KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — The moment I enter Sri Petaling, I feel like I am in the Disneyland of food.
Every part of it has a place serving food. The choices are mind boggling.
The latest attraction for me is Aman's Food Stall. Technically, it's not new but I only discovered it once they relocated here about two months ago.
It made a name for itself at Restoran Good Tea but once that shuttered, the claypot chicken rice stall moved to their own space.
The restaurant is on a quieter road that has more offices, car workshops and even a newly minted car spa.
In fact, it feels like another world. Maybe because this street is in total contrast to the parallel road that is bustling with new cafes (I spotted Angmo's Kopitiam & Bakery), coffee shops and what nots.
It was even quieter at the restaurant, partly because I visited during lunch time. It's not a surprise, since people tend to prefer tucking into claypot chicken rice at night, as it can get quite hot in the day.
Some patrons were quietly eating their lunch while one was doing a takeaway.
I welcomed the peace. Especially since I had struggled through the traffic surrounding the whole area.
You won't notice at first but behind the hot stove, you will find a Malay couple known as Aman and Nona.
That's because, once you approach the stall, the usual smattering of Cantonese starts like a machine gun asking, "What do you want to order?"
It seems they picked up the language as a result of being in the business for 28 years.
The star is their Claypot Chicken Rice. A small portion is RM9 while the big portion is RM18.
As it's pork free, the rice is topped with marinated chicken pieces and salted fish.
Cooked over a charcoal fire, it arrives at my table with smoke emitting from it.
It looks plain at first glance but the bottom has the requisite dark soy sauce, light soy sauce and sesame oil.
As I mix everything together, I can smell the salted fish that gives it that alluring "come eat me" aroma.
The bottom has a little crust which I slowly scraped and ate. It's so tasty that yes, I finished every bit of it.
If you come in a group, order the Steamed Tilapia Fish or Steamed Fish Head served with a choice of different sauces, whether it's a spicy Nonya, ginger sauce or just plain. The tilapia fish can also be ordered deep fried.
I opted for the Hot and Sour Kembung Fish (RM6), a more reasonable portion for just me.
This was a surprise dish. The fish, which was a pretty decent size, was deep fried and they slather a mixture of chopped red chillies, pickled green chillies and onions on top.
Who can resist the tangy, spicy appetising taste especially when it's got a deep fried crust. Even the head can be eaten since it is crispy.
I was tempted by things like Fried Chicken Wings, Fried Prawns or Fried Sotong but I opted for a healthier choice of boiled vegetables (RM8 for a small portion). I liked how my romaine lettuce (yau mak) was drizzled with only oyster sauce and a sprinkle of fried garlic.
I did add an Old Cucumber Soup (RM6) from their repertoire of steamed soups.
Soup is a perfect match with claypot chicken rice and there's seven varieties to pick from like lotus root and peanut, ABC and even a ginseng one for RM6.
The danger of soups though is they tend to be laden with MSG. The soup I picked may look clear but it tasted sweet with the perfectly soft old cucumber, chicken pieces and red dates. I also appreciated that the soup wasn't oily at all. And yes, it didn't have that overwhelming taste of MSG, which usually makes me very thirsty.
This definitely ranks as one of the better steamed soups I have tried.
This place definitely warrants another visit with more people to try other items on their menu like their Claypot Chicken or the Ginger Sauce Chicken, provided they're willing to brave through that neverending loop of cars in the Sri Petaling square.
Aman's Food Stall, Restoran Ahmad Muzakin, No. 11, Ground Floor, Jalan Radin Anum 2, Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur. Open daily: 11am to 10pm. Tel:013-3289933.
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