Heritage house gives new life to family ‘cendol’ legacy

KLANG, Aug 25 — Nestled on the outskirts of Klang town lies a 45-year-old traditional Malay house that offers more than just a glimpse into Malaysia's architectural heritage. The lower portion of the property houses Warung Cendol Wak Paad, a cozy eatery serving local delights, including the popular cendol. Situated along Jalan Haji Musran in Kampung Rantau Panjang, the eatery - established in 2021 - is run by 29-year-old Siti Zulaika Supaad, the granddaughter of the original cendol stall owner.

Inherited from her father, Supaad Musran, the cendol legacy began when Siti Zulaika decided to revive her father's business after he retired due to health issues in 2004. She was inspired by the unique taste of her father's cendol, which featured rich, dark gula melaka syrup made with his original recipe. The star of the menu is cendol, but other traditional dishes like ais kacang, laksa, curry noodles, mee bandung, nasi lemak, and nasi ayam penyet are also available.

Siti Zulaika chose to establish the eatery in the family house to offer customers a nostalgic experience and a break from the modern and hipster-themed cafes that dominate today. With a heritage studies degree from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, she invested around RM20,000 to expand the lower level of the house into a kitchen and transformed it into a charming eatery, adorned with vintage and traditional items.

The eatery has since become a popular destination for locals and visitors from far and wide, who appreciate the tranquil setting and the chance to relive a bygone era.