2 days ago
Cheap RM5 meals beats Menu Rahmah with huge portion, taste
NOT every amazing food outlet needs to have a Michelin Star. Some deliver by just being so shockingly cheap yet amazingly delicious.
When quality meets quantity, there's Warung Ciko Otai, which sells chicken rice, curry mee, jawa mee and soto at a jaw-dropping RM5.
According to a video post on X, the uncle who ran the stall said the price was inspired by the fact that he had trouble putting food on the table sometime in the past.
Perhaps Warung Ciko Otai was created not just to fill stomachs, but as a form of charity.
Wow semua makanan di sini RM5.
moga Tuhan bagi rezeki melimpah buat pakcik 🤲✨
— ًِ (@bckupacc99) July 12, 2025
And at RM5, we are convinced. To sweeten the deal, the portion was big too. There really is nothing to complain about here at Warung Ciko Otai.
The uncle has been running the stall since 2011, predating the Menu Rahmah by the Madani government. Maybe the blueprint for Menu Rahmah was inspired by him?
More importantly, how does he make a profit at this price range? Feedback from food operators who run the Menu Rahmah initiative could be observed for a better picture.
According to the Malay Mail in an article dated 2024, some food operators said they dropped the Menu rahmah initiative after pledged support from the federal government did not materialise.
Two restaurateurs said it was no longer feasible to offer meals at RM5 each without financial assistance, saying rising food costs meant they would have to incur a loss with each sale.
Salleh Othman, who manages Restoran Kampong Cili Padi, said he is ending his Menu Rahmah offering.
He said food prices have increased too much to continue offering the Menu Rahmah that have been loss-making since he made them available last year.
Salleh said this was exacerbated by his inability to access discounted ingredients promised to Menu Rahmah operators.
Interestingly, the uncle who operates Warung Ciko Otai was able to run his business for nearly 14 years, and likely without support from the government too.
Here is a man we could learn from. Away from the number crunching, we should all head over to Warung Ciko Otai at 1/A, Jalan Timun 24/1, Seksyen 24, 40309 Shah Alam for a hearty RM5 lunch. —July 14, 2025
Main image: @bckupacc99 (X)
