In Malaysia, food is never just food, it is history, family, and identity on a plate. Few businesses embody this better than RizCoconut, a Kuchai Lama restaurant serving hearty Nyonya fare while continuing a family legacy that began nearly half a century ago in the small southern town of Tampin, Negeri Sembilan.
A Family Legacy from Tampin
The story begins with Madam Koh Bee Neo, a Peranakan matriarch from Tampin. In the 1970s, she started preparing nasi lemak and Nyonya kuih for local coffee shops. Her recipes, made with patience and natural ingredients, soon gained a loyal following. In 1977, the family opened Sin Heng Restaurant, establishing themselves as custodians of authentic home-style Nyonya cooking.
This foundation would shape the culinary journey of her granddaughter, Karen Tee.
From Stall to Storefront
Thirteen years ago, Tee branched out on her own with a modest Nyonya food stall at Restoran Sepetang, a kopitiam in Taman Desa. Week after week, long queues formed as locals came for her nasi lemak, sambal sotong, fried chicken and her much-talked-about wild boar curry.
Her speed and precision in handling orders became part of the stall’s charm, and it wasn’t long before the stall achieved cult status among weekend breakfast-goers.
But Tee had bigger plans. That kopitiam stall was just the beginning.
RizCoconut in Kuchai Lama
Today, Tee and her family run RizCoconut, a full-fledged restaurant named as a playful reversal of “Coconut Rice.” It represents both continuity and growth: the beloved nasi lemak remains a cornerstone, but the menu has expanded into a broad showcase of Peranakan and kopitiam dishes.
Old favourites such as curry chicken and sambal sotong are served alongside new offerings like ayam pongteh, Nyonya curry mee, pai tee, and a comforting range of desserts — from pulut hitam to bo bo cha cha. A dedicated kuih counter tempts diners with seri muka, angku kuih, kuih ketayap, and more, all made with natural colouring derived from pandan and butterfly pea flowers.
The restaurant is pork-free today, which means the famed wild boar curry no longer appears on the menu. Yet the essence of what made Tee’s stall so beloved remains intact: bold flavours, hearty cooking, and a sense of home.
More Than Just a Restaurant
What sets RizCoconut apart is its balance of tradition and modern entrepreneurship. It retains the heart of its Tampin origins while adapting to a broader urban customer base in Kuala Lumpur. The family-run model ensures consistency, while the expansion into a dedicated shop space allows for growth and sustainability.
For customers, RizCoconut offers more than a meal — it’s a taste of Peranakan heritage, lovingly preserved and passed down through generations. For Tee and her family, it’s the continuation of a journey that began in Tampin over 40 years ago, carried forward with pride into the present.
They are located here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vczei262CLBKFFHY6?g_st=ipc