Heritage on a Plate: PJ’s Beloved Café Serving Affordable Comfort for a Decade

Café owner with a decade in business, and continues to serve quality meals at prices that keep the community coming back for more By Amber — October 22, 2024 @ 12.00 am

Origin Cafe, a cafe that serves nutritious dishes. -Sean Yam

ORIGIN Café located at Taman Mayang is founded by Yeap D. Hock has been in the food industry for 10 years.

This café specializes in healthier menu alternatives, and has a cuisine that emphasizes flavourful but fresh, wholesome foods like Italian Herbs Chicken and Lemongrass Rice Bowl.

Origin Café is more than simply a location to get food; it's a cozy, inviting environment that makes guests feel like they're a part of the community.

Yeap's journey began with a passion for nutritious cuisine and a desire to give back to the community. His goal was to provide a gathering place where people could bond over delicious meals in a warmth and attentive setting. 

"The idea was to promote blessing and compassion into the food to the community is what pushed me to open this place." he said.

Origin Café wasn't simple to start. Yeap had numerous difficulties in the beginning, such as balancing the budget and drawing attention to the café.

According to Yeap, “It took time to build a customer base, and we had to adjust our menu and pricing based on feedback. Hiring and training the right team was also key to ensuring the quality we wanted to provide.” 

Healthy meal bowl serve at Origin Cafe. -@originsafepj Instagram

Origin Café's fresh, locally produced products and healthier menu selections have helped it become a local favorite despite its struggles. Their most popular dish, the Origin Bowl, is popular with customers. Because it has fewer carbohydrates, and has more veggies than other dishes. Yeap also mentioned, “It's made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, and we add a unique twist to the recipe. How Origin Café maintains reasonable prices in spite of inflation and growing expenses is one of the main surprises for a lot of customers. Yeap attributes this to his strong relationship with his supplier. "Having a good and strong relationship with our suppliers has helped us to keep our costs down." Yeap added, "We’re also very conscious about reducing waste and streamlining our operations, which allows us to pass savings on to our customers without compromising on quality."

While many café owners would think about growing their cafe after ten years, Yeap is however cautious. Though he has considered expanding, his primary goal is preserving the excellent standards and welcoming ambiance of the café. Yeap said, “If we do expand, it will be when we’re certain we can replicate the same experience for our customers elsewhere."

Cozy and homely cafe for customers to enjoy. -Sean Yam

Having owned a café for over 10 years has given Yeap a wealth of knowledge. He claims that maintaining flexibility is the most crucial part. He added, “The most important lesson is to stay adaptable and listen to your customers. The industry is always evolving, and what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Being open to change and continuously improving is crucial.” This entails staying current with trends and listening to consumer feedback in addition to making minor adjustments to the café's appearance and food. Yeap has two basic pieces of advice for anyone wishing to create their own café: be prepared to work hard and have patience. "Be prepared for hard work, and don’t expect overnight success, create value to your restaurant. Always to be grateful to your customers and your team. Above all, be passionate about what you’re offering,” Yeap advised. With the essence of Origin Café intact, Yeap D. Hock, a ten-year veteran of the food industry, continues to serve his customers fresh, healthful meals. Origin Café has become more than just a place to eat thanks to the owner's commitment to realizing his vision and attention to detail in creating a warm, inviting environment. Yeap stays committed to his goal of promoting kindness and optimism with every meal that is provided, making Origin Café a special part of the local food scene. Similar to Origin Café, there are several other fantastic places that provide mouthwatering meals and drinks at a reasonable prices. One of them is Lat Tali Lat Café located at Damansara Kim. A non-halal café that serves delicious fusion delicacies like Pad Grapow (stir-fried minced pork with white rice, fried egg, and basil) and Cincai Spaghetti (stir-fried spaghetti with minced pork served with lime). Its cozy, homely minimalistic interior makes it a perfect place to unwind, hang out, and take pictures with friends or family. Depending on your selection, the majority of the main courses cost between RM15 and RM20. When you add a drink, the total costs about RM30. For those on a tight budget, the Early Bird Café in Damansara Uptown is a fantastic choice. The café, which specialises in Western food, offers a variety of delectable alternatives, including the well-known Aglio Olio and Chicken Ham and Cheese Croissant. The hot latte is one of their best-selling drinks and is highly recommended. With its sleek and modern atmosphere, it's an ideal spot for customers looking to get some work done. Depending on the food you order, the cost of the main course can range from RM15 to RM25, while drinks start at a reasonable RM8. Remember these locations the next time you're searching for an affordable cafe to eat at or a cozy place to relax, and enjoy the little touches and attention to detail that make each one special.

Opening and Closing hours

Origin Cafe Lot 6, Oasis Commercial Centre, Jalan SS 26/9, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Opening Time: 11:30 AM Closing Time: 10:00 PM (every day) Lat Tali Lat Cafe

73, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Opening Time: 11:30 AM (Monday to Friday), 10:30 AM (Saturday and Sunday) Closing Time: 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM (split hours on most days)

Close on Tuesday Early Bird Uptown Unit 101, Uptown 2, 2, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Opening Time: 7:30 AM (Monday to Friday), 9:00 AM (Saturday) Closing Time: 5:00 PM (Monday to Saturday) Close on Sunday