THE plan is to have lunch at a popular road-side, 'nasi' place near Ain Arabia in Bukit Bintang but we're too late. They're already packing to close for the day.
Well, it's almost 3pm. My two friends and I are famished. Since we're not in the mood for Middle Eastern fare, the 'congkak' word on a sign board at a nearby restaurant draws us to it like magnet!
For the uninformed, congkak is a traditional Asian board game, especially popular in Malaysia and Indonesia. Hence, it's a no-brainer that Congkak KL serves Malay and Nusantara cuisine and to further strengthen its kampung feel, there are congkak sets placed on batik-clad tables at the exterior part of the restaurant and a few baskets of durian replicas on the grounds.
But it's too hot to dine al fresco, so we troop into the air conditioned dining area. The interior is slightly more modern than the one outside. Making it more inviting is a P. Ramlee movie that is playing on a flatscreen TV minus the volume, while classic Malay songs fill up the cold air-conditioned hall.
The menu is impressive with a huge variety of choices.
A BIG PLATTER
All three of us unanimously agree to try Nasi Ambeng, a Javanese rice dish that is served in a round tray with side dishes of sambal fish, coconut serunding, stir fried mixed vegetables, bergedil (potato cutlet), prawn crackers, sambal goreng (tempe and tofu dish), salted fish, salted egg, brinjal in sambal and julienned carrot and cabbage acar.
All these dishes are arranged around a pile of steamed white rice which is placed in the center of the tray and topped with sambal belacan. The platter comes with a choice of Gulai Ayam or Ayam Masak Kicap. We opt for the former.
Feeling greedy, we add Gulai Pucuk Paku and Tauhu Telur from the signature section of the menu to our order. And Bubur Labu for dessert.
Coincidently my two companions are of Javanese descendants and I get a 101 lesson on Nasi Ambeng as we wait for our food to come.
Nasi Ambeng is served at various kind of kenduri (feast) except kenduri kahwin (wedding feast). It is meant to be taken home to be shared with the family while guests will only be served with kuihs and drinks by the host.
All the side dishes go well with the hot steamed white rice. The star of the dish is sambal belacan which is well balanced in spiciness and tartness.
The only item that's missing from our Nasi Ambeng is fried noodles. Perhaps, that's why the carrots are julienned to resemble noodles.
Nevertheless, Congkak's Nasi Ambeng gets the approval from my two friends.
The Gulai Ayam and Gulai Pucuk Paku provide gravy to our otherwise dry meal. Both dishes are tasty. There are enough chicken pieces for the three of us though our Nasi Ambeng is for two pax.
The Tauhu Telur looks very impressive when it arrives at the table. It's actually a tower of stacked up egg tofu with crispy egg coat that sits on a rojak-like peanut sauce and topped with grated cucumber and carrot with sprinkles of crushed peanuts. However this dish doesn't sit well with us.
We find that the sauce is too sweet to be paired with the rich eggy flavour egg-tofu tower has. But, we appreciate its various textures - from the crispy the salad and egg coat to the soft silken tofu and the crunch from crushed peanuts. The only downfall for us is the overwhelmed sweetness of the sauce.
With such a heavy lunch, we're happy that our dessert, Bubur Labu (pumpkin cooked in sweetened coconut milk with sago pearls) is just right in terms of lightness and sweetness.
The slippery sago pearls make an easy and exciting swallow in every spoonful. Perhaps it'll be perfect if the pumpkin is a little bit softer. I like my pumpkin to sort-of melt in the mouth without much effort in chewing.
FAST FACTS
CONGKAK KL
24, Jalan Beremi
Off Jalan Sultan Ismail
Bukit Bintang
50200 Kuala Lumpur
TEL 03-2110 6005
EMAIL [email protected]
HOURS 11am- 11pm daily
EAT Malay and Nusantara Cuisine
MUST TRY Nasi Ambeng
PAY From RM15
MOOD Cosy, traditional kampung ambience
SERVICE Staff are attentive and friendly
I SAY Give it a try
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