{
  "id": 9456149,
  "title": "At Kedai Ikhbal, breakfast comes with familiar faces",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/at-kedai-ikhbal-breakfast-comes-with-familiar-faces",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/24/at-kedai-ikhbal-breakfast-comes-with-familiar-faces"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the bustling city of Seremban, nestled within Taman Saga, lies Kedai Ikhbal - a breakfast haven that has been serving its customers for a quarter of a century. Owner Ikhbal Ahmad, 66, has witnessed the same familiar faces frequenting his eatery daily, fostering an atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie among regulars.\n\nWith a daily patronage of around 1,000 visitors, the shop offers an array of affordable options, such as nasi lemak at RM1 and kuih for as little as 50 sen. Breakfast staples like kuey teow, bihun goreng, and roti canai round out the menu. The humble eatery, open from 6am to 11.30am, has been a melting pot of Malay, Chinese, and Indian customers, all coming together to enjoy a meal and engage in conversation.\n\nMany customers have traveled from afar, including Johor and Kuala Lumpur, to make Kedai Ikhbal a part of their morning routine. The shop's affordability, convenience, and welcoming ambiance have attracted people from all walks of life. Regulars share tables during peak hours, particularly on weekends, creating an inclusive environment where differences are set aside for the joy of shared meals.\n\nFor Ikhbal, the essence of the eatery lies in its ability to bring people together, regardless of their backgrounds. \"Food can bring people together. When we sit down together to eat, we are happy and do not think about our differences,\" he shares. With his children and nine workers, including several local residents, Ikhbal runs the eatery, maintaining the same longevity as the customers who have become like friends.\n\nAs the breakfast rush unfolds, particularly on Sundays, the shop's atmosphere remains warm and inviting. Regulars like Syafiq Abdullah, Syafiq Abdullah, and M Talayan appreciate the reasonable prices and the opportunity to interact with others from diverse backgrounds. For 82-year-old Pang Woo Waan, the nostalgic ambiance reminds him of the communal spirit of years gone by, a sentiment he holds dear in today's increasingly isolated world.",
  "summary": "For 25 years, the Seremban eatery has drawn a diverse crowd with affordable nasi lemak, old-fashioned warmth and plenty of regulars.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "At Kedai Ikhbal, breakfast comes with familiar faces",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/at-kedai-ikhbal-breakfast-comes-with-familiar-faces-9457250",
        "published": "2026-09-24T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}