Sate Kajang Hj. Samuri @ Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya

This restaurant or chain of restaurants as it is today needs no introduction at all. It has been in Malaysia for many years now and has made it's name in the Sate business. Sate Kajang Hj. Samuri started off it's business in Kajang, Selangor and today has branches throughout the country and specifically having small outlets in most highway rest areas. Today, this entry is about a visit to one of their outlets which is located in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya.

The Outlet in Damansara Utama

Interior of the restaurant

This outlet is one of the first outlets to be opened in Kuala Lumpur. The restaurant occupies both the Ground and First floors. As it was almost 10 pm when we arrived today, the crowd was bearable and we managed to find a table on the Ground Floor itself. If we come during peak hours, we would need to queue for a table and sometimes it could take up to an hour before a table is allocated.

Ordering is Self Service now

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

Self Service For The Sauce & Nasi Impit

Previously, they used to come up to your table and take the orders but nowadays, as their business has grown, they have made the ordering process self service. One would need to queue up at the counter, place the orders, pay for them and then collect the Peanut Sauce and Nasi Impit back to your table. Besides the usual Chicken and Beef Sate, they also offer Rabbit, Fish (Tilapia), Mutton, Beef Tripe and Chicken Liver & Gizzard Sate's too. Previously there used to be Venison and Ostrich sate's too but that has been removed from the menu. Besides Sate, they have also included a number of local dishes to the menu as well. Well come to think about it, there isn't much of a service here. Most if not all of their staffs are Indonesians and they are here just to do their job and there isn't much fraternising with customers or the personalised service element that one would expect is any other restaurant. Its plain simple trade and nothing more.

Their Iconic Peanut Sauce

Closer Look At The Peanut Sauce

Chili Paste

Mixed and Served According To Individual Preference

One of the many reasons this sate is famous is for the Peanut Sauce. It also comes with some Chilly Paste which you would add to your helping of the sauce to your preferred taste. Here, the Peanut Sauce is a little sweet, not too thick and is just about right. Personally, I prefer it with more chilly so I add more of this Chilly Paste. The Sate is later dipped into the Peanut Sauce and eaten. I would rate their Peanut Sauce at 9/10 .

Nasi Impit @ RM 1.50

This is another side dish that is quite common when having Sate. It is compressed rice and in Malay known as Nasi Impit. There is also some cucumber slices here. These are also dipped into the peanut sauce and eaten along with the Sate. I find their Nasi Impit slightly dry. My rating for this would simply be 7.8/10 .

Sirap Bandung @ RM 1.80

The Sirap Bandung was very well prepared and it had a decent and acceptable amount of ice in it. Some places would fill the glass with two thirds ice and the remainder would be the drink but that was not the case here. The drink deserves a rating of 8.8/10 . 

Nescafe @ RM 2.20

The Nescafe was priced at RM 2.20 per glass and again it was nicely fixed and deserves a rating of 8.8/10 .

Our Platter of Chicken and Fish Sate's

It was a long wait as it took them almost 45 minutes before the Sate's arrived. We ordered some Chicken Sate's and two Fish Sate's, just to try them out. I wanted to order some Mutton Sate but unfortunately, it was sold out. Anyway, that is not a big deal as personally I am not a great fan of their Mutton Sate. I have tried it before and find it a tad too hard and to some extent tasteless. I just wanted to get some as my friend that accompanied me tonight had not tried it before. 

Fish Sate @ RM 0.80 per skewer

Their Fish Sate is made from farm cultivated Tilapia Fish. To me, it tasted a little odd. It was thinly sliced and very brittle as it breaks off from the skewer quite easily. Taste wise, it was nothing to shout about and does not really give you the fulfillment of having eaten a chunk of meat on a skewer. I just found it to be barely okay. I would rate their Fish Sate at 4/10 .

Chicken Sate @ RM 0.80 per skewer

The Chicken Sate's were nice, though not the best that I have eaten and I am very sure that many would be able to vouch for this. I think it is the brand name that sells itself now more than the quality of the Sate's. The Sate's have definitely shrunk in size over the years but the taste has been consistent. I would rate their Chicken Sate's at 8.9/10 .

In a nutshell, what is still good here is the Peanut Sauce and in my opinion, that is the key selling product and not the tastes of the sate's. The second selling point here is the variety of sate's available here that is not available elsewhere. Though there are many other places that serve better Chicken and Mutton sate, people still do come here for the above two reasons. Another reason that this brand still sells well is their geographical spread. They have stalls and restaurants in every nook and corner of the Klang Valley thus making it easy for customers to reach them. These advantages are definitely helping them in maintaining their status quo of being Malaysia's No.1 sate outlet. 

Address: No. 79 & 79M, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Opening Hours: 1100 - 0000 Daily

Telephone: +603 7710 5318

Restoran Insaf Baru @ Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Restoran Insaf is a very old and trusted name that has been around since the 1970's serving excellent South Indian style Briyani. To those that used to frequent Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in the 70's and 80's, there were not many eateries along this stretch at those times and this used to be a must visit restaurant then. For me, when anyone mentions Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, there are a few names that comes up to my mind and they are Globe Silk Store, GS Gills, Coliseum Cafe, Minerva Book Store and Restoran Insaf and these are all part of my childhood memories. Coming back to this restaurant, in recent years there has been a management take over by one partner and hence the name had been changed to Restoran Insaf Baru. 

Restoran Insaf Baru along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Inside the restaurant

This restaurant used to be only visited by the Indians and Indian Muslims in the early years but now you get a lot of Malay customers coming here too. The food has been consistent but the price has definitely sky rocketed. The restaurant has also undergone some renovation in the recent years but the way that it is run, is very much the same. Do note that it can be very busy during lunch hours and sometimes you may need to wait a while before being able to get a table. Once in the restaurant, you could either place your orders at the table or like me, prefer to walk up to the food counter and select the dishes over there as you are able to see all the dishes that have been prepared for the day and you can select according to your preference. Dining here is not very comfortable as you do not have the privilege of being able to sit long after your meal and have a conversation as customers are coming in and everyone is rushing for a table. At times, you may have people waiting behind your seats for you to finish your meal so that they can occupy your table next. Despite this, people are willing to sacrifice that comfort factor just because the food is really good.

A Busy Day At The Restaurant

Mango Juice @ RM 5.00

Almost everyone coming here would order the above Mango Juice. From those days, this has been extremely famous here as they prepare a really thick glass that is very satisfying. Here, they either use Indian  or Australian Mangoes only. These mangoes are also sold by the Kilo's at the entrance. I would strongly recommend anyone to try their Mango Juice. I would rate the above drink at 10/10 .

Mutton Briyani @ RM 15.00

Mutton Briyani @ RM 15.00

My all time favourite here is their Mutton Briyani. It is cooked according to the traditional 'Karaikudi' way, also known as the 'Chettinad' way. Mutton chunks with gravy is cooked along with the rice and this brings about greater flavours compared to cooking the rice and mutton separately. Definitely a heavenly preparation and I would rate their Mutton Briyani at 9.7/10 .

Chicken Briyani @ RM 13.00

Chicken Briyani @ RM 13.00

For the Chicken Briyani, you could go with their Original Briyani which has the chicken cooked along with the rice or just take the plain briyani rice and add a piece of Kurma Chicken like the above. Their original style is slightly on the spicy side and for those who cannot tolerate spiciness, then this is an option. Both are equally good. My rating for the above Chicken Briyani is 9.5/10 .

Dhallcha

Dhallcha

Do note that the above is not Sambar but Dhallcha. Both are different as this is cooked along with some chicken bones that brings about a much different taste. Some may confuse this with Sambar as both look similar but Sambar is a vegetarian dish and this is not. This goes very well with their briyani rice and additional top ups can be requested for no extra charge. I would rate their Dhallcha at 9.2/10 .

Cucumber Acar

Another compulsory sides that goes with this style of briyani is the above Vegetable Acar. Most often, cucumber and carrots are used in the vinegar infused base that gives the Acar a stinging yet sweet flavour to it. Their Acar was quite well prepared and I would rate this at 8.8/10 .

Mashed Brinjals in Black Pepper @ RM 6.00

Mashed Brinjals in Black Pepper @ RM 6.00

They just had two variety of vegetables and therefore I chose the above Mashed Brinjals prepared with Black Pepper. This was an extremely spicy dish that came in a very thick gravy. It didn't go well with the Briyani and perhaps would have gone better with Chapati's or other Indian breads. Nevertheless, as a dish, it was very well prepared and I would rate this dish at 9/10 .

Honey Chicken @ RM 10.00

Honey Chicken @ RM 10.00

I also ordered the above piece of Honey Chicken which was priced at RM 10.00 per piece. Come to think of it, it is expensive but it was really delicious. I love the way that the Chicken was prepared and it was not overly sweet and had just the right balance of sweetness and spices. Definitely a recommended dish. I would rate this at 9/10 .

Fried Masala Fish Roe @ RM 10.00 per plate

Fried Masala Fish Roe @ RM 10.00 per plate

The Fish Roe was coated in spices and deep fried to perfection. Being a Fish Roe lover, this was definitely a treat. I loved the way it was spiced and fried. Though the outer coating was crisp, the inside was still soft and had all the juices still intact. Do note that this is a spicy dish. I would rate this at 9.7/10 . 

This place surely has withstood the test of time and I am very glad that they are still serving excellent food despite the management takeover in recent years. The food is still superb, the service is speedy and though it is a premium price that we need to pay, I would still come back here anytime for a good meal.

Address: 158, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, 50100 Kuala Lumpur.

Telephone: +603 2691 2806

Opening Hours: 1100 - 2100 Daily

Ah Tuan Ee's Place @ Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya

Frankie Cheah started Ah Tuan Ee's Place in January 2000 in memory of his late mother Madam Lim Chye Tuan also fondly known as Ah Tuan Ee or Auntie Ah Tuan. Hailing from Penang, their first outlet was started in SS2, Petaling Jaya. Over the years, they have been wining the hearts of some loyal customers with their authentic flavours and when their business started to grow, they started their second outlet at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara. 

At Tuan Ee's Place at The Curve

Outside Seating Spaces

Interior of the Restaurant

Interior of the Restaurant

Interior of the Restaurant

This outlet at The Curve is located on the First Floor on the Western Courtyard. It is not a very large outlet but good enough to handle their usual daily crowd except on weekends when it tends to get very busy. From the outside, it may look like a typical Chinese restaurant but once you are in, the decoration simply brings you back to the Nyonya restaurants of yesteryears. 

The  Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

The Menu

I love the fact that they have rightfully used the word Nyonya Cuisine instead of Peranakan Cuisine because both are worlds apart and this is a term that is commonly misused. Their menu is quite simple but is packed with a good deal of Nyonya dishes. I also respect the fact that they have included a number of vegetarian dishes in their menu to cater for fellow Vegans as not many Nyonya restaurants out there have catered for that segment. Being a Saturday, the restaurant was quite full despite the fact that we arrived here at only 9 pm. Nevertheless, the staffs were very attentive and managed the crowd well. Though I would have loved to try more dishes tonight, it was just the two of us and both of us were already quite full from a heavy lunch and hence our orders was catered more for a light meal. 

Cutlery

Coca Cola @ RM 4.80

Once the orders were taken, the cutleries and drinks were served. I ordered the above Coca Cola and it was priced slightly on the high side at RM 4.80 per can. My friend had a glass of Warm Water and that was priced at RM 0.80 . Once again, for a glass of water, RM 0.80 is definitely premium price. 

Char Kuay Teow @ RM 12.80

Closer Look At The Char Kuay Teow

The first to arrive was the plate of Char Kuay Teow which was priced at RM 12.80. For this place and the quantity, the price is acceptable. Their CKT was very well prepared. There were loads of bean sprouts, eggs and prawns in the dish. Cockles were not included and I personally would have loved it better if that was included in the dish. The preparation was slightly on the spicy side which is typical of the Nyonya style of preparation and to me, this was a good dish. I would rate this dish at 8.5/10 .

Fried Tang Hoon @ RM 12.80

Fried Tang Hoon

Their Fried Tang Hoon was the next dish to be served. This was not as spicy as the previous dish but had a Serai aftertaste to it. Now, this may be preferred by some and again it is a matter of personal preference, but I found it to be quite interesting and a definite contrast to the Chinese style of preparation which I am commonly used to. A fairly good dish that deserves a rating of 7.8/10 .

Sambal Kiamhoo (Small) @ RM 16.80

Closer Look At The Chunks of Salted Fish

Sambal Kiamhoo is another authentic Nyonya dish which is hard to find nowadays. In most of the Nyonya restaurants that I have visited, this dish is always omitted from the menu for some reason. However, I was delighted to find it here. This dish is typically made of chunks of Salted Fish which is cooked with loads of chili, onions and tamarind. The dish, was acceptably spicy with a definite punch and a taste to remember. I would rate this dish at 9.6/10 .

Chicken Loh Bak (Small) @ RM 17.80

Chicken Loh Bak

This dish is prepared using marinated lean Chicken Meat, Turnips, Carrots and Spring Onions rolled with Bean Curd Skin and deep fried to a golden brown colour. Chili Sauce is served on the sides for those who prefer to dip them and have it slightly more spicy but for me, it was good to be eaten on its own as that brought out greater flavours of the chicken and the other ingredients in the rolls. Another excellent dish here that deserves a rating of 9.5/10 .

Overall, though not being able to try their other signature dishes that go perfectly well with white rice, this was still a satisfying meal for us. I would definitely return here again to try out their other dishes which I missed today. If you are looking for a good place to try authentic Nyonya cuisine, then Ah Tuan Ee's is definitely a great place to visit.

Address: No.155, Level 1, Western Courtyard, The Curve,

                Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Telephone: +603 7710 3603

Opening Hours: 1000 - 2200 Daily

The SS2 Outlet: 74, Jalan SS2/72, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

                            +603 7877 5221 

Website: http://www.ahtuanee.com/my/dsp_home.html