Food has a special way of bringing people together. Sometimes, all it takes is a familiar taste, a favourite childhood dish or the aroma of a home-cooked meal to bring back memories of family gatherings and simpler times.
For Annie Tan Poh Ai, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Temu Empat Sekawan Sdn. Bhd., food is more than just something to enjoy over a meal. It is a part of culture, identity and tradition that deserves to be passed down to the next generation.
This belief became the inspiration behind Empat Sekawan, a café brand founded in Penang that aims to bring the comfort of traditional Asian flavours into a more contemporary dining experience.
At a time when modern cafés are constantly introducing new food trends and creative menus, Annie takes a slightly different approach. Instead of chasing trends, she sees an opportunity to give traditional flavours a fresh place in today’s dining scene.
The idea is simple: keep the taste and familiarity that people love, but present them in a setting where different generations can enjoy them together.
Built around the concept of “Home for Everyone”, Empat Sekawan brings together Malaysian classics, Asian favourites and fusion dishes in one welcoming space. With more than 230 food and beverage selections, the café offers plenty of choices for customers, whether they are looking for something familiar or keen to explore different flavours.
What makes the concept interesting is how it brings together different food preferences without losing its connection to heritage. For older generations, the familiar dishes offer a taste of home, while younger diners get the chance to discover flavours that have long been part of Asian food culture.
For Annie, keeping these culinary traditions alive is an important part of building the brand. She believes that traditional recipes and flavours should not be left behind as dining habits change. Instead, they should continue to evolve and find their place in modern lifestyles.
Beyond the menu, Empat Sekawan also places importance on the trust and confidence of its customers. Its central kitchen is Halal-certified, with food preparation, ingredient handling, storage and food safety practices following Halal requirements. Selected outlets have also received official Halal certification, with the company continuing its efforts to extend the certification to more branches.
This commitment reflects the importance of maintaining consistent standards while ensuring customers can enjoy their meals with greater peace of mind.
Annie’s efforts in bringing this vision to life recently earned her recognition at the ShangHai Honourable Women Entrepreneur Business Award (SHE) 2026. She received the Women in Modern Asian Culinary Excellence Award under the Women in F&B Excellence Award category.
Organised by ShangHai Business Media, the award recognises women entrepreneurs whose leadership, achievements and contributions have made a difference in their respective industries.
For Annie, the recognition also shines a light on the bigger idea behind Empat Sekawan – that traditional Asian cuisine still has plenty of room to grow in today’s competitive food and beverage industry.
Running a food business is never just about having an attractive menu or a comfortable place to dine. It also involves maintaining quality, understanding customers and creating an experience that gives people a reason to return.
As Empat Sekawan continues to grow, its focus remains on making traditional flavours accessible to a wider audience while creating a dining environment where everyone feels welcome.
After all, food has always been one of the simplest ways to connect people. And through Empat Sekawan, Annie Tan hopes that the flavours once enjoyed around family dining tables will continue to find their way into the lives of younger generations.
More information is available at www.empatsekawan.com.
