A young boy is putting money into the small box on the table.

After having put his old 500-kyat note into the box carefully, the boy's eyes are sparkling with joy. He then takes a bowl, puts rice in and queues in front of the young woman who will be putting curry into his bowl. The woman puts two pieces of pork into his bowl.

It is the scene of a roadside restaurant in North Dagon Township, Yangon, selling a meal worth Ks500 served in a bowl. Like such a young boy, other people of all ages are lining up to buy cheap meals for their lunch.

They are there to get a meal for Ks500.

"As I myself had to struggle with my meals, I know how difficult life is to get a meal," said restaurant owner Ko Nay Thurein. He said he didn't forget where he came from. He is now a somewhat successful businessman rising from rags.

"When I left my home one day, a little boy approached me saying he and his friends hadn't had any meal until 6pm. He said he got nothing though he had been trying all day to get a meal. He asked for my help. But meals are not on a week or month basis. We have to eat it daily.

Thinking that a meal should not be a burden, but it should be affordable, delicious and safe, I created a bowl meal worth Ks500," Ko Nay Thurein recounted.

The shop opened on October 18 this year, and it has become popular in the town. "Now, we have to cook three bags of rice a day," he said. "When I opened this restaurant on a land plot of my own in North Dagon, my aim was to ensure healthy and delicious food.

I know I won't make a profit. I collected even small things with the money I had. I made a rough calculation before starting the business. This is not for a profit. I run this business like charity."

Familiar with selling car accessories only, he faced a lot of difficulties when he started opening the restaurant, Ko Nay Thurein added.

"In those days, rice ran out while customers were still lining up. Curries were not enough," he commented.

Over a month after the shop opening, he appointed two experienced labourers. After hiring more workers, the restaurant has become perfect, he said adding that some well-wishers came to make donations as he runs a cheap restaurant without anticipating profit.

"Do your job out of genuine goodwill. There will be donors. I have to spend my own money to pay the workers. For example, there are those who sell rice without profit. There are those who make cash donations," he said.

There is no such a place in Yangon as offering a cheap meal for Ks500 only. Indeed, such a restaurant selling a meal served in a bowl for Ks500 is a heaven for ordinary people such as greengrocers and trishaw drivers.

"At home, Ks3,000 is not enough for a meal for our family. Here, we can have our lunch for Ks3,000," said one greengrocer, Ko Aung Thu.

He used to make and sell harps, a traditional musical instrument in Myanmar. With his failed business, he and his wife sell greens. They are six in his family.

"I would like him (the restaurant owner) to sell dinner in addition to lunch. I wish to see more shops like this," Ko Aung Thu said.

As cost of living is high, low-income people also come to this roadside restaurant for their meals.

Ko Nay Thurein said: "My restaurant sees more and more customers day by day. Most of them are low-income people. They are daily wage earners."

What is interesting is that along the roadside where the K500-rice bowl restaurant are a chain of shops that also sell their products at not more than Ks500.

"About two days after my shop opened, a man started to sell his things near me. Later on, there were more shops here. I allowed them to sell here. They don't sell their products at no more than Ks500. The shops sell Chinese food such as noodles and rice with glutinous liquid.

"I earn additional income to support my family," said the owner a shop selling rice with glutinous liquid.

One shop owner, Daw San Kyi said: We don't make much profit. Here is the rule that we cannot sell our meal at not more than Ks500."

Most of the shops in the area arranged by Ko Nay Thurein are opened by residents in North Dagon Township.

Ko Nay Thurein happily announced a plan to open a clinic where a patient will be charged Ks500 only for treatment.

"A building is under construction. It will run a clinic for Ks500 per patient. But we need to get a license," he said. Healthy food as well as good health is important for humans, so plans are underway to run a cheap clinic, he stressed. At his restaurant, he and his employees are busy serving customers. It is a place where low-income people can fill their stomach with a meal that cost Ks500 only.

He wishes to see more and more shops like his. "I will try to sell a meal for Ks500 only however high commodity prices are," Ko Nay Thurein said.