Veerama’s Affordable Indian Fare Has People Queuing Up

SEREMBAN: They say the way to the heart is through the stomach. At Amma Food Corner, every plate of food leaves diners with full bellies and happier hearts.

Run by a mother-daughter pair from a simple eatery, this spot serves authentic home-cooked Indian dishes at affordable prices.

Located in the heart of Seremban town at Sion Loong Hin (Singapore Street), the stall sits in an alleyway near the famous Haji Shariff Cendol. Operating since 2021, Amma Food Corner has since become a familiar name among locals.

At lunchtime, diners can choose from more than 20 dishes to pair with rice, all prepared by 58-year-old Veerama.

Speaking to FMT Lifestyle, Veerama shared that her involvement in the food business began long before this eatery ever existed.

“I worked as a chef at a restaurant for around 20 years until my son was injured in an accident at 24 years old,” she said. “He was bedridden after that.”

Now 31, her son relies on the family for his daily needs.

“I stopped working to take care of him, and a while later I set up this eatery. Today, I run the family with income I earn from this business,” she revealed.

Meanwhile, the cashier here is Veerama’s daughter, 27-year-old Thanusha.

“Our business grew slowly over the years, and recently, people from outside Seremban, even from Kuala Lumpur, have been coming to try our food,” Thanusha said.

During FMT Lifestyle’s visit, Veerama was spotted resting at a table, catching a few moments of sleep after a long morning.

Operating from 7am to 4pm, Amma Food Corner also serves breakfast favourites such as freshly prepared poori, thosai, idli, chapati, nasi lemak and mee hoon.

“I wake up at 2am to start cooking, and they’re all my own recipes,” Veerama shared.

At lunchtime on a weekday, the crowd was already pouring in. Operating from a humble back-lane stall, space is limited, with only a handful of tables available.

During peak breakfast and lunch hours, the area can get cramped and lively, which is why many customers opt to pack their food to go.

For first-timers, choosing what to eat can be a challenge. With a wide variety of dishes on display, diners were seen loading their plates with curries, gravies and stir-fries, including ayam cili api petai, fried fish, prawn sambal, vegetable kurma and more.

FMT Lifestyle paired rice with a generous serving of mutton peratal, pulicha keerai (sorrel leaves), sambar and fried enoki mushrooms. The total bill? Just RM12.

When asked how she manages to keep prices so affordable, Veerama simply said: “That is how much people can afford these days.”

Despite the low price point, the food was high on flavour.

The mutton peratal was rich without being oily, with tender meat that could easily be pulled apart. It was packed with flavour while still keeping the spice level approachable.

However, the standout dish was the pulicha keerai. Its sour and tangy flavours, combined with its thick texture and slightly coarse grind, gave it the comforting feel of a homemade dish. The fried enoki mushrooms were also a surprise. Although fried earlier, they remained crisp, with a salty, umami flavour that rounded off the meal perfectly.

With generous portions, affordable prices and satisfying flavours, it is easy to see why Amma Food Corner continues to be a favourite.

Although her eyes well up whenever she speaks of her son, Veerama continues to persevere through hard work and determination.

“I’m very happy that people like our food and keep coming back,” she said.

So, whether you’re a local or just passing through, Amma Food Corner in Seremban is definitely worth a visit.

Amma Food Corner
491 A, Jalan Siow Loong Hin (Singapore Street),
Bandar Seremban,
70000 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Business hours: 7am-4pm (closed on Sundays)