KOTA KINABALU: In 1999, a young boy asked Salmah Zulkifleh if he could buy a bowl of soto ayam (chicken noodle soup) from her at 50 sen, because that was all he had.
Her motherly instinct would not allow her to leave a child hungry just because he did not have money, and she gladly obliged.
Since then, her 50 sen soto ayam has been a fixture on her menu at Gerai Mak Siti in the compound of her house in Kampung Sri Pandan in Putatan.
Last month, the price was increased to RM1 after Salmah stopped working for a year to look after her sick husband. However, her chicken noodle soup is still the cheapest in town.
“When I reopened recently, I knew it would not be practical to charge 50 sen per bowl, so I raised it to RM1 for 250ml, and people still came.”
On the weekends, Salmah, 49, sells up to 400 bowls of soto ayam. She also sells other food items, of which the most expensive is priced at RM6 — the Set Santai, which includes sausages, baked beans, eggs and salad.
She also sells the soto ayam in bigger portions, almost the same as those sold in other eateries and often priced between RM5 and RM7, but at Gerai Mak Siti, it is priced at RM2.
Sometimes, people would wait at the house’s compound until it is their turn to occupy a table or get their takeaway containers.
The stall, which serves drinks and desserts priced between RM1 and RM4, is open daily from 2pm to 10pm.
“We have some specialities, such as drinks topped with ice cream, ice kacang and green tea with unique mixes, too.”
Her patrons come from near and far, while her children and relatives make up the workforce at the kitchen and the dining area.
“My regulars are families with many children, but I also have people who come here to eat up to five bowls in one sitting.
“What satisfies me most is when parents come up to me and say that they are thankful for being able to feed their family of seven by spending less than RM20.”