A Spark, A Flame, MYKampung
- mykampunginthebay
- May 20
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
A Spark
Sometimes, a community starts with something simple: A craving. A memory. A question. “Eh… where can I find good nasi lemak around here ah?”
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Malaysian and Singaporean communities are among the fastest-growing in California¹. Yet, despite our growing numbers, there is no true hub to meet our needs.
Many of us still live the "homesick hustle". We drive an hour for the one dish that tastes like childhood. We visit five different stores just to find one right ingredient. We return from trips home with suitcases bursting with sambal, Milo, kaya, and books—treasures our American friends may never fully understand. We gather in pockets across the Bay Area, only to realize we still lack a true lepak place.
No home base in our new chosen homes. No kampung.
A Flame
Jai Kandayah was forced to close our beloved Curry Leaves Bistro (CLB) due to soaring costs in 2025. With the shuttering of CLB, the Bay Area lost a cultural haven. Featured on KQED’s Check, Please! Bay Area and fondly known as the “Malaysian Embassy of the Bay Area,” Curry Leaves was where we gathered over roti canai, char kway teow and felt at home, even if just for a meal.
XinFeng Lin, affectionately known as the "GodFather" of our diaspora in the Bay Area, was weaving the community together through hawker pop-ups, group buys, and grassroots organizing. She saw first hand that people weren't just hungry for food; they were hungry for belonging.
Jai’s dream didn't end with the physical closure of CLB. The Penang-born food visionary, a self-taught chef guided by instinct and soul, believed that our community deserved something more permanent: a cultural home where food, tradition, commerce, and stories could live under one roof. A belief shared by XinFeng. Together Jai and XinFeng brought together a team of passionate community members to create a new space to meet this need.
Together, we are building MYKampung — a living, breathing space to bring the kampung spirit here, in the heart of California.
MYKampung
MYKampung was born from heartbreak, hope, and an unshakable love for community.
MYKampung is a love letter to every Malaysian and Singaporean who has ever felt adrift in America. It is a place where:
Heritage is Home: Children grow up connected to their roots.
Creativity Thrives: Local chefs, makers, and small businesses have a stage to shine.
Tradition is Daily: Aunties and Uncles gather over kopi and kaya toast while newcomers find instant community.
No Explanation is Needed: Where batik is celebrated, sambal stains are a badge of honor, and every lah and leh sounds like music.
Comments