Old Favourites

Street Food
Favourites from The Star Street


Alor Setar
NASI KANDAR



KEDAI MAKANAN & MINUMAN KIM BEE CHEW

8, Jalan Tunku Ibrahim. Open 6.30am-2.30pm. Days off not fixed.

The original kandar complete with aluminium pot – a museum-worthy artifact – positioned at the front of the shop tells you that they have been in business for a long time. Lukman Hakim carries on the nasi kandar business started by his father, who used to ply his trade on foot, with the kandar slung on a pole across his shoulders.

There are about 20 types of dishes available daily, with items such as daging masak kicap, ayam masak merah and squid sambal. The hati masak kicap (beef liver in dark soy sauce) is very tender, with a slightly sweet gravy. The spicy squid is slightly chewy and the ayam masak merah is a winner with its sweet, spicy gravy and succulent flesh.

The ghee rice served here is very fluffy and aromatic. It is topped with a medley of gravies and makes for a hearty meal.


SS22, Damansara Jaya
CLAYPOT CHICKEN RICE



RESTORAN BUSY CORNER

83, Jalan SS22/11, Damansara Jaya. Open 12-2pm, 5-9pm. Closed on Thursdays.

IT’S more commonly known as “the claypot chicken rice near KDU (Kolej Damansara Utama)”, but you will find more than that here. There is also black pepper chicken rice, Thai sauce chicken rice, spicy fish rice, prawn rice and fermented bean sauce chicken rice – all cooked in claypots. The normal claypot chicken rice is quite delicious but the other items provide nice alternatives. There are also vegetables (yau choy) and soups to go with your pot of rice. Expect to wait at least 15 minutes especially during peak hours such as lunchtime and weekends.


Johor Baru
CURRY LAKSA



WW LAKSA HOUSE

36-A, Jalan Kolam Air. Open 7.30am-3pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

MORE famously known as the “Water Works Laksa”, this local favourite has humble beginnings from a makeshift stall nearby. It’s run by a mother-and-daughter team.

Served with Singapore beehoon (a fatter type of rice vermicelli) the curry laksa has a nice home-cooked taste.

The soup is not too thick, so the coconut cream does not overwhelm.

While it can’t be described as spectacular, it is a very pleasant, easy-to-like laksa with fresh ingredients like fish balls, cockles, fried wantan skin and bean curd puffs. It is also available in clear soup (ch’ng thong).

Top Favourites

Text by FARIDAH BEGUM

The first anniversary of Sunday Metro is on May 6 and to celebrate, we reveal our top 10 foods for the year!


1. Egg Tart

Recommended:
Choy Bee Biscuit or Simee in Kampung Simee market, Ipoh;
Fung Wong Biscuits, Jalan Hang Lekir, KL;
Tong Kee Confectionary, Jalan Tun HS Lee, KL;
Nam Heong Restaurant, Old Town Ipoh;
Yuen Garden Dim Sum, Jalan Kenari, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong, Selangor.


2. Ais Kacang

Recommended:
Swatow Lane Ice Kacang, Penang;
Mustafa Cendol, Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan;
Men Kee Food Court, Jalan Tun Ismail, Seremban;
Berkeley Garden Restaurant, Berkeley Roundabout, Klang;
Penang Village, Putrajaya and Hartamas Shopping Centre, KL.


3. Banana Leaf Lunch

Recommended:
Krishna Curry House, Jalan P.P. Narayanan (formerly Jalan 222), Petaling Jaya;
Ashoka, Perak Stadium, Ipoh;
Passion of Kerala, Brown Garden, Gelugor, Penang;
Sri Paandi Restaurant, Jalan Cantek, Section 5, Petaling Jaya;
South Indian Aiyengar Restaurant, Pines Condominium, Brickfields, KL.


4. Nasi Kandar

Recommended:
Line Clear, Penang Road, George Town;
Nasi Kandar Pelita (Headquarters: Taman Chai Leng, Prai, Penang; 21 branches in Malaysia, Chennai, India, and Australia);
Nasi Kandar Kudu, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL;
Kampung Melayu Nasi Kandar, Jalan Kampung Melayu, Penang;
Restaurant J.S. Maju, Presint 9, Putrajaya.


5. Nasi Lemak

Recommended:
Zam Zam Nasi Lemak near St Michael’s school in Alor Star;
Nyonya Nasi Lemak at Jin Hoe Café, Jalan Cantonment, Penang;
Nasi Lemak Tanglin at Kompleks Makan Tanglin, Jalan Cendasari, Kuala Lumpur;
Lido Nasi Lemak, Klang, Selangor;
C.T. Garden (C.T. Roses) Nasi Lemak, Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman, KL.


6. Tau Foo Fah

Recommended:
Pasar Malam Jalan Templer, Seremban;
Hawkers Centre, Taiping;
Funny Mountain Tau Foo Fah, Jalan Osbourne, Ipoh;
Small lane next to Wisma Hanifa, Jalan Masjid India, KL;
Stall on Petaling Street across Hong Leong Bank, KL.


7. Murtabak

Recommended:
Murtabak Mengkasar, Pekan, Pahang (also known as the royal murtabak);
Padang Tembak, Penang;
Hameediyah Restaurant, Campbell Street, Penang;
Bismillah Restaurant, Klang;
Fresh and frozen murtabak from sisters Nik Sri Emas & Nik Sah at Jalan Merbau and Banggol, Kota Baru, respectively.

8. Roti Canai

Recommended:
Sri Melur Jaya, SS19, Subang Jaya;
Restoran Miria, Kota Baru;
Zam-zam Kopitiam, Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan;
Vello Villas, Penang Street, Penang;
Buharry Bistro, Asian Heritage Row, Jalan Doraisamy, KL.


9. Char Kway Teow

Recommended:
Pun Heong Coffee Stall at Tebing Tinggi, Jalan Bendahara, Ipoh;
Side of Tin Wah Coffee Shop in 4 1/4 Old Klang Road;
Hai Beng Coffee Shop (Old Man Lim), Jones Road, Pulau Tikus, Penang;
Kedai Goreng Kuey Teow Tong Shin, off Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL;
Kedai Kopi Sin Guat Keong, corner of Kimberley Street and Cintra Street, Penang.


10. Roti Bakar

Recommended:
Kluang Train Station Canteen, Kluang;
Kedai Kopi White House, Jalan Sultanah Zainab, Kota Baru;
Kedai Kopi Hai Peng, Kemaman;
Tong Nam Bee, Jalan Tun Razak, Raub;
Hainan Curry Rice, Bukit Tinggi, Klang;
Kedai Makanan Sun Sun, Jalan Merdeka, Ampang.