THE One Dollar Breakfast Tea Shop at Plaza Pandan Malim Business Park in Malacca is living up to its name by selling most breakfast menus at just RM1, despite the current rising cost of raw ingredients.

Owner Gan Poh Cheng, 55, said she still continues operations as she wants to continue doing good by serving lower-income groups and retired folk, all of whom frequent her eatery.

The cancer survivor said she relies on the smaller-profit-but-higher-turnover principle to cover overheads.

“My two children who help me at the shop keep reminding me that prices are going up these days, which is eating into our profits. But I will not raise prices yet,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Gan said the support she receives helps her sell larger volumes.

The eatery has been reviewed as “the cheapest breakfast restaurant in Malacca” online.

Breakfast menus sold for just RM1 include coffee, milo, fried noodles, nasi lemak and porridge. The most expensive dishes are just RM5 – fried rice, fried Hokkien mee or noodles with runny eggs.

Gan recently added a pork chop burger to her menu for a mere RM3.50.

“Inflation has made running the shop more challenging. But thanks to the strong support from customers, I can still cover costs, including staff salaries.

“For the time being, I do not intend to raise my prices.”

In fact, these tough times have attracted more people to the shop, including big families who want to eat out but also stretch their ringgit.

Gan said she feels happy when the elderly, especially retirees, and less affluent customers enjoy a meal.

“Many of my customers are older folk, who come here every day. I am happy that they are satisfied with the food and the price.”

Prior to her foray into the food and beverage industry, Gan worked in the insurance industry for nearly 10 years.

But she said her values changed after she overcame cancer a few years ago, and decided to let go of her insurance business.

She set up the breakfast shop in 2017.

“I felt that after money, what else is worth pursuing in life?

“What I do now is just a small thing – selling food and not making much profit. But as long as my customers feel full and warm, I am satisfied.”

Gan said though her prices are cheap, the meal preparation is careful, clean and thorough.

She added that she personally chooses the ingredients and has her customers’ health in mind.

“I think this is why my regulars come every day, especially the elderly. Many of them have low income or none at all, and rely on their children for allowance.”

Gan also works with charity groups to prepare lunch boxes, which are then given to underprivileged groups.

“I do this twice a month. There are still a lot of people who need help.

“Some of my regular customers will donate to help out, and I am very grateful.” – June 24, 2022.