BANGI, Oct 17 — You can’t miss Restoran Roti Puri, in part thanks to its bright blue façade.
Given its name, it’s no surprise that we are here for the shop’s popular roti puri and kuah at Restoran Roti Puri.
Personally, while I love restaurants that offer a varied menu, from nasi lemak to laksa, there is something to be said for eateries that focus on one dish and are rightfully beloved for it.
That single-mindedness might draw customers from afar but more often than not mainly residents from the surrounding neighbourhood. Which, in this case, is Section 3 in Bandar Baru Bangi.
Which is how we learned about Restoran Roti Puri in the first place; a former colleague stays in a nearby taman and swears by the shop’s roti puri for her weekend breakfast.
These soft and pillowy puffs are indeed a favourite for sarapan pagi but also a classic teatime treat. Regulars have been known to bungkus dozens of these balloon-like breads for their minum petang.
But there’s nothing quite like dining in and enjoying the roti puri right after they have been fried and drained. We can have our own minum petang (albeit a tad early) with hot, frothy Nescafé tarik and teh tarik.
I have to confess that when our orders of roti puri arrived, we were somewhat astounded by how large they were — these were nearly palm-sized!
Their dramatic, high domed shape might be in part due to how they are made.
Unlike the traditional Indian poori, which is made with atta (whole-wheat flour) without yeast, the Malay version is usually made with more readily available refined flour and yeast, along with a little sugar and margarine.
And it is the yeast and margarine that give roti puri its distinctive character: fluffy, rather than crunchy.
Once fried, the dough puffs up beautifully, resulting in a remarkably soft and pillowy bread with a gentle sweetness. Break one open and we get a soft, chewy interior — perfect for filling with a spoonful of kuah.
We enjoy almost every bite this way; when only a small piece is left, we dip that directly into the kuah, which is mildly spicy and has hidden morsels of vegetables. For those who prefer a spicier gravy, try their kari kambing or sambal sardin.
The shop also sells other local delicacies such as roti jala, lontong and, yes, nasi lemak.
But the point stands: Restoran Roti Puri is famed for their namesake and deservedly so. Fresh from the fryer, they are absolutely worth waking up for.
Restoran Roti Puri
Open Mon–Thu 7:30am–3pm, Sat & Sun 7:30am–12pm, Fri closed
Phone: 012-628 1520
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* This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal.
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