“Our Hainanese chicken rice is a little different from the original,” Kuin Poi Pang shared with FMT Lifestyle. “My grandpa is from Hong Kong and he doesn’t like the chicken smell. So, whenever my grandma prepares Hainanese chicken rice, she put in a lot of turmeric to kill the smell.”
Today, that family recipe lives on as one of the signature dishes at Med Salleh Kopitiam, a London-based Malaysian restaurant known for serving up nostalgic flavours and kampung charm.
Co-founded by Kuin (sometimes called Med Pang) and fellow Malaysian Yap Koi Lee, the restaurant entered London’s dining scene in 2022 and quickly drew both Malaysians and locals.
Its menu features familiar staples: nasi kandar, curry laksa, satay, char koay teow, and, of course, nasi lemak.
“Our menu is inspired by our childhood memories. When you live abroad as a Malaysian, you will definitely miss food from your hometown. We definitely did.
“So when we were coming up with the menu, we brought in food that we loved growing up, and also multicultural dishes,” Kuin, 49, explained.
Both Kuin and Yap, 44, have lived in the UK for over two decades, building their careers in the F&B industry.
The two only crossed paths in 2016, when Kuin joined a Soho restaurant as general manager. Yap was the manager of that restaurant. Seven years later, they left, building something of their own.
“I told Koi when we should do something because we know everything about starting, and running a restaurant. We pooled our resources and we opened a food truck first, followed by a stint at a food court after the pandemic,” Kuin, a father of two, recalled.
Those early days became a testing ground for their food. The duo refined their recipes, adjusting flavours to suit a broader audience while staying true to Malaysian roots. It was also where they discovered just how little those in the UK knew about Malaysian cuisine.
“Many people didn’t even know what nasi lemak was,” Yap said. “So we put up displays to explain the dishes. It became a way to educate people.”
It also gave the duo a platform to introduce Malaysian food to new audiences – vibrant, freshly prepared, and rich in culture. Support from the Malaysian community soon followed.
“Many Malaysians supported us,” Yap said. “They told us the food reminded them of home. That means a lot.”
That sense of familiarity was intentional. The kopitiam is designed to evoke an old-school kampung atmosphere, filled with vintage touches – old televisions, radio sets, posters – and even a small kedai runcit corner stocked with childhood snacks. In the background, songs by Sheila Majid, one of Kuin’s favourites, complete the experience.
One Malaysian customer, in particular, holds a special place in their hearts – none other than renowned fashion designer Jimmy Choo.
“The first time he came, he ordered nasi lemak and loved our fried chicken,” Kuin said. “He soon become a regular. He told us he lives nearby and that our place reminds him of home.”
Looking ahead, the duo has no plans of slowing down. They have already expanded with three additional outlets, including Med Salleh Restaurant and Med Salleh Viet, where Yap’s Vietnamese-Chinese wife – also a chef – introduces Vietnamese dishes to the menu.
“I do want to have a restaurant that specialises in char koay teow, with the cooks sitting on a low-stool, and cooking the dish in an open kitchen over charcoal. Like the ones you see in old Malaysian towns,” Kuin shared.
At its core, the Med Salleh brand is built on more than just food. It is about quality ingredients, familiar flavours, and the warmth of Malaysian hospitality.
“That’s our culture – budi bahasa budaya kita,” Kuin said. “It’s important to me that every customer experiences that. People will remember how you make them feel.”
Find out more about Med Salleh Kopitiam here and follow them on Instagram.