IKEA Cheras Got Shut Down For Being Unhygienic — And Customers Say They’re Not Surprised

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The Swedish furniture giant’s popular restaurant in Cheras has been ordered closed for 14 days after health inspectors found it failed to meet basic cleanliness standards.

What the company called “maintenance works” was, in fact, a government-mandated shutdown — and the paper trail suggests authorities had been watching for months.

The closure notice, issued by the Jabatan Kesihatan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya on 17 June, was blunt.

Under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, officers ordered Restoran IKEA Cheras at No. 2A, Jalan Cochrane, Taman Maluri to cease operations immediately at 10 pm, citing the premises as “tidak bersih dan disucikan”, or not clean and sanitised to a standard safe for public consumption.

The restaurant will remain shut until 1 July.

What IKEA Said — And What It Left Out

Within hours, IKEA Malaysia posted a statement on its official Facebook page.

It apologised for the inconvenience and said the Cheras Swedish Restaurant was “temporarily closed while we carry out maintenance works to ensure we continue meeting the high hygiene standards expected by both IKEA and Malaysian health authorities.”

The post made no mention of the government closure order.

It did not take long for the notice to surface online.

Customers shared photographs of the red-and-white Notis Perintah Tutup plastered on the premises, and the comments section quickly became something of a public hearing.

“Just be transparent,” wrote one user. “Make the necessary fixes and improvements, and we’ll continue to support you.”

Customers Had Been Noticing

For many who eat at IKEA Cheras regularly, the closure came as little surprise.

“Yesterday went for dinner and today having food poisoning and diarrhea,” one customer wrote on the day of the announcement.

Others described a pattern of decline — overcooked food, dirty cutlery, glasses with lipstick marks from previous diners, and tables left uncleaned for extended periods during busy weekends.

“The glass for refilling drinks had floating residue from the previous drinker,” wrote one commenter. “That was many years ago. I never went back.”

Several pointed to a structural issue: IKEA’s self-service model, where customers are expected to clear their own trays, works only when there are enough staff to maintain the surrounding environment.

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Business as Usual — Elsewhere

At a high-volume outlet like Cheras — one of the busiest in the Klang Valley — the system appeared to be breaking down.

“Pekerja lambat bersihkan meja. Bersepah sisa makanan atas meja. Kita pula terpaksa bersihkan,” wrote another, describing tables left in disarray and customers cleaning up after themselves out of necessity.

IKEA confirmed that its cafés and bistros within the Cheras store remain open. Customers looking for the Swedish Restaurant experience — the meatballs, the salmon, the famously cheap soft-serve — can visit IKEA Damansara, Tebrau in Johor Bahru, or Batu Kawan in Penang in the meantime.

The company said it looks forward to welcoming customers back soon.

Whether customers feel the same may depend on what IKEA does — and says — between now and 1 July.

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IKEA Cheras Got Shut Down For Being Unhygienic — And Customers Say They’re Not Surprised
Entertainment Flash Report