KUALA LUMPUR - After 36 years of delighting patrons with her appams from a modest stall in Lucky Garden, Bangsar here, Chelochina Thevi, affectionately known as the 'Appam lady', has taken a significant step in her entrepreneurial journey.
Chello's Appams, her new restaurant located at Lorong Ara Kiri 3, officially opened its doors on Friday, July 12.
"The transition from a humble DBKL stall to a high-end shophouse reflects the growth of Chelochina’s customer base over the years," said S.N Rajan, a Bangsar resident familiar with Chelochina’s entrepreneurial journey.
The new venue features full air conditioning and a spacious dining area, a significant upgrade from the cramped space Chelochina previously operated in, said Rajan, a former news editor with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
He added that despite the upscale shift, the quality of the food remains uncompromised.
The opening day saw a large turnout of loyal customers, indicating the restaurant’s potential for continued success in the Klang Valley’s competitive food scene. The event was celebrated with a grand opening where family, friends, and a host of regular patrons enjoyed complimentary offerings starting from 11 am.
Chello's Appams offers an extensive menu that goes beyond her famed appams to include a variety of Malaysian and Indian vegetarian dishes such as vadais, curry puffs, nasi lemak, stuffed tofu, and more.
Guests can now enjoy these offerings in a comfortable setting, with dishes like thosais, idlis, string hoppers, tofu bakar, spring rolls, and steamed chickpeas among the tempting options available.
Chelochina had impressed her customers with her ability to swiftly serve delicious, piping hot appams (a type of thin pancake originating from South India and Sri Lanka), drawing customers from as far as Cheras, Shah Alam, PJ, and even Kuala Selangor.
Her reputation for fast service and consistent quality has made her new restaurant a must-visit for fans and food enthusiasts alike. - BERNAMA