KUALA LUMPUR. April 10 — I was incredibly curious about the newly-opened Mama Yen Cafe as they said their specialty is nasi lemak Melaka.
So curious that I decided to give them a visit just a few days after they opened for business.
It's a small space as they took over a half shoplot so it's really a place for a quick meal or takeaway.
You can get nasi lemak and fried beehoon with various side dishes. While I always imagined Melaka-style nasi lemak to be the ones served with stir fried kangkung, this version was more like a Nonya version as it featured achar. The Melaka reference is probably because the owner hails from there.
The menu also includes tong sui, sandwiches and soft boiled eggs served with kaya toast. Truly simple fare.
Prices range from RM6.90 to RM16.90 for the offerings, making it a step higher than say your usual nasi lemak stall. Portions are hefty though. The fried chicken is a chunky bite as it's one whole leg.
What caught my eye on the menu was the unusual pairing of dried shrimp petai chilli with nasi lemak (RM15.90).
It's basically hae bee with stink beans. Just think of it as a rice killer combination. I was happily eating the rice here and I usually avoid eating so much rice as I'm watching my calories.
Maybe it's because the rice isn't the insipid type found at a lot of nasi lemak stalls; each grain of rice here is infused with coconut milk.
Your nasi lemak is served with achar, sambal, crispy fried ikan bilis and peanuts. There's the usual mainstays like hard boiled egg and cucumber slices.
I'm not a fan of the sambal though. It's apparently without any belacan but this version just felt a little one dimensional with a slight spicy kick.
For those who prefer a more traditional pairing for their nasi lemak, the rendang ayam is a great choice.
You get tender chicken and lots of thick kuah rich with coconut milk and herbs to make it a fragrant spoonful. I added it to my meal here for RM7.90.
If you have a sweet tooth, there are three tong sui offerings to satisfy any cravings. The mainstays are red bean soup and a special luo han guo.
I decided to try the bubuchacha that is served only on Wednesday and Sunday. It's loaded with sweet potato and yam in a not too sweet coconut milk broth with sago pearls. This was RM6 for a small portion.
The taste resembles one that you may find at home since it's not too sweet.
For the fried beehoon, I selected the fried chicken version (RM15.90) for my takeaway. The fried chicken may not shine in the flavour department with its meat but the texture was on point.
You get a satisfying juicy bite with mild flavours from the generous sprinkle of the fragrant lemongrass shreds and curry leaves.
The fried noodles are tasty with its simple soy sauce combination. There's vegetables and dried prawns mixed inside the thin strands. The single portion will be perfect for two small eaters, especially with the fried chicken.
What's unusual is the Hainanese chilli. No, don't expect the same chilli garlic sauce paired with chicken rice.
Here, this version is a scrumptious mix of fried shallots with dried chillies that gives you a tingle to your tongue when mixed into the fried noodles.
It's early days for the tiny cafe but if they can maintain their standards, it may fast become a neighbourhood favourite.
Mama Yen Cafe, 41A, Jalan Desa Bakti, Taman Desa, Off Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur. Open: 8am to 4pm. Days off not fixed. Tel: 017-3502952.
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