Beloved Malaysian restaurant on K' Road to close its doors
Owner Ange Siew has decided to shut down rather than sell the Auckland restaurant Sri Pinang to maintain the reputation of her "baby".
Locals claim Sri Pinang is the best Malaysian food spot in Auckland, and for three decades, customers have been greeted by the warm smile of owner Ange Siew.
But now Siew and her chef husband Kun are calling it a day due to his health issues. Instead of selling Sri Pinang, Siew tells RNZ's Saturday Morning why she's choosing to close the business.
"Maintain my name, my baby," Siew says. "I want to keep Sri Pinang for myself only."
Sri Penang owner Ange Siew in from of her iconic K-road restaurant
Tania Page
After opening in 1991, Sri Pinang is now in its 35th year of business.
Siew says witnessing generations of families visit her restaurant was a highlight.
She has watched one couple start off dating, marry, have children, and those children grow up to bring their own partners to the restaurant.
Another entire family would come to Sri Pinang to celebrate their grandmother’s birthday.
"They still remember me, they call me aunty," Siew says.
"When someone calls you aunty, it means they are accepting you as part of the family. So I’m so pleased."
K-Road institution closes after 35 years
Telling her customers she was closing the restaurant was emotional – but family came first.
"Who knows? One day, we might come back again."
The restaurant is closing because her husband has suffered some health issues, Siew says.
"Of course I will miss the restaurant, but the most important thing is that he gets well soon. Recover, and then we can plan what we want to do.
"Health is more important; we make sure that he’s got good health, and then we can do something. At this stage, he needs time to rest at home."
Kun learnt to cook at a young age and, after realising how much he loved it, tried all different types of cooking and attended a lot of classes, Siew says.
"I think he likes to challenge himself, likes to try all the new things until he gets it right. That’s why he loves cooking, non-stop."
He always used fresh ingredients and never felt he had to adapt his Malaysian food to suit a Kiwi audience, maintaining the authenticity of the cuisine.
While running Sri Pinang, home has been just a place to shower and rest, Siew says.
Closing down the restaurant she has loved and spent most of her time at, most days from 10am until 11pm, will be difficult.
"I'll really miss this spot. I love this restaurant so much."
