KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Nothing is more delicious than satay fresh from a hot charcoal fire grill where it’s been cooked and infused with a smoky taste. You will find these satay stalls all over the town as night falls. Some are standalone stalls that have made a name for themselves while others share a space in a Chinese kopitiam or even Chinese restaurants to peddle their skewers that are often eaten as an appetiser prior to the main meal.

Most of the stalls sell the most basic varieties like chicken and beef. Some adventurous stalls offer items like mutton, cow intestines, chicken spare parts like gizzards, liver and hearts, and even rusa.

The meat is marinated in a spice mix with turmeric that colours the chicken a yellow tinge. Each stall has their special marinade and differ in the way they skewer the meat — usually a mix of lean meat with some fats to baste the meat with the oil drippings.

Once an order is placed, the skewers are grilled on the hot charcoal fire where the fire is controlled with a rattan fan. Additional oil is brushed over the sticks using a makeshift brush from a piece of lemongrass to prevent the meat from drying out under the intense heat.

Satay is usually served with nasi impit or compressed rice cakes. Previously, the rice cakes were softer and made using ketupat casings woven from palm leaves. Nowadays, it’s been replaced with nasi impit, often made from a ready mix packet with plastic casings. On the side, there’ll be cut cucumbers and raw onions, which you dip in the creamy peanut sauce. Some stalls prefer to keep the sauce and sambal separate, since everyone has a tolerance for different spice levels.

Nora Satay Kajang

MR2, Medan Ria, Tingkat Bawah, Jalan 14/24, PJ

Located inside the often forgotten food court, this place is open from 2pm onwards, making it ideal for teatime. The stall serves old-school satay that is simple yet tasty. What makes each stick of satay incredibly enjoyable is the well-marinated meat, which still maintains its juicy taste after grilling. Dip your satay in their creamy peanut sauce that is given a spicy kick with a dollop of sambal. Soto ayam is also available.

Sate Zainah Ismail

6, Lorong Kiri 20, Dato’ Keramat, KL

This stall located outside the proprietor’s wooden house is worth the long drive into the city. It serves exceptionally well-marinated chunky satay - chicken, beef, cow intestines and chicken liver. Everything is perfectly cooked with a juicy texture so they are good on their own without dipping into the peanut sauce. The chicken liver served with chicken gizzard and heart on the same stick is grilled to perfection to resemble a poor man’s foie gras. The place opens from 5pm to 10.30pm.

Zaini Satay

Stall No. 5, Jalan Kerja Ayer Lama, Ampang, KL

Carrying on the legacy of Majid Satay, one of the first satay sellers in the city, this place serves chunky chicken and beef satay. The beef satay is exceptional with a tender juicy texture, since tenderloin meat is used. You will be spoiled for choice here, as you can enjoy sloppy Om Burgers at the stall across the street or even order roti bom with butter chicken at the next stall.

Kamaruddin Satay

Capital Cafe, 213, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, KL

Starting from the evening onwards, this stall draws the crowds with its Javanese style satay. Each piece of satay is skewered with tender beef sirloin or chicken meat, mixed with a piece of beef fat or chicken skin that oozes its melted oil over the meat to keep it moist during the grilling process. The peanut sauce has a thinner consistency compared to other stalls, but it is still tasty. Most customers come here for takeaway satay after work to enjoy in the comfort of their home. The stall closes on Sundays and it’s best to come early in the evening as he sells out quickly.

Sen Kee Satay

Restaurant Hou Yi Kee, No. 12A, Jalan Desa, Taman Desa Aman Puri, KL

Popular for its unusual duck satay, this stall is legendary in Kepong where it’s been around for more than 30 years. The stall also sells juicy pork satay using lean marinated meat, and mutton satay. Pair the satay with their creamy peanut sauce for a delicious meal. The stall opens from 6pm onwards and closes on Wednesdays.