Called Bakeri Joy, the heart of the business are Joyce, Jack, Margaret and Joy Tan.
Despite being in their golden years, the Hainanese siblings still find joy – no pun intended – in running the business they founded together in 1998.
“We started with baked goods. Later, we expanded to food. Because we’re Hainanese, we introduced dishes like chicken rice balls, mutton stew and mee hailam,” Joy, 65, told FMT Lifestyle.
There is also the famous chicken chop, which the Hainanese community in Malaysia is well-known for.
While many assume the bakery was named after Joy, it’s not the case.
“When we started, we wanted a cosy spot where customers would feel at home the moment they stepped in,” Joy explained, adding that it was this vision of happiness that inspired the name.
The siblings set out to offer what Joy described as “old-fashioned” baked goods. Think butter cake, marble cake and fruit cake as well as soft, pillowy buns filled with either red beans, coconut or sardine.
Over the years, they expanded their offerings to include pies: chicken, apple and blueberry, as well as Boston cheesecake, Swiss rolls, quiches, a variety of tarts and more.
Bread lovers will be spoilt for choice here too – their selection includes sandwich and low glycaemic index (GI) loaves to pumpkin wholemeal, a variety of buns and of course, the classic Hainan bread.
Among the many delectable offerings, the marble cake is a standout – freshly baked, rich in buttery goodness and perfect with a hot cup of kopi-o.
And for a quintessential Malaysian teatime treat, the toasted Hainan bread slathered with butter and kaya is a must-try.
For lunch, try the Hainan chicken chop, a golden-crusted deep-fried chicken complemented with a silky brown sauce made in-house.
Other highlights include the mee hailam or Hainanese noodles served in a flavourful chicken broth, Nyonya curry laksa and nasi lemak, all comforting classics.
With only nine tables, Bakeri Joy exudes an intimate charm, a cosy spot where customers can relax and enjoy their meal.
Joy said the siblings were able to run the business smoothly for close to three decades thanks to great team effort. “We respect each other. I think that value keeps us together.”
It’s a value instilled in them early on by their late father, said Joyce, 77.
“When we were young, our dad used to tell us, ‘First of all, you must respect each other, love each other, take care of each other and help each other’. He said this every day, and it stayed in my mind,” she said.
Through the business, they are also keeping their late mother’s legacy alive as several dishes are based on recipes inherited from her. These include the chicken rice, mutton stew, Nyonya curry laksa, chicken chop, mee hailam and Nyonya pineapple tarts.
Further extending the family’s legacy, Joy shared that their nephew has opened another outlet, Hainan Joy Cafe, just walking distance from Bakeri Joy.
And for Margaret, 72, seeing their customers returning brings her much joy (again, no pun intended).
“I’ve been serving them for many years, since we started. Although they went overseas to study, they will still come back. They’d ask me, ‘Aunty, do you remember me?’. I would say, ‘Of course’,” Margaret recalled with a smile.
“Our customers have become friends. That’s why I believe food connects people,” Joy said.
Bakeri Joy
4, Jalan SS24/13, Taman Megah
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
For location, click here. Prefer not to drive? The Taman Bahagia LRT station is only about a 10-minute walk away!
Business hours: 7am–6pm (daily)
Contact: 03-7805 5188