Starting a home cafe from scratch
Raziah and her mother, Mdm Munita, are unashamed of telling people that they stay in a rental flat, and that sometimes, life can be difficult.
Share to:
Raziah and her mother, Mdm Munita, are unashamed of telling people that they stay in a rental flat, and that sometimes, life can be difficult. But they have chosen to make the best of their circumstances, rather than complaining about it.
That was why they started MakcikCooks, as a way to generate income for their daily expenses, whilst also blessing others with the skill of their cooking.
In recent times, home-based cafes have been all the rage in Singapore, with home-based cafes and baristas bringing back the convivial, familial spirit of the intimate relationship that exists between them and the customer.
There is also something more intimate about trusting a small, start-up business in a home. You almost feel like you’re sitting in their home, enjoying something as simple as a latte or extravagant like an omakase (something the chef chooses to cook, without any express instructions from you). Sometimes, sitting in a big, crowded restaurant surrounded by unfamiliar faces can be disorienting.
It’s why Mdm Munita’s MakcikCooks has slowly gained traction.
Sharing the gift of being able to cook (well)
Mdm Munita started MakcikCooks with the simple intention of sharing her gift for cooking with others, like her family. When I asked her how she came up with recipes like the beef rendang bak chang, a fusion between Chinese and Malay food, she looked puzzled.
I just try the food, and then I cook it.
It sounds difficult to believe that one can cook something, simply by trying it.
But she laughs when she recalls that she had to learn from YouTube how to fold the banana leaves to form the bak chang.
Despite their skill in cooking, the reality of operating in a competitive industry like F&B has weighed upon them. For example, having seen a gap in night market space in 2024, they have opened multiple stores in pasar malams.
According to Mdm Munita, there was no one selling nasi lemak, or other types of rice based dishes at the pasar malams. They came in, and made enough to cover their expenses and also draw a modest salary.
Home business as a way to get by
Raziah shared that she was fortunate enough to save up money from her previous job as a delivery ride to set up a store in a pasar malam.
However, she had to stop doing deliveries after she got an infection in her leg three months ago, which resulted in her being hospitalised.
Yet despite her needing time to recover, and having to care for her two-year-old daughter, she continues to do her best to support her mother in the work. Raziah helps with taking videos to promote their business on Instagram and TikTok.
She has also not stayed still in her desire to grow the business, by posting on new platforms like Acuppa, and even finding an online Point-Of-Sale (POS) system that could take her customer’s orders in an efficient way. In an industry that’s always changing, Raziah has tried her best to stay ahead of the curve.
When business is slow
Raziah confessed that business has been slow in recent times, as they often only get a few orders a week. One way they have managed to keep things going is by making the most of the ingredients they buy. Mdm Munita would often cook what she feels like eating and prepare a larger batch using the remaining ingredients, which can then be shared with the family. This helps reduce wastage and save on household food expenses, allowing them to stretch their resources and continue running the home-based business.
Talk to Mdm Munita and Raziah enough, and you realise their one quality that keeps them going, this desire to never give up, to not worry so much, and to keep trusting in the people around them.
We all need each other’s support
In recent times, in the hustle and bustle of daily life in Singapore, we may sometimes feel invisible and unseen. We wonder if we still have the solidarity that we used to enjoy.
But Mdm Munita is grateful that people in her community have continued supporting her, including her sister, who frequently orders her food. Some of her customers have also kept ordering from her, in bigger and bigger quantities. When I ask Mdm Munita what she looks forward to, she says that she just hopes her business grows sustainably, so that she can support her grandchild too.
Indeed, running a home-based business is never easy, especially as the business environment remains challenging for small operators. Sometimes, all it takes is an order, a recommendation to a friend, or simply spreading the word to make a difference. Here in Our Tanjong Pagar, let’s continue to display our strong neighbourhood spirit and support the home-based businesses that make our town that little bit more special.
You can order from them via Instagram or by calling +65 8892 2109.
