Growing up in Penang and having spent much of my time in PJ, I must confess that I’ve never had lontong until very recently.
For those who are like me not too long ago, lontong is a dish originated from Indonesia and can also be found in Johor/Singapore, mainly made with nasi impit (similar to ketupat) and served with coconut milk based soup with a few other ingredients.
Lontong Klang at Shah Alam Seksyen 7
While not very common in Klang Valley, if you look hard enough, there are quite a few places that offers lontong as well. One of the more popular ones being Lontong Klang. Originated from Klang, they have expanded to neighboring areas with branches in Shah Alam as well. My experience is at the branch in Seksyen 7.
Lontong Klang serves lontong (well duh..), as well as nasi lemak. We’ve tried both the lontong and nasi lemak there, and for my money, I’ll stick with lontong.
The process is simple, line up and get to the stall area, ask for your dish – lontong biasa (RM 5), or with sotong, special, special sotong, ayam, or ayam sotong. I usually have mine with sotong (RM 6.50).
Lontong with Sotong
The lontong comes with nasi impit that’s properly soft, a small bergedil, some cabbage, half a half boiled egg, tofu, tempe, and even some serunding. All these of coures, is drench in a santan base broth that is quite fragrant in itself.
Each ingredient here are quite tasty in itself, but the combination of them all really made the dish. I enjoyed it quite a lot and will be looking out to try other places that offer this dish.
I first got to know about Datang Sitok Cafe from an article online, and was happy to find out that it is actually located less than 10 minutes from where I stay, further more, it is actually just a stone’s throw away from our usual jogging park.
So, being a fan of Sarawak Laksa, naturally I had to check it out.
Cafe Datang Sitok, Seksyen 7 Shah Alam
Cafe Datang Sitok is located at Seksyen 7 directly next to Unisel, or North of UiTM. A simple shop lot with non existent interior decoration. There’s your usual plastic chair and table, some fans for your comfort, and hawker stalls in which your food is cooked.
Owners who run the place appears to be a couple, with the lady & main cook originated from Sarawak. (yes, I asked)
The menu consists of slightly over a dozen different dishes, with majority of them rice dishes.
We went for two of their three varieties of Laksa Sarawak – normal, and Pattaya version. Had wanted to try the “super special” with big head river prawn but unfortunately the boss told us supply was hard to get during MCO. We also ordered their cucur udang (prawn fritter) as a side dish as well.
Sarawak Laksa & “Pattaya” Sarawak Laksa
The laksa (RM 8) came with all the usual ingredients – shredded chicken, bean sprout, thick meehun, prawns, coriander, shredded omelet, fish cake slices and sambal with calamansi. The fish cake being the additional ingredient that isn’t supposed to be in laksa Sarawak, but in this case, it didn’t spoil anything.
The Pattaya version (RM 10) is essentially the same dish but with a giant thin layer of omelet wrapping the entire dish, taking a page from nasi Pattaya, quite innovative I must say!
Most importantly, these laksa passed my taste test. It was proper, well cooked, and albeit not very thick, the soup does have a decently strong flavor to it. I particularly love the sambal as well, chunky & strong.
cucur udang
Oh, if you’re there, don’t miss out on their cucur udang (RM 5) as well. The plate came with 2 pretty good size prawn fritters that hits the right spots, they’re crunchy and rather delicious, especially with those slightly sweetened sambal accompanying the dish.
I’m going to go back there to try some of their other items next.
Address: Datang Sitok Cafe No 14, Kompleks Anjung 7, Seksyen 7, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor GPS: 3.076586, 101.496307 Tel: +6013 576 0800 Hours: 11:30am–10pm, closed on Mondays
Many of you do know that I stay in Shah Alam, specifically, at the KEN Rimba township, which I wrote about way back in 2013, also the time when I placed my down payment to a unit at the place I now call home.
Well, the township has since grown quite a bit since many of us moved in several years back, with the KEN Rimba Condominium 1 residents being the latest batch to be joining the neighborhood.
A bit of re-cap on KEN Rimba township –
The community is set up at Seksyen 16 Shah Alam, and located just slightly over 1km from the i-City/UiTM exit. As for major highways, you can also get to NKVE in a few minutes, and with the West Coast Expressway now being built, accessibility will only get better.
The township itself has also certainly grown since I last moved here. There’s now a few convenient stores such as 99 Speedmart, 7-Eleven, and MyDin, there’s a 24 hour mamak, several restaurants (including a big Ana Ikan Bakar), 24 hour laundry, car wash, service centers, and more.
Additionally, within a few KM you’ll find the Taman Rashna Chinese School, Padang Jawa School, the above mentioned UiTM, KTM station, Shah Alam hospital, Pantai Hospital at Eng Ann, JPJ, JPN, and even a cinema (TSR Cineplex). With the huge iCity Mall being near completion and situated perfectly just 5 minutes away, the township is rather well served in terms of convenience.
Having stayed here the past 3 years or so, I came to appreciate the community and convenience at this area, slightly away from the super busy KL & PJ area to be able to anjoy the slightly quieter suburban life, but still within reasonable travel time even if you work in the city center.
On a more personal level, as someone who’s passionate about food, the location has also been pretty kind to me. Being just a short drive from Klang, I have since explored quite a few more breakfast bak kut teh places such as Kee Heong, Teong, and Teck Seong, expanding knowledge on one of my favorite dishes. Other nearby awesome food includes fatty meehun kuih, and poh piah at Eng Ann. Then there’s also the 24 hour ayam penyet place, Klang style red wine mee suah, and the most awesome apple strudel in Klang Valley too, so many hidden gems in this area.
Show unit of KEN Rimba Condominium 1
The good news is, there are some limited available units up for grabs at the KEN Rimba township, including both the Condominium 1 and landed houses.
For those who’re not familiar with KEN Rimba, I’ve made 3 different videos show casing KEN Condominium 1 with it’s interior, amnesties & facilities, as well as the township overall to show you how living in this place is about.
Check them out below & call the sales office at 03-7727 9933 or click https://kenrimbatownship.wasap.my to talk to the sales rep today.
For those who loved the old first generation Jalan Batai char kuih teow (Damansara Height’s Seng Lee kopitiam) back in the days, you’re in luck! You can now find the original uncle manning the stall at Sen Kee White Coffee kopitiam at Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.
Sen Kee White Coffee at Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam
I was first informed about this place by another ckt seeking friend who originated from Penang. Naturally, I decided to check it out the very next day.
According to the operator, he’s been operating at this location for about two months now, while his daughter is still running the show at the previous place.
char kuih teow with duck egg
Like any proper char kuih teow places, they serve only char kuih teow and nothing else, but you do get a choice between normal chicken egg, or my usual choice when available – duck egg.
The CKT was just as I remembered, plenty of wok hei, with pretty decent size prawns for Klang Valley standard, and all the necessary ingredients such as bean sprouts, cockles, and chives. However, in replacement of lap cheong, you get fish cakes, which is something that’s not 100% ideal but acceptable in my book.
So for those of you who used to love a proper plate of char kuih teow from the uncle who used to operate at Jalan Batai, this is a place to go. There’s also a second generation Batai CKT now at Klang for anyone who’s curious.
do you recognise this char kuih teow uncle?
Address: Sen Kee White Coffee 33, Jalan Mewah 25/63, Taman Sri Muda, 40400 Shah Alam, Selangor GPS: 3.030874, 101.535499
In Malaysia, when the weather is hot, the answer is always Cendol or Ais Kacang, and today, we’re going to talk about one of the better Cendols here in Shah Alam – Cendol Pak Akob
Cendol Pak Akob, Seksyen 16 Shah Alam
Located outside the mosque at Shah Alam Seksyen 16, Cendol Pak Akob is no stranger to the locals and students of UiTM, the huge university nearby.
The cendol is operated from one of those original food truck that’s been around for decades (one where the operator stands by the side instead of INSIDE the truck). Thankfully, they also prepared a number of tables and chairs complete with giant umbrellas for your convenience.
cendol is always perfect for hot weather
Pak Akob offers basic cendol (RM 1.50) with a few additions:
Cendol Pulut (RM 2.50)
Cendol Tapai (RM 2.50)
Cendol Jagung (RM 2.00)
Cendol Pulut Jagung or Tapai Jagung (RM 2.50)
love my cendol with pulut or tapai
Of course, you can also mix & match from the above “extra” ingredients as you wish. My favorite is tapai, the fermented glutinous rice that carries a slightly sourish taste that matches really well with the sweet nature of cendol.
On a hot day just after you have a good meal of bak kut teh in Klang, this is definitely a place worth checking out.
Address: Cendol Pak Akob Persiaran Selangor Seksyen 16, Shah Alam
GPS: 3.060802, 101.507710 Tel: 012-604 0757 Hours: after lunch