Malaysian couple open their first restaurant offering wide variety of Asian dishes

A Malaysian couple, Serena Chan and Siow Kee Min, are now doing good business since they opened their first restaurant, My Oriental Cuisine, at number 4 Langgasse in the municipality last December.

“We specialise in Asian fusion cooking,” said Chan, who went on to explain that this meant there were influences from Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines, too. Naturally, Malaysian fayre is also on offer. While Kee Min is a cook, with ten years’ experience in Switzerland, the couple also employ a waiter and a chef.

Running their own restaurant is a new experience for both of them, Chan having previously worked at the Bucherer jewellery store, with Kee Min’s previous employer telling them about the availability of the premises in Baar. “We jumped at the chance of setting up our own business here,” said Rotkreuz-resident Chan, who has lived in Switzerland for seven years. While, as mentioned, she worked in a jewellery store, she actually trained at a hotel and catering school, and met her then husband-to-be when doing work experience.

“It was quite a challenged when we opened at the end of last year,” said Chan, explaining that, with living in Rotkreuz, they did not know so many people in Baar. However, they are quite sure they will increase the number of diners, bearing in mind the positive feedback they have had. “They like the fact we offer a variety of styles of oriental cooking, not just Chinese or Japanese,” she said. One slight drawback is that there is no terrace for dining outside on warm summer evenings.

Locals will know there have been multiple changes to the tenancy of these premises, other restaurateurs running the Imperial Thai and Asian Tapas there. Then it stood empty for two years, too. However, with its smart new interior design and wide variety of dishes offered, Serene Chan and Siow Kee Min are planning to stay long-term and put down roots.

This article is based on one by Vanesa Varesco.