Check Out 10 Of These Influential and Domineering Women In Malaysia’s F&B Scene.

Love food? Well these passionate and talented women have made a successful business out of it. If you’re a foodie, take these women as inspiration and turn your passion for food into reality… as they have.

1. Datin Nancy Liew

This brilliant and visionary founder of Marrybrown is a famous figure in the food industry. Datin Nancy Liew has been in the F&B industry for more than 3 decades and has even led her brand into the Malaysian Book of Records as the first Malaysian fast food franchise. Marrybrown started 35 years ago and was one of the most successful food-chains in the country. Today, she works very hard to ensure the company sustains its success and aspires to bring her food international.

2. Mac Chung Lynn

Mac Chung Lynn is the Director and Group CEO of Nando’s Malaysia and Singapore, one of the most successful F&B franchises in the region. With more than 17 years in the business and with numerous Nando’s outlets in Malaysia and Singapore under her belt, she has now started to take a step back from day-to-day activities to focus on a more strategic role. Her company has also won a number of awards throughout the years, including the Gold in the Malaysia Effie Awards in 2012. She was also handpicked for the a season in Life Inspired’s original series, Tastemakers, which highlights entrepreneurs and the achievements of innovative business personalities from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

3. Mrs Gaik Wong

Mrs Gaik Wong has been in the industry for over 40 years, opting for an early retirement in 1995. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because she was the one who decided that Hainanese Chicken Rice was something that can be developed into a chain store to cater for all Malaysia, coming together with her daughter in 2002 and creating The Chicken Rice Shop. The concept was based on a local halal family restaurant with a global growth potential, and today, the chain has marked its presence not only in Malaysia but internationally too. They took their grandmother’s traditional secret recipe, passed down from generations before, and turned it into a successful business. Wong has also been awarded “The Innovative Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in 2004. Also, in addition to their already successful restaurant, they also run other restaurants; Sepiring, Pancake House, and DubuYo.

4. Yuen Sze To, Lissa Yeoh and Way Cheng Yeoh

This Good Food Trio consists of two best friends and a pair of siblings; Yuen Sze To, Lissa Yeoh and Way Cheng Yeoh. They have been feeding Malaysian foodies for over a decade with their famous restaurants; La Risata, The Daily Grind, and Bijan Bar & Restaurant. Yuen surrounds herself with those who feed her well, including her bestie Lissa who put her business degree aside to pursue her love of cooking. These childhood friends then turned their passions into business, eventually joined by Way Cheng, and are now the hottest trio in the KL food industry, always seeking and contributing to the best food trends.

5. Sherena Razaly

A post shared by Sherena Razaly (@sherenarazaly) on Mar 19, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

Founder of Enak, Sherena Razaly is the epitome of someone who has turned their dreams and passions into a reality. She used to spend hours and hours in the kitchen with her mother since she was a young girl, developing her passion for the Malay cuisine. Her idea is to keep things simple and focus on the food itself. Since it first opened in 2005, Enak has been serving authentic Malay cuisines with a contemporary twist to keep them relevant and in-trend. But it still serves dishes with recipes hailing back four generations, and even with the twist, Sherena makes sure it still stays true to the culture and cuisine heritage.

6. Aneesha Veriah

A post shared by Aneesha Veriah (@averiah) on Oct 27, 2017 at 7:25pm PDT

Director of The Bowery Group is this strong powerhouse, who also owns Bowery Petit, BOWERY Kitchen & Bar, and Bowery Metro. Her passions for quiet luxury and customer experience led to her business idea. Her childhood growing up in a family that savoured great food, loves cooking, travel and hospitality, also affected her passions. Gradually, her passions for food grew and her career in the hospitality industry kicked off. She also draws most of her inspiration from great metropolitan cities such as New York. She also does events and catering under her company Made by Bowery and supper club called Untitled by Bowery.

7. Rina Abdullah

A post shared by @seraigroup on May 23, 2017 at 9:01pm PDT

Led by Rina Abdullah, the Serai Group consists of a family of restaurateurs with a passion for food. Abdullah was first exposed to the industry in 1990, serving Northern and Thai cuisines. As years passed, the restaurant because better known for the authenticity of each dish’s home-grown recipes, delicately prepared with the freshest of ingredients. She also continues to explore new culinary concepts with the upmost priority being the delight of her customers. The Serai group now has many restaurants under them; Serai Thai, Satay Bar, Jibby East, Jibby Show and the more famous, Jibby & Co.

8. Roselyn Ling

Ling was born in Sibu, Sarawak, and raised to not only excel in her studies but also to prove that she could rise above a male-dominated society and be just as good, or even better, in doing business than men. Whilst overseas in the 90s, she developed an interest in exploring the food culture, eating and learning to create different types of dishes. As years went by, she felt that her hometown’s resources were limited. Then, she met her husband, former chef George Ling, and they started Junk Restaurant. After their success, they decided to take two abandoned old shop-houses and turned them into Junk Bar and Red Room. They have since expanded the business with the opening of Bla Bla Bla Restaurant which serves Malaysian cuisines.

9. Tracy Ing

A post shared by Hot & Roll Malaysia (@hotandrollofficial) on Jul 26, 2017 at 3:24am PDT

Eating on-the-go is not an uncommon thing these days, and if you’re always on the move, Hot & Roll is there to cater to all your food-needs. Tracy Ing is the founder of Hot & Roll which has expanded to numerous outlets. The food draws inspiration from traditional Malaysian dishes like the Apam Balik, but done with a modern twist. This small kiosk will grab your attention through sight and smell as a variety of tasty flavours are made right before your eyes.

10. Irene Lim

A post shared by Kechara Vegetarian Restaurant (@kecharaoasis) on Mar 7, 2016 at 3:45am PST

Irene Lim is the founder and director of Kechara Oasis, a restaurant that serves traditional and innovative twists on Chinese, Tibetan, and Nepali cuisines. She is well-versed in the Buddhist philosophy and has led many pilgrimages to the world’s most sacred Buddhist sites. This core belief in her life and spiritual connection with her teacher along with his teachings led her to inner piece. With some push by her teacher to start a vegetarian restaurant, she embraced the idea and turned it into a reality, opening 2 outlets in Malaysia, also offering banquets, catering services and a full-fledge event management team.