{
  "id": 9457250,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-24T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/24/at-kedai-ikhbal-breakfast-comes-with-familiar-faces"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "By 6am, Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Ikhbal in Seremban buzzes with the aroma of nasi lemak, fried noodles, and the chatter of regulars. Owner Ikhbal Ahmad, 66, has nurtured the eatery over two and a half decades, and many of its customers feel more like friends than mere patrons. \"Our customers keep coming back,\" he told Bernama. Some even travel from Johor and Kuala Lumpur to partake in this morning ritual. Daily, the shop serves around 1,000 customers, with weekends and public holidays pushing that number to 1,700. Nasi lemak starts at RM1, while kuih can be as cheap as 50 sen. The affordability and convenience draw in Malay, Chinese, and Indian customers of all ages. They often share tables, especially on busy days, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie. Ikhbal runs the eatery with the help of his children and nine workers, several of whom have been with him for years. Some customers have become so close to Ikhbal and his staff that they consider them friends. Around 1,200 to 1,300 packets of nasi lemak are sold on an average day. The shop's popularity is clear, with customers like Syafiq Abdullah and M Talayan praising the reasonable prices and inclusive atmosphere. Pang Woo Waan, 82, fondly recalls the neighborhood feel, appreciating the respect and familiarity fostered by Ikhbal. Breakfast at Kedai Ikhbal, therefore, transcends a simple meal, becoming a shared experience that unites people across differences.",
  "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",
        "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."
}