Mention about local Malaysian F&B produce and you’ll instantly think of Maggi’s ravishing Kari Letup noodles accompanied by the image of a toasty cup of comforting Milo in the mornings.
WRONG. So very wrong.
You’d never guess it in a hundred years but apparently both of these brands are not made in Malaysia! Surprisingly, Milo was developed by Thomas Wayne in Sydney, Australia whereas Maggi originated from Switzerland and was bought over by Nestlé soon after.
So what exactly are Malaysian brands, you may ask? Fret not, for we’ve kaotim-ed right down to the nitty gritty details to bring you our exclusive list of homegrown, made-in-Malaysia brands!
1. Manhattan Fish Market
If you think the clue lies in the name, think again.
Inspired by the famed Futton Fish Market in New York, founders George Ang and Dr. Jeffrey Goh managed to replicate the exact recipe that catapulted NY’s fish & chips to worldwide status. From the freshest catch of the day to a mouth-watering selection of delectable American-style seafood fare, Manhattan Fish Market is the one place that’ll surely get you hooked (bad pun intended).
2. San Francisco Coffee
Starting out with a modest vision of everyone enjoying a steamy cup of brew, this F&B establishment has indeed got most Malaysians fooled when it comes down to guessing their original roots. Purely homegrown all the way back to 1997, San Francisco Coffee has indeed successfully climbed their way up as one of the major competitors for first wave coffee houses with their impressive span of 30 odd branches (and counting!).
3. 1901 Hot Dogs
Another excellent example of misleading store names, 1901 Hot Dogs holds a history that can be traced back to 1997 when two budding entrepreneurs decided to bring this immensely popular Western street food onto our local shores. Ingeniously keeping a relevant presence in the local market, you’ll be able to spot some innovative Malaysian twist apart from their all-American menu with delicacies such as the 1Malaysia Hot Dog and Mighty Murtabak Wrap.
4. Sushi King
If we guessed right, your jaw should be wide open now.
Yes, everyone’s favourite sushi joint apparently has a little secret – they’re completely, 100% made-in-Malaysia! Established in 1995, Sushi King is considered the pioneer in introducing the revolving sushi concept (thank heavens!). Striving to serve quality yet affordable Japanese fare with a priority on freshness, their insanely popular Sushi Bonanza events exclusively for card holders are surely not to be missed given the ridiculously cheap RM3.18 fare and jaw-dropping varieties of sushi you can gorge on!