She once had zero interest in cooking or baking.
Today, her food sells out and even crosses borders.
This is the real Malaysian hustle story behind Ling’s Kitchen, a brand built with passion, persistence, and seriously good food.
Zero Skills. Zero Interest. One Life-Changing Moment.
Meet Yap Wai Ling, also known as Kelly.
Ten years ago, she requested for the smallest and most simple kitchen in her home, sufficient enough to cook herself instant noodles. Cooking? Not her thing.
Then came a trip to New York and everything changed.
Seeing how food connected people sparked something real. Kelly went home, rolled up her sleeves, and taught herself to cook from scratch.
No culinary school. No fancy setup.
Just her mom’s tiny kitchen.
From Home Experiments to 15 Cafés Across Klang Valley
Between 2015 and 2018, Kelly experimented nonstop. From participating her first flea market to supplying cafes and catering for weddings, birthday parties and big brands like New Balance and Topshop x Adidas. One hit stood out: gourmet tarts.
They sold so fast that cafés had to limit customers to two pieces per person. Her desserts landed features in popular food platforms, and soon, Ling’s Kitchen was supplying 15 cafés across the Klang Valley run by Kelly and just one helper.
That’s pure grind.
COVID Changed Everything So She Pivoted Smart
Like many food businesses, the pandemic hit hard. But it also created a new demand:
comfort food and gifting. Orders exploded.
Then came the next challenge: shelf life. Cakes last four days. Tarts even less.
Instead of quitting, Kelly innovated. She launched:
- 3 types of BROTHS (Slow-cooked for 9 hours. Lab tested, low salt and low sugar)
- 6 flavours of Greek Yogurt Popsicles (Suitable for both kids and adults)
Probiotic Popsicles That Parents Actually Trust
Watching her kids eat cheap RM2 ice creams filled with artificial stuff didn’t sit right. So, Kelly made her own.
Real fruits.
Blended, sieved, cooked.
Added probiotics + calcium for gut health.
They cost more (around RM27 for six) and customers taste the difference. Parents love them. Kids crave them. Even Singapore customers pre-order and collect.
Healthy food can be delicious.
One Woman. Many Roles. Bigger Dreams.
Kelly runs everything herself:
- Baking & production
- Sourcing ingredients
- Website & ads
- Instagram & Facebook
- Mom. Wife. Founder.
Despite posting less, loyal customers and word-of-mouth keep Ling’s Kitchen moving. As of January 2026, she’s renovating a new shop space in PJ preparing to scale up. Her vision for the next 2–3 years?
- Indoor playgrounds
- Convenience stores
- Supermarkets
From home kitchen to nationwide shelves.
The Bold Move That Changed Her Life
The biggest risk?
Quitting a stable family government contracting job to chase her passion despite doubts from those closest to her.
She chose belief over fear. And it worked.
Kelly’s Advice for Dreamers & First-Time Founders
“Don’t tell yourself you cannot do it. Explore. Try. Fail. Stand up. Keep going.”
From someone who once hated cooking to creating 12+ tart flavours, this message hits hard.
Final Bite 🍴
Ling’s Kitchen proves this:
You don’t need a big kitchen to build a big dream. Just heart, hustle, and the courage to start.
Would you try gourmet tarts, healthy broths, or probiotic popsicles? Drop your pick in the comments 👇
Follow Ling’s Kitchen for updates on their new shop launch the best is still cooking 🔥
