SINGAPORE — In an era of rising food prices, one Bukit Batok mother is drawing attention with an offer that sounds almost unbelievable: freshly fried kampong-style chicken for just 80 cents a piece.
The woman behind the home-based food business, Nadia “Mary” Jamaluddin, runs Malayleh from her four-room flat while balancing another role that matters even more to her — caring for her young son.
Her story is now winning attention not only because of the remarkably low price of her fried chicken, but also because of the personal journey that inspired her to build a business around family life.
From Full-Time Career to Home-Based Food Business
Mary, 38, previously spent around 13 years working in outdoor education, eventually becoming an assistant programme manager organising camps and team-building programmes.
But her life took a different turn after she became a mother.
Knowing that her son would require more of her time and attention, Mary left her full-time job and became his primary caregiver.
Rather than completely giving up on earning an income, she decided to build something that could fit around her responsibilities at home.
That decision led to Malayleh.
“I wasn’t just starting a business. I was also trying to build something around my life as a mum,” Mary said of her decision to launch the venture.
Why Is the Fried Chicken Only 80 Cents?
Malayleh’s biggest crowd-puller is its kampong-style fried chicken wings and drumettes, which Mary deliberately priced at just 80 cents each.
Her goal was simple: make the chicken affordable enough that anyone could buy just one piece to try.
Customers are not required to place a minimum order, meaning someone can drop by and purchase a single piece of freshly fried chicken.
The chicken is marinated for 24 hours using a blend of ingredients including garlic and red chillies before being coated in a thin batter and fried shortly before collection.
It is served with fried curry leaves and a Thai-style chilli sauce.
Mary typically sells around 100 to 120 pieces a day.
A Slow Start Suddenly Turned Into Viral Attention
Malayleh initially focused on advance orders for traditional Malay dishes.
Mary launched the home-based business in late 2024, offering dishes such as spicy coconut chicken, chicken curry with roti jala and stingray in spicy and sour gravy.
But around April 2026, she introduced a more casual walk-in takeaway concept featuring snacks and drinks.
The first day was quiet.
Only three customers reportedly turned up.
Mary then posted a video about opening her home-based “café” — and everything changed.
The clip gained attention online, with Malayleh’s social media following reportedly growing from around 150 to 1,100 within a week.
More Than Just Fried Chicken
Malayleh also sells other traditional Malay-inspired food and drinks.
Among its offerings is Teh Mawar Tarik, a rose-infused version of teh tarik made with dried rose buds, tea leaves and condensed milk.
Mary’s menu reflects her desire to combine traditional flavours with a more playful and modern personality.
The business name itself is a creative play on words, combining “Malay” with a local expression.
And the colourful Bukit Batok flat where customers collect their food reflects the personality of Mary and her family.
Running a Business While Raising Her Son
Despite the growing attention, Mary has acknowledged that operating a home-based food business is financially challenging.
She previously earned around S$3,000 a month in her full-time job, while her current income fluctuates depending on orders.
She receives around 20 to 35 pre-orders a week, with earnings varying according to demand.
But for Mary, the flexibility is invaluable.
Running Malayleh allows her to continue earning an income while remaining available for her family.
She hopes the business can continue growing, but she does not want success to come at the cost of the flexibility that led her to start it in the first place.
“I’m a mother first,” she said.
The 80-Cent Price May Not Last Forever
While the 80-cent fried chicken has become one of Malayleh’s biggest talking points, Mary has admitted that keeping prices so low is difficult.
Operating from home helps reduce costs because she does not have to pay commercial rent.
However, she has also acknowledged that the price may eventually need to increase if operating costs continue to rise.
For now, though, the affordable chicken remains one of the business’ biggest attractions.
The Bottom Line
A Bukit Batok mum has turned her home into a small food business — and her 80-cent kampong fried chicken is now winning attention across Singapore.
But behind the crispy chicken and colourful home café is a much more personal story.
Mary built Malayleh not simply to chase a business dream, but to create a livelihood that allowed her to remain present for her son and family.
Her business may have started with just three customers on its first walk-in day — but with 80-cent fried chicken, traditional Malay flavours and a story that has touched many people, this Bukit Batok home-based venture is proving that sometimes the smallest businesses can carry the biggest dreams.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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