In the kitchen is former national footballer Hairuddin Omar, who has traded the pitch for a new role: bringing familiar flavours to fellow Malaysians on their haj journey through his eatery, Café Citarasa Malaysia.

The idea came from a simple observation. “When they are here for a long time, they will certainly miss Malaysian food. So I want to offer something that makes them feel closer to home,” he said.

Located in Rehab Janadriyah, about 1.7km from Masjidil Haram, the café focuses entirely on Malaysian tastes, with dishes prepared using authentic recipes and carefully selected ingredients. Favourites include nasi lemak, nasi kerabu, nasi dagang, asam pedas, lontong and roti canai.

To ensure the flavours stay true, Hairuddin has brought in three chefs from Malaysia. The food is prepared at a central kitchen in Kudai before it is delivered fresh to the café.

Breakfast, he noted, is their main focus. “Most haj packages only provide lunch and dinner, so we try to fill that gap. Once food is taken care of, pilgrims are less burdened and can fully focus on their worship.”

The eatery opens as early as 4am and runs until 10pm, aligning with the rhythm of pilgrims’ daily routines, especially after Subuh prayers when the demand for breakfast peaks.

During the haj season, Hairuddin also supplies meals to several hotels housing Malaysian pilgrims, allowing more people to enjoy the dishes.

Running a food business in Makkah, however, comes with its own challenges. Hairuddin has to navigate strict food-safety regulations, manage logistics, and ensure a steady supply of ingredients.

“We bring some of the spices in from Malaysia to ensure the taste remains authentic and helps ease the pilgrims’ homesickness,” he shared.

For Malaysians performing the haj, these meals offer both sustenance and comfort. For Hairuddin, it is a way of serving those on a deeply personal journey – while bringing a little taste of home to the holy land.