June 18: Jenny’s Kuali

Jenny’s Kuali is a malaysian restaurant located at 102 E 4th St., Bethlehem, PA. The restaurant is owned by Jenny Lim, who was one of many female entrepreneurs featured in Fig.

By: Mericel Mirabal

Jenny’s Kuali is a locally owned Malaysian cuisine restaurant. We wanted to interview the owner Jenny Lim, who is originally from Malaysia, because she was featured as one of the many local and powerful female entrepreneurs and business owners of the Lehigh Valley this spring on Fig Bethlehem, a local magazine. We figured it was a good idea to interview a female entrepreneur who immigrated to the United States to showcase what her perception of inclusivity is and what her experience was like.

Lucy Zhou, ’20, posing for a photo while waiting for her food at Jenny’s Kuali. Zhou ordered the mango shrimp entree.

For Lim, getting into the restaurant business was never really tough because she grew into it from the age of 12 with her family. She talked to us about how she always worked different jobs like waitressing and managing. So when she wanted to start Jenny’s Kuali, she already knew what she was doing, and she had the support of her family to help her. Lim discussed with us how it could be tiring and frustrating at times when you give someone a chance and hire them, and they end up being irresponsible or are just not cut out for it, and then having to rehire and retrain someone else to fit that position.

The mango shrimp is an entree offered at Jenny’s that includes shrimp, mango, snow pea and red pepper in a sweet and sour sauce. The wonton mee with chicken is a noodle soup that mixes shrimp and pork wontons with veggies and thin noodles in a light broth.

Luckily for Lim, she has always been a people person so it made it easier for her to connect with other people and make friends. Her goal is that her customers are satisfied and leave wanting to tell other people to come back. That is also why listening for her is so important because she has to make sure she accommodates to what the customers want and provide options for them like vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. She uses social media to remind people to visit them and to show what offers, special occasions, specials and catering are going on so that people do not forget about them.

Her communication and way of connecting with others help Lim not only in her restaurant but also within her community. She explained that she never felt excluded because the community tends to be so inclusive and supportive of each other. They always want to see each other succeed. She talked to us about how there is always stuff going on, and people in the community sponsor, donate and attend each other’s events.

 

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