While most restaurants just want to feed people, others are an avenue of hope and change. A restaurant is a good place for disadvantaged people to learn a trade and earn an honest living. RC Deaf Cafe in Kuala Lumpur is one such establishment.
A quiet little cafe
Located in MAHSA Avenue, this little cafe is truly one-of-a-kind. It is a quiet little cafe, for more reasons than you would realise. As soon as you step in, you will be greeted by the staff. Not verbally, though, but in sign language.
Fully deaf staff
As its name might suggest, RC Deaf Cafe is an establishment fully staffed by hearing-impaired individuals. The cafe is one of the few in Malaysia which holds this special honour. Another cafe similar to this one would be DIB Cafe in Petaling Jaya.
RC Deaf Cafe was established by the siblings, Agnes and Mario Peter, founders of RC Deaf Missions Malaysia, an NGO supporting the deaf community. The cafe is part of their effort to provide job opportunities to members of the deaf community.
Sign language everywhere
Another objective of the RC Deaf Cafe is to educate Malaysians on the use of sign language. For those not in the know, sign language is how deaf people communicate. By making signs with one’s hand, a deaf person can understand what someone is saying and reply accordingly.
To that end, sign language is everywhere in RC Deaf Cafe. The menu items are labelled accordingly with their corresponding sign, so you can easily communicate with the staff when ordering. Would you be surprised to know that the organisation offers sign language courses?
Meet the staff
Speaking of staff, MFT had a chance to get to know a few of them. Banita is the silver-haired auntie at the stove and she has been working here for over ten years now. Meanwhile, Faisal is the senior barista, and the man behind many of the handicrafts sold in the cafe.
How’s the food?
What’s a cafe without food, though? And RC Deaf Cafe certainly has several offerings worth savouring. Of note are the Chicken Cranberry Sandwich and the Turmeric Latte, creations of Banita and Faisal, respectively.
For such a simple dish, the sandwich was amazingly delicious. The savoury taste of the chicken works perfectly with the sweet cranberry and chewy sourdough bread. Neither oily nor greasy, this sandwich is a perfect fit for health-concerned Malaysians.
The Turmeric Latte, on the other hand, is one caffeine drink that will spice up your day, literally. It is packed with spices but not overpoweringly so. It will keep you awake on those sleepy days. The best part? Faisal came up with the recipe by himself!
Other dishes worth trying are the Aglio Olio with Mushroom and Edamame and the Honey Citron Tea. The former was perfectly al dente, with the mushrooms and edamame adding addictive chewiness. The Honey Citron, on the other hand, is a good drink to unwind with.
Worth a try?
It is not easy to be impaired in hearing, but the staff here show that deafness is not an obstacle to living life freely. So, the next time you are in the area, consider dropping by to support this noble initiative while enjoying some good food.
RC Deaf Cafe
Address: 2-4 & 2-6 Level 2 Block B MAHSA Avenue, off Jalan Ilmu, Jln Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily | Closed on Mondays
Contact: 019-2619920
Halal Status: Pork-free
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