Social media users pay tribute to Boat Noodle, BananaBro founder

KUALA LUMPUR: A wave of tributes has flowed through social media in the wake of Tony Lim's death at 47. Lim was the visionary behind popular Malaysian restaurant chains Boat Noodle and BananaBro. Both enterprises confirmed his passing on Facebook. Dear family, our deepest condolences, said one mourner, Syamsul Anuar Samsuddin. Worked side-by-side with Lim, Md Khairul Alam recalled the founder as "a genuinely good human being and a wonderful friend."

A photo of them dining together circulated among mourners. To Lim, the founder of Boat Noodle and BananaBro, life owed a remarkable legacy and innumerable memories. It was a privilege to have served under his guidance. His kindness, humility, and generosity shall forever be cherished, he noted. Julian Vincent, another online mournful, lauded Lim's enduring legacy.

He described it as "built on passion, generosity, and a dream of sharing Malaysia's rich banana leaf culture with the world." Vincent expressed hope that Lim's contributions would never fade from memory. Lim cemented his place in Malaysia's food and beverage scene in 2014 when he launched Boat Noodle - a Thai street-food concept featuring small-bowl portions.

Just three years later, he expanded his empire with BananaBro in 2018, bringing a contemporary twist to traditional banana leaf rice.