NakNak Expands Malaysian Menu with Ultimate Cheese Bomb and New Sides

2 min readSep 23, 20266:07 AM

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Malaysian fast-casual operator NakNak expanded its domestic menu on September 21, 2026. The chain rolled out a cheese-loaded fried chicken line priced from RM24.90 alongside new dessert and salad options.

The limited-time Ultimate Cheese Bomb pairs fried chicken and fries with melted mozzarella. The launch targets higher evening ticket sizes across the brand’s Malaysian footprint.

NakNak structured the launch across two price tiers. The Original Ultimate Cheese Bomb starts at RM24.90, combining Korean fried chicken and fries with melted mozzarella. The Spicy version lists from RM26.90, swapping in the brand’s Spicy Gochujang Nak Dak sauce. Diners can also add an extra Ultimate Cheese Bomb Sauce portion for RM8.00.

To capture multi-item orders, the chain introduced lower-cost sides and sweets. The Shake Shake Salad retails from RM9.90 with Korean or sesame dressing, or RM12.90 bundled with a carbonated soft drink. Extra dressing cups cost RM1.50. For dessert, the Joy Cookie Tiramisu lists at RM12.90 to anchor the sweet end of the ticket.

Cadence of limited-time offerings

This release maintains NakNak’s 2026 promotional cycle. The chain ran its Thai Basil Pow series in February 2026, the Hot Honey Butter Crunch series in May, and a Tropical Punch beverage campaign in July. Rotating hero items every eight to ten weeks keeps store traffic steady without overhauling core kitchen equipment.

“The Original Ultimate Cheese Bomb starts at RM24.90, combining Korean fried chicken and fries with melted mozzarella.”

Korean-inspired fried chicken chains in Malaysia rely on visual items to drive food court footfall. Melted cheese pours deliver strong social media engagement. However, they complicate dinner rush operations. Melted dairy requires strict temperature control and fast table delivery before texture degrades.

Add-ons and ticket engineering

Pricing across the menu shows how quick-service chains manage ingredient inflation while lifting receipts. By pricing the core plate at roughly RM25 to RM27 and selling sauces and tiramisu separately, NakNak pushes the full check above RM40 per person. That lifts revenue per square metre against rising urban mall occupancy costs.

Salad combos at RM12.90 offer an option for mixed groups. Including lighter items prevents group vetoes, where a single health-conscious diner diverts an entire party from a fried chicken outlet. For store kitchens, assembling pre-portioned salads takes minimal prep time and zero fryer capacity.

Korean quick-service battleground

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s most competitive markets for Korean dining concepts, with local brands battling international franchises like KyoChon and 4Fingers. Sauce-coated chicken and cheese pairings are standard across the segment. This keeps switching costs low and forces operators to refresh promotional menus continuously.

Margin control remains the central commercial challenge. Mozzarella and dairy inputs face global commodity price volatility and currency exposure in Malaysia, where raw dairy is mostly imported. Sustaining profits depends on customers ordering high-margin soft drinks, salads and desserts alongside cheese-heavy mains.

Outlets across Kuala Lumpur and surrounding urban centres have begun serving the full promotional line-up, which runs while promotional inventory lasts.

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What this means

NakNak's new 'Cheese Bomb' menu, coupled with strategic add-ons like salads and desserts, is a shrewd move to enhance revenue per square metre and appeal to broader dining groups. This tactic, previously seen with their Thai Basil Pow and Hot Honey Butter Crunch series, allows them to maintain a promotional cadence without costly kitchen overhauls. However, the operational complexity of melted cheese during peak hours, plus volatile imported dairy costs, pressures profitability. The strategy will likely succeed in boosting immediate sales and social media buzz, but sustained margin growth hinges on customers consistently ordering the higher-margin soft drinks, salads, and desserts alongside the cheese-heavy mains, as operators like 4Fingers and KyoChon also navigate similar challenges. Retailers should watch the sales mix of add-on items for the next eight weeks.

Sarah Chen

Questions & Answers

What is the primary objective of introducing the Ultimate Cheese Bomb line and new side dishes?

The launch aims to increase higher evening ticket sizes across NakNak's Malaysian outlets. It also captures multi-item orders and prevents groups from being deterred by a lack of lighter options.

How does NakNak manage potential ingredient inflation and maximise revenue with this new menu?

NakNak prices the core fried chicken dish at RM25-RM27, then sells sauces, salads, and desserts separately. This strategy pushes the full check above RM40 per person, increasing revenue per square metre.

What challenges do melted cheese dishes present for NakNak's kitchen operations?

Melted cheese pours, while visually appealing for social media, complicate dinner rush operations. They require strict temperature control and fast table delivery to prevent the texture from degrading.

Why is it important for NakNak to continuously refresh its promotional menus?

Malaysia is a competitive market for Korean dining, and sauce-coated chicken with cheese is standard. This low switching cost forces operators like NakNak to refresh promotional menus continuously to attract customers.

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