not knowing it would turn into a business idea that would take off nationwide.
"The comment section was full of people asking if I was selling it," she recalled.
"That question planted the seed. I realised there was a demand for halal bak zhang, which I hadn't considered before."
What followed was more than just a viral hit. It became the foundation of a growing business centred on premium, halal versions of nostalgic Chinese-Malaysian dishes.
BUILT FROM HOME, FUELED BY HEART
Starting small from her home kitchen, Mama Cah first experimented with a cherished family recipe passed down from her late mother-in-law.
"I started from home, where I filmed my content and sold homemade sambal."
Working without a storefront, she kept operations lean, managing everything online, from content creation to sambal production and frozen deliveries.
Quality was never compromised. Every bak zhang was made using carefully selected, premium ingredients.
Traditionally wrapped in bamboo leaves, bak zhang is a glutinous rice dumpling filled with savoury ingredients.
"We use premium ingredients like tea flower mushroom, Knife brand vegetable oil, boneless chicken thigh meat and whole duck salted egg. Customers often tell us it reminds them of their childhood, but with a modern, accessible twist.
"It's comfort food, done right and inclusive," she shared.
One of the earliest turning points came during the puasa and festive season, when overwhelming repeat orders began pouring in.
That surge validated her product and gave Mama Cah the confidence to scale the business.
To date, the halal bak zhang remains her best seller, especially among customers craving a taste of tradition that fits modern dietary needs.
"It's not just the uniqueness, but it's also the care we put into it," she said.
Like many first-time entrepreneurs, Mama Cah faced her fair share of challenges when it came to scaling her business.
"Anticipating demand and scaling production to match it was tough. We didn't want to overpromise and underdeliver, especially when it came to food quality and timely delivery.
"Keeping every batch fresh and consistent was a steep learning curve," she says.
Customer feedback became a guiding force in improving her operations.
"Feedback is gold. It's not just about fixing problems, it's about evolving with your customers and staying true to why you started in the first place," she added.
From investing in better equipment to upgrading her packaging process, every move was made to ensure that each order reached customers just as fresh as it left her kitchen.
CHILLED TO PERFECTION
Behind the scenes, reliable delivery quickly became a make-or-break factor for Mama Cah's growing business.
That's where Ninja Cold, the cold chain delivery solution by Ninja Van Malaysia, came in.
"Partnering with Ninja Cold gave us peace of mind," says Mama Cah."Their frozen logistics mean we can now deliver our products from Kuantan to across Peninsular Malaysia without worrying about quality drop-offs. After all, logistics is the backbone of customer experience. Especially in fresh food delivery, the timing and condition matter the most. That's why it's important that we partner with a reliable cold chain delivery provider such as Ninja Cold."
With temperature-controlled delivery ensuring each order arrives fresh, Ninja Cold has become a key enabler, allowing Mama Cah to focus on what she does best: creating delicious, nostalgic food with care.
Looking ahead, Mama Cah is gearing up to launch a new offering, a halal take on loh mai gai (steamed glutinous rice with chicken).
Like her bestselling bak zhang, it's a dish rooted in childhood memories, reimagined for today's wider audience.
"We're also planning festive bundles and teaming up with other food creators. It's an exciting time," she shares.
As her journey continues, Mama Cah says staying true to her purpose has made all the difference.
She also notes that having reliable support like Ninja Cold's cold chain delivery service has helped her small business grow with confidence.