34-Year-Old Entrepreneur Finds Innovative Ways To Bring Korean Food To M'sians During MCO
Now you can satisfy all your topokki, deopbap, jjigae, and ramyun cravings!
By Jeremy Ng — 07 Apr 2020, 11:12 AM
Staying home and craving some good Korean food?
Don't worry, MyeongDong Topokki has got you covered with some of your favourite Korean street food dishes like topokki, deopbap, jjigae, and ramyun.
Despite the challenges due to the recent Movement Control Order (MCO), CEO of MyeongDong Topokki Vincent Lua has been finding ways to innovate and bring Korean food to Malaysian homes
During this MCO, many customers are opting for food delivery, causing an increased demand for online food order and delivery services. With the shift in customer preferences, Vincent saw an opportunity to create various innovative concepts for MyeongDong Topokki.
At the start of the MCO, Vincent came up with the idea of having MyeongDong Topokki's very first cloud kitchen, a special outlet that provides only delivery or self pick-up services
Since then, the outlet has received lots of positive feedback from customers hungry for Korean street food at home. MyeongDong Topokki's Cloud Kitchen currently provides delivery or self pick-up services for these areas:
- OUG
- Bukit Jalil
- Old Klang Road
- Taman Kinrara
- Puchong
- Kuchai Lama
In an interview with Vulcan Post, Vincent said that their venture into cloud kitchens is just one of many ways they are keeping operations alive and bustling during the MCO
Besides that, Vincent also wanted to give Malaysians the chance to make their own Korean food at home by introducing DIY meal kits
Known as MDT Apron, this new concept provides you with a three-day meal kit so you can cook Korean food in the comfort of your home. It comes with recipes and all the fresh ingredients and sauces you need for three lunches and three dinners. You even get a cute apron for free (while stocks last).
What's cool is that the menu changes every two weeks, so you'll get a chance to try cooking new dishes. Each MDT Apron meal kit costs RM168, excluding delivery fees. The great news is that it's now available for delivery across the whole Peninsular Malaysia.
You can order at this WhatsApp hotline: +6012-6617900
According to Vincent, his love for Korean street food began when he made his first visit to Myeongdong Street in Seoul
"I was amazed by its colourful and attractive display of street food. As I went from stall to stall, everything just tasted so good! Upon returning to Malaysia, I craved for Korean street food and went around Klang Valley in search for something similar. But I was sorely disappointed that nothing came close to what Myeongdong had to offer," said Vincent.
Fueled by a hunger for good topokki, ramyun, and kimbap, Vincent flew back to South Korea in search of a five-star chef and researched further on how to bring Myeongdong's street food back to Malaysia.
In 2014, MyeongDong Topokki opened its doors to Malaysians for the first time, and the Korean food chain has been growing steadily ever since
One of the fastest growing Korean food chains in the country, MyeongDong Topokki has outlets in KL, Melaka, Penang, Johor, Terengganu, Kuantan, Ipoh, and Seremban.
But that's not all, the homegrown Korean food chain is set to open stores in Jakarta, Indonesia this year, and even has plans to expand to Thailand in 2021.
As for aspiring entrepreneurs and budding startups, here are some wise words that Vincent has to share from his experience
“Entrepreneurship is not what it always looks like on the outside. Many wouldn’t know about the sleepless nights and endless stress. You have to be well-prepared to handle the ups and downs of the business," said Vincent.
"You also have to be persistent, as success doesn’t come instantly. Because of that, many people give up. But, it will always be a fun and exciting journey,” he added.
If you're looking for business tips or want to stay updated with Vincent's journey, get connected with him on various social media platforms today!
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Feeling hungry after all that? You can order MyeongDong Topokki online today or get your very own MDT Apron meal kit!
Got a lot of places to recommend? Let us know in our new SAYS Makan Buddies Facebook Group!
