Investor dishes up Malaysian Chinese cuisine at Parkmall

After the success of its first branch and the insistent demand from its growing client base, a Malaysian Chinese investor decided to open a full scale fine dining restaurant in Parkmall, the newest shopping destination in Mandaue City.

Investing around P8 million pesos for this new business, Shauming Lo, a Malaysian Chinese from Kota Kinabalu is optimistic to create a niche in Cebu’s thriving and competitive food industry.

Lo wants to make a mark in the industry by serving delectable Malaysian Chinese cuisine which is a fusion of Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, Indian as well as European influences to the discerning tastes of Cebuanos coming from the A and B segments.

KK Fine Dining can accommodate around 150 people at the same time and it has two function rooms which can collectively accommodate around 36 people.

Having started just last October, KK Fine Dining is already starting to attract a handful of diners who have been satisfied with the quality of cooking that aims to stand out from the rest of the competition.

“Personally, I believe food business is not an easy business now because there are just too many restaurants which are opening in Cebu. There is a very tough competition here so if you do not have good and unique things to offer your customers it will be very hard for you,” he said.

Having done business here in Cebu for the last two years, Lo noted Cebuano’s distinct emphasis on value for money so he is bent not to compromise the quality and taste of the food they are serving their clientele.

Being a well-trained cook and a food lover himself, Lo uses quality materials in preparing their food.

“We cook the way we love to eat and it’s not just all about making money for us. Since there are too many restaurants here in Cebu, those who want to stand strong should have to produce good food. So our menu are flexible and can be changed according to the preferred tastes of our customers,” he stressed.

Despite the woes brought by the economic crises to customers and to some businessmen as well, Lo remains optimistic of the potentials of Cebu’s food industry.

“Cebu’s food market should not be underestimated. And Cebuanos now a days like to eat. They are very adventurous in trying out new things and appreciates good food even if it will cost them much so it’s all just a matter of capturing them,” he said.

However he noted that one major area that the food industry should strive to further develop is the quality of service from its human resources.

He said that to further attract major investors in the food and hospitality industries, our human resources should be well trained accordingly to international standards at par with the global competition.

Currently, Lo is also operating KK Restaurant at the Asiatown in IT Park which has been around for the last two years.

Lo decided to open a bigger place due to the insistent requests from his client base in the first branch since most of the time their place is packed.

He reasoned to have opened it in Parkmall because he also believed in the potential of the area as the next hub for lifestyle and shopping especially that latest developments in Cebu are already congested.

 “This place offers a totally different concept of shopping and there is a greener, more relaxing atmosphere here. And because it is not congested so most people from our target market prefer to come here,” he said. — Rhia de Pablo