Cyberjaya carhop dining concept a hit among customers

You can have your Japanese bento right in the safety of your car at this restaurant in Cyberjaya. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

CYBERJAYA: For a country that is on a near-nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO), a local chain of restaurants in Cyberjaya has been strangely abuzz with hungry customers.

Well, to be more precise, Padi House’s parking lot is where you’ll see a line of cars jamming up the space.

Within moments, servers pop out of the restaurant, equipped with face shields, face masks and plastic gloves and begin taking temperatures.

Once customers have checked in with their MySejahtera apps, the servers then hand out menus filled with an impressive array of local, Western and Japanese fare.

Padi House has been making waves on social media with its carhop dining concept. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

Two trays are provided so customers will have a flat surface on which to eat, one attached to the steering wheel while the other is placed carefully on the passenger side.

Food begins to fly out of the restaurant’s kitchen, with each dish carefully secured to ensure proper hygiene is maintained.

While customers happily chomp away on their meals in their seats, the owner of Padi House, 45-year-old Leow Kim Ngan keeps a sharp eye from afar to ensure that all SOPs are observed.

Leow Kim Ngan, the owner of Padi House. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

“All 10 Padi House outlets were hit very hard during the pandemic, as our sales have dropped by 80%,” says Leow, who fears that if they were to continue operating in such a predicament, his business will eventually collapse.

Thinking that he ought to take his chances, especially during the pandemic, Leow was inspired and decided to bring this trend back.

Customers will first have their temperature taken. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

“We always have to think out of the box. Keeping silent just like during the first MCO is definitely not an option,” stresses the 45-year-old.

“In this second round of MCO, we have to find a way and continue to survive while minimising the spread of the virus, so our SOP is very strict.”

Leow explains that once customers have parked, the staff will scan their temperature and ensure that they have checked in via the MySejahtera app – no excuses and certainly no exceptions.


The menu will be presented to those customers who have not pre-ordered. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

“After they have selected their meals, we do our best to practise online payments but some are not well-versed in such matters, so we still accept cash,” adds Leow.

He also explains that the restaurant actually has an online site where customers can preorder their meals but new patrons are unfamiliar with this.

Once the customers are done with their meals, however, all they need is to do is let out a honk and the servers will remove the trays and immediately bring them to be cleaned and sanitised.

A tray will be set at the steering wheel for those sitting at the driver’s seat. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

Diners who are certainly feeling the financial pinch these past few months will find that they do not have to fork out a ludicrous amount for a meal, as Leow has kept the menu prices as low as RM10.

Plus, each dish comes with a drink and dessert to ensure that diners get the most bang for their buck.

“We kept the prices so low during this round of MCO because we intend to make just enough profit to pay our workers and keep the restaurant going,” explains Leow.Padi House’s best-seller, Scallion Fried Rice with Fried Chicken. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

Not in the mood for Malaysian or Western food? Padi House’s sister restaurant, Tokio Cafe, is located right opposite – which means customers have the option of getting a traditional Japanese bento delivered to the car.

According to Leow, the customer favourites are the Beef Yakiniku and Chicken Katsu Bento served with Calrose rice, salad, edamame, tamagoyaki, potato salad, and drink and dessert of the day (RM20), as well as the Scallion Fried Rice with Fried Chicken and drink and dessert of the day (RM15).

If you’re missing your slice of cake and steaming cup of joe, fret not, as Padi House makes its own desserts and each comes with a free cup of coffee.

The Macadamia cheesecake is especially delightful; the creamy, sinful cheesecake generously topped with caramelised macadamias will definitely put a smile on your face.Tuck in Padi House signature dessert, Macadamia cheesecake. (Cecilia Cletus @ FMT Lifestyle pic)

Food aside, Leow is not one to hog success, as he already has plans to share details on how he obtained the trays and the SOPs to other restaurateurs who have been flooding him with requests.

This shows that Leow is a true example of camaraderie in times of crisis. Plus, his creativity in adapting to difficult situations certainly reveals his spirit of entrepreneurship.

“We actually began this concept last Friday but did not announce it on social media. Instead, we got our close friends and regular customers to try it out to get their feedback.

“We only announced it on social media on Monday and so far, the feedback has been great. Customers are very happy, especially those working at nearby offices,” he smiles.

Want a taste of this new dining concept in Cyberjaya? Head over to Padi House’s Facebook page for more information and remember to always heed the SOPs.

Padi House & Tokio Kafe
Jalan Teknokrat 5,
Cyber 5,
63000 Cyberjaya,
Selangor

Operation hours: 11am – 10pm.