KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 — Motivated by the encouraging response to my previous article highlighting four of Kajang’s best satay outlets (near MRT Stadium Kajang), here’s a continuation of where you can find the best satay in Klang Valley. Again, all are an easy stroll from LRT/MRT stations.
With Kajang-style satay, the skewered meats are served with chunky peanut sauce and sambal. However, other satay outlets around the Klang Valley typically serve theirs with cucumbers, sliced onions and plain peanut sauce.
I personally love that dollop of ground chillies fried in oil added to my peanut sauce and would usually coat every stick of satay with as much sambal as I can!
Anyhow, variety is the spice of life. There are plenty of satay joints that offer delicious satay in their own way.
Close to the the Kampung Baru LRT station is Sate Padang Pak Saf, a stall on wheels at the junction of Jalan Raja Muda Musa. Here, customers make do with two tables and several chairs. Most orders are take-aways and that alone is enough to keep Pak Saf fanning away the whole evening.
This is his 27th year in operation, so you can imagine his legion of fans. I was bowled over by the tender meat ― lean and oh-so-flavourful. And the thick gravy had just the right balance of spiciness and sweetness. Each order was served with a sprinkling of nuts and fried shallots. You can opt for rice cake or do without.
Another satay I love is Lim BBQ House’s skewered chicken in SS2 Selera Malam.
Every stick was lined with chunky and tender chicken meat with chicken skin in between. The marinade wasn’t overwhelmingly heavy, but sufficient for taste.
Not much can be said for the satay sauce but at RM1, the chicken was great! Take your pick from three varieties here ― lean pork, chicken or intestines. If you fancy innards, I highly recommend the intestines. They were superbly soft in texture with a bit of chew. Rest assured that they were clean with no lingering unpleasant smell or taste.
If you are already at SS2 Selera Malam, then make a pitstop at Hani Satay, located at the open air foodcourt called SS2/60 Medan Selera near the SS2 BHP station.
Here I would suggest the mutton or duck satay, both a nice departure from the usual chicken and beef. Mutton can be gamey, but there wasn’t a hint of that for Hani’s satay.
The mutton satay is priced at RM1.50 each and if you are in the mood for duck, call Hani in advance to check if they are grilling any for the day.
Sate Zainah Ismail is more of a shack really. Simple setup but one that serves delicious satay. What draws me to their satay is the portion, price and the smoky aroma. Their skewered goodies tend to have charred bits which I enjoy, and at RM1.30 a pop (chicken; RM1.60 for beef), I find the prices reasonable considering the chunky-sized meat on each skewer. But be warned that the marinade can be on the sweet side.
Whenever I’m at Restaurant Queen’s on Peel Road, there are a few items that I would usually order — nasi lemak, steamed bao buns, mutton soup and satay, of course.
The satay business here is fast and furious, and yes, smoky. The size of the meats is less chunky than the ones I mentioned above but the marinade plus the slightly spicy peanut chilli sauce makes each stick worth the calories.
Getting there:
1. Sate Zainah Ismail
3437 Jalan Keramat, Kuala Lumpur.
LRT/MRT: Damai
From the station: As you leave the station, look for the Petron station and immediately turn right into the road beside it. Sate Zainah is a shack by the road.
2. LIM BBQ House
(SS2 Selera Malam)/Hani Satay (Medan Selera SS2/60) (non-halal)
Option 1
LRT: Taman Bahagia
From the station: Take the U85 bus. Alight at Kedai Emas Poh Kong on Jalan SS2/55, the fifth stop from the LRT.
Option 2
MRT: Phileo Damansara
From the station: Take the T816 shuttle bus. Get down at SS2/55, after which just walk towards the SS2 square.
3. Sate Padang Pak Saf (evenings only)
Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Kampung Baru
LRT/MRT: Kampung Baru
From the station: There is only one exit. As you leave the station, take the escalator up to street level. Once there, turn right and walk along Jalan Hassan Saleh. At the junction you will see Chunburi Seafood on the other side of the road. Pak Saf Sate Padang is on your left.
4. Restaurant Queen’s satay stall (non-halal)
96, Jalan Peel, Maluri, Kuala Lumpur,
LRT/MRT: Cochrane
From the station: Exit the fare gates and take the Pintu B – Jalan Shelley exit. Go up the escalator to street level. Walk straight ahead and you will soon face the back of the shops. The corner lot is Restaurant Queen’s.
* For more gastronomic adventures — keep up with Rebecca on www.RebeccaSaw.com and instagram.
