Malaysian Woman's Post About Turning Down First Date At Mamak Sparks Heated Debate
Love at first teh tarik? Not for her.
By Sadho Ram — 15 May 2025, 11:54 AM
A Malaysian woman has gone viral on Threads after revealing she was blocked by a man for turning down his invitation for a first date at a mamak stall
Her post, uploaded yesterday, 14 May, has sparked intense debate online about dating standards, gender expectations, and how much effort people should put into first impressions.
"Got blocked because I didn't want to go on a date with a guy who asked me out to mamak. Honestly, I love [thosai], I don't mind eating [at] mamak. But come on, if there's no effort from the start, what do you expect from this kind of guy later on?
"Then I posted a photo of me eating at a restaurant and he called me picky, saying I only want expensive places. That was just me dining alone, I never asked him to pay.
"It's true what people say, if a guy is over 30 and still single… there's probably a reason," she wrote.
The post has garnered over 207,000 views with over 1,000 replies, making it one of the most hotly debated dating takes in the country
The debate, predictably, split along gender lines.
One female user, whose reply was pinned by the OP, wrote in support: "My husband was a student when we met. Our first date was at a café because it was quiet and easier to talk. Once I was comfortable, then we hung out at mamak. I don't think mamak is the right place to get to know someone. First dates should be about effort, if there's none, don't expect the second."
But others weren't as sympathetic.
A male user fired back: "At this age, if you expect a guy to take you to expensive restaurants on the first date, and he doesn't, he's probably the right guy financially. You're strangers, not his wife. Who are you to demand anything? If every woman he dates wants fine dining, he'd go broke."
His comment, which included a small essay defending frugality and calling out "freeloading", drew over 600 likes, as well as sharp rebuttals from other users who said he missed the point entirely.
"This isn't about money, it's about the environment. If you're courting someone seriously, maybe don't ask her to mamak. A simple café with RM10 drinks would be fine. She didn't even ask him to pay," wrote a female user, whose reply received nearly 250 likes.
Another female user agreed, saying mamak joints, with their cigarette smoke, loud TV commentary, and general chaos, aren't ideal for a proper conversation.
"It's about common sense, not materialism," she said.
Some shared anecdotes with a twist, explaining how her now-husband once showed up in a Kancil and brought her to a roadside stall for their first date
It turned out he owned a petrol station and the car was his staff's.
"Sometimes guys just want to test whether you’re materialistic," she said.
But for every heartwarming story, there was a bitter takedown.
"So you're still single, must be a reason," wrote a male user, echoing the OP's own comment and getting over 600 likes in return.
While some called her post "rage bait" and attention-seeking, others defended her preferences and called for people, especially men, to stop being so defensive.
As one user summed it up: "You do you. It's not like she expected a Michelin-star restaurant. Just a decent café over tea or coffee. The bar is on the floor."
