The famed Coca hotpot chain is back in Malaysia

Coca has made a name for itself with its delicious hotpot and signature suki sauce. — Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star

There is a rich, multi-layered story behind the Coca hotpot chain of restaurants and it begins with Pitaya Phanphensophon’s Chinese parents Khun Srichai and Patama.

“My mum ended up in Thailand because of World War II, her family was starving and she was the eldest so they sent her out to find her cousins in Bangkok. My father was driven out of his hometown in China because of communism. He and his brothers swam across the river, and ended up in Hong Kong where they were picked up my uncle. One day, my other uncles decided they wanted to do business in Thailand, so my father was sent there. My mother says their lives were like a Chinese drama series,” says Pitaya, laughing.