NOMS opening at La Promenade Mall
KUCHING: One of Sarawak’s best new burger and fast food joints, NOMS, by a trio of young business developers, is opening at La Promenade Mall.
Founders Ardeles and Avertino Phua, and Kelvin Chong, will bring their fresh ideas and good taste to the new mall, which is part of Hock Seng Lee’s (HSL) ten-storey headquarters.
NOMS at La Promenade will be located at the mall’s ground floor near Choice Supermarket, Rice King, Authentic Chicken Rice and Black Bean Coffee & Tea.
It will be NOMS’s third outlet in Kuching after branches at Jalan Tun Jugah and Matang Metrocity.
What began as a food truck in 2015 evolved into a growing franchise and an established brand.
“When we began, we borrowed money for the truck. It was the three of us. Kelvin was my colleague from another career. I roped in Ardeles, my brother, a chef at a hotel, to help,” said Avertino, 25, who is the youngest.
The trio focussed on the food and let the public guide their business.
“All you can do, really, is just do the food that you like yourself. We kept a small and manageable menu, never too quick to add too many things and we always removed what didn’t work. The business grew, and we opened at a shoplot at Jalan Tun Jugah, then Matang, and later expanded the original Tun Jugah branch.
“Now, we are going into a mall with HSL. I almost can’t believe it. We’re excited, nervous, happy and raring to go,” he said.
The trio take a hands-on approach to their business, from daily kitchen operations to restaurant design.
To prepare for the La Promenade outlet, they visited Kuala Lumpur’s food outlets in malls and made sure to utilise the space’s dual-frontage - inside facing Choice Supermarket, and outside, towards a landscaped carpark before the busy KuchingSamarahan Expressway.
At La Promenade, NOMS will introduce a refreshed menu featuring favourites like its signature Chicken Burger, Beefed Out Burger 2.0, Grilled Mac & Cheese Sandwiches. There will also be new options in the likes of Filthy Rich Fries with Chilli Beef and Philly Cheese Fries.
“There are many things we like about NOMS,” said HSL property development general manager Tay Chiok Kee in a statement.
He said one key reason is that they have not only weathered the Movement Control Order (MCO) but actually grew and improved.
“They know how to approach challenges and have taken the right decisions. NOMS has strong marketing behind them.
“It’s no surprise NOMS is a top seller on GrabFood. NOMS is popular with the public and we are glad they’ve chosen La Promenade as their next step,” he added.
La Promenade Mall’s eatery line-up currently features all Sarawakian brands. HSL is taking a ‘supporting homegrown’ approach to its mall.
La Promenade is a 200-acre development, of which 160-acre is gated residential. The HSL Tower and mall complex is the first development in the commercial zone.
For more info, visit hsl.com.my and lapromenademall.com.my.