MARANG: Most Malaysians who dine out these days notice two things: that food prices are on the rise and that food portions have begun to shrink.
So it is a pleasant surprise to come across a food stall operator at Taman Rusila here, which offers unlimited free refills for some of its food and beverage items – with no catch.
Mohd Rizal Ghazali, and his wife, Saadiah Abdul Aziz, both 37, are so serious about their pledge of offering unlimited free refills that they named their food stall – a seaside eatery located opposite the Rusila Mosque here – “Master Cendol Restoran Tambah Percuma.”
Rizal said the offer is the result of wanting to help diners stretch the value of the ringgit and ensure that everyone walks out happily from his food stall, which began operations in February this year.
"All my food items are reasonably priced, as I intend to cater to the masses who are trying to cope with the rising cost of living these days.
"The unlimited free refill is to ensure that every ringgit spent at my food stall is worth the value. If they want a refill, all they need to do is pass their plates or bowls to our restaurant helpers who are more than willing to help them," he said.
Diners can enjoy unlimited free refills for pasembor and Penang laksa, which are priced at RM3 each, and chicken/fish fried rice, which are priced at RM4 each. However, refills for chicken/fish fried rice are limited to the fried rice only.
Refills are also available for cendol, which is priced at RM2 per bowl, and plain tea/iced plain tea, which is tagged at RM1 each.
Refills are not available for other items on the menu, which are nevertheless highly affordable.
Mohd Rizal said he keeps his food prices as reasonable as possible, as he knows many are affected by rising costs.
"Dining out for a family of four hardly costs over RM50 at my place, which is far cheaper than at any fast food outlet," he added.
The food stall is a crowd-puller during weekends and public holidays, as domestic tourists from other states tend to stop by for a meal before heading to their respective destinations.