Nasi ayam penyet originally from Surabaya in Indonesia, has a firm following in Johor. Ayam penyet stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor Bahru.
Ayam penyet is made by marinating large chicken pieces, either the breast or leg in spices and herbs. The chicken pieces are cooked in a large pot, then left to air dry and cool. When an order is received, the pre-cooked chicken is fried briefly in hot oil.
The crispy fried chicken is strained of dripping hot oil and given a sharp whack with a mallet or the flat of a chopper before serving - hence the name ayam penyet, which means smashed, flattened chicken.
Personally, I like my ayam penyet to be crispy outside, while the inside is moist and sweet.
Others may prefer the crispiness to go deep into the flesh and the whole piece of chicken quite dry, almost like a keropok.
Traditionally, ayam penyet is served on a wooden plate with strips of greens like kacang botol, long beans, lettuce, cucumber with fried tempeh and tofu. Nowadays, plastic plates are sometimes used.
Ayam penyet is eaten with rice. Good rice is fresh tasting, firm yet moist and tender with fluffy grains that separate easily.
The accompanying sambal chili is often what makes or breaks an ayam penyet dish. The best sambals are those that are pounded using pestle and mortar (not blended in an electric blender). The best sambals use a variety of chili peppers with differing degrees of hot spiciness. Good sambals are pulpy, and have varying degrees of hot spiciness that feel like waves of pleasure on the taste buds as it is a blend of many types of chili.
Here are some ayam penyet stalls that I have tried and like. I am still on the search for more to taste and share.
Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari) Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i GPS: 1.495875,103.655097 Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds)
Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner) Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW GPS: 1.478586,103.760929 Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am
LC Catering Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC GPS: 1.490226,103.766871 Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am
Click on the picture above to read about other popular nasi ayam penyet stalls and shops in Johor. I will adding to the list as I discover more good nasi ayam penyet.
Nasi ayam penyet originally from Surabaya in Indonesia, has a firm following in Johor. Ayam penyet stalls and shops are found in many places in Johor Bahru.
Ayam penyet is made by marinating large chicken pieces, either the breast or leg in spices and herbs. The chicken pieces are cooked in a large pot, then left to air dry and cool. When an order is received, the pre-cooked chicken is fried briefly in hot oil.
The crispy fried chicken is strained of dripping hot oil and given a sharp whack with a mallet or the flat of a chopper before serving - hence the name ayam penyet, which means smashed, flattened chicken.
Personally, I like my ayam penyet to be crispy outside, while the inside is moist and sweet.
Others may prefer the crispiness to go deep into the flesh and the whole piece of chicken quite dry, almost like a keropok.
Traditionally, ayam penyet is served on a wooden plate with strips of greens like kacang botol, long beans, lettuce, cucumber with fried tempeh and tofu. Nowadays, plastic plates are sometimes used.
Ayam penyet is eaten with rice. Good rice is fresh tasting, firm yet moist and tender with fluffy grains that separate easily.
The accompanying sambal chili is often what makes or breaks an ayam penyet dish. The best sambals are those that are pounded using pestle and mortar (not blended in an electric blender). The best sambals use a variety of chili peppers with differing degrees of hot spiciness. Good sambals are pulpy, and have varying degrees of hot spiciness that feel like waves of pleasure on the taste buds as it is a blend of many types of chili.
Here are some ayam penyet stalls that I have tried and like. I am still on the search for more to taste and share.
Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari) Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i GPS: 1.495875,103.655097 Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds)
Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner) Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW GPS: 1.478586,103.760929 Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am
LC Catering Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC GPS: 1.490226,103.766871 Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am
Click on the picture above to read about other popular nasi ayam penyet stalls and shops in Johor. I will adding to the list as I discover more good nasi ayam penyet.
Mama Zai is one of the ayam penyet stalls recommended by Johor Kaki Facebook fans, so I made a trip to try it.
Mama Zai is one of the stalls at the popular food court at BESTMART Nusa Bestari. Mama Zai stall also sells roast chicken, black pepper chicken, and sambal chicken. They all looked very appetising, so I want to try all of them next time :D
I like this cosy food court in BESTMART. It is not too big, about 30 stalls. Bright and well maintained. Car parking is not too difficult (just be patient) and it is free. There are also several popular stalls beside Mama Zai, so there is something for everyone.
Business at Mama Zai is brisk especially during lunch.
We ordered an nasi ayam penyet set and asked for the thigh. The fried chicken thigh was crispy outside, relatively dry but still slightly moist inside. There is some natural sweetness as this is made from chilled chicken and well marinated with curry spices.
The set costs RM6.50 which we thought is very reasonable.
Mama Zai's sambal is a big winner for me. The sambal is savoury and spicy with tangy hints from the squeezed lime. The sambal has interesting mouth feel as it is wet, thick and pulpy - the chili peppers are pounded (not ground or blended).
Average nasi ayam penyet is often let down by the quality of the rice. Not so, at Mama Zai. Mama Zai's excellent oiled rice is made with good quality grains. The fragrant very lightly oiled rice is firm yet tender and they separate easily.
I will surely be stopping by this food court to try out the other dishes and stalls :D
Restaurant name: Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari) Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i GPS: 1.495875,103.655097 Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds) Halal
Mama Zai is one of the ayam penyet stalls recommended by Johor Kaki Facebook fans, so I made a trip to try it.
Mama Zai is one of the stalls at the popular food court at BESTMART Nusa Bestari. Mama Zai stall also sells roast chicken, black pepper chicken, and sambal chicken. They all looked very appetising, so I want to try all of them next time :D
I like this cosy food court in BESTMART. It is not too big, about 30 stalls. Bright and well maintained. Car parking is not too difficult (just be patient) and it is free. There are also several popular stalls beside Mama Zai, so there is something for everyone.
Business at Mama Zai is brisk especially during lunch.
We ordered an nasi ayam penyet set and asked for the thigh. The fried chicken thigh was crispy outside, relatively dry but still slightly moist inside. There is some natural sweetness as this is made from chilled chicken and well marinated with curry spices.
The set costs RM6.50 which we thought is very reasonable.
Mama Zai's sambal is a big winner for me. The sambal is savoury and spicy with tangy hints from the squeezed lime. The sambal has interesting mouth feel as it is wet, thick and pulpy - the chili peppers are pounded (not ground or blended).
Average nasi ayam penyet is often let down by the quality of the rice. Not so, at Mama Zai. Mama Zai's excellent oiled rice is made with good quality grains. The fragrant very lightly oiled rice is firm yet tender and they separate easily.
I will surely be stopping by this food court to try out the other dishes and stalls :D
Restaurant name: Mama Zai Nasi Ayam (stall in BESTMART Nusa Bestari) Address: Jalan Nusa Bestari 2 1/1 (off Jalan Sutara Danga) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/LhM5i GPS: 1.495875,103.655097 Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm (closed on Weds) Halal
Every time I asked friends and Johor Kaki readers to recommend ayam penyet stalls in JB, Banafee café is always among the favourites mentioned. So, I made a trip there to check it out today.
Restaurant name: Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner) Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW GPS: 1.478586,103.760929 Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am Halal
When you step into Banafee Café, which is like a small food court, the ayam penyet stall is the first one facing the main road. Banafee Café is a popular place among locals for inexpensive meals.
Just after opening for the day's business at 3:00pm, the orders pile in for the ayam penyet.
At the ayam penyet stall are piles of plump pre-cooked chicken leg which will be deep fried briefly before serving. Those legs' succulence are clear to the eye.
Muzafir, one of the Indonesian staff, busy at the hot wok.
Banafee's ayam penyet set with rice and soup costs RM8.50. The little red tub at the right contains water for hand washing. The best way to enjoy ayam penyet is with our fingers.
Banafee's ayam penyet is moist and tender, and it's flesh and juices are sweet. I love the moist and soft golden brown skin. Complement this with the sharp spicy and tangy sambal chili with lime, and we have an ayam penyet that is among JB's best.
The rice is just average as are the tempeh, fried toufu and vegetables.
The savoury, peppery soup is worth highlighting.
Banafee's ayam penyet really kick butts but this place won't be winning any prizes for cleanliness or ambiance. It is ok for me but don't say I never tell you :P
If your preference is for tender ayam penyet, I recommend Banafee café.
Date visited: 26 Oct 2013
Every time I asked friends and Johor Kaki readers to recommend ayam penyet stalls in JB, Banafee café is always among the favourites mentioned. So, I made a trip there to check it out today.
Restaurant name: Banafee Café (not Banafee Village nearby which is run by the same owner) Address: Jalan Datuk Abdullah Tahir (directly opposite New York Hotel) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1skzW GPS: 1.478586,103.760929 Hours: 3:00pm to 3:00am Halal
When you step into Banafee Café, which is like a small food court, the ayam penyet stall is the first one facing the main road. Banafee Café is a popular place among locals for inexpensive meals.
Just after opening for the day's business at 3:00pm, the orders pile in for the ayam penyet.
At the ayam penyet stall are piles of plump pre-cooked chicken leg which will be deep fried briefly before serving. Those legs' succulence are clear to the eye.
Muzafir, one of the Indonesian staff, busy at the hot wok.
Banafee's ayam penyet set with rice and soup costs RM8.50. The little red tub at the right contains water for hand washing. The best way to enjoy ayam penyet is with our fingers.
Banafee's ayam penyet is moist and tender, and it's flesh and juices are sweet. I love the moist and soft golden brown skin. Complement this with the sharp spicy and tangy sambal chili with lime, and we have an ayam penyet that is among JB's best.
The rice is just average as are the tempeh, fried toufu and vegetables.
The savoury, peppery soup is worth highlighting.
Banafee's ayam penyet really kick butts but this place won't be winning any prizes for cleanliness or ambiance. It is ok for me but don't say I never tell you :P
If your preference is for tender ayam penyet, I recommend Banafee café.
While looking for the best ayam penyet, I realised that there are many ways to fry a good chicken leg! And, each style has it's own appeal. LC Catering's style of ayam penyet has it's fans - I like it too :)
Restaurant name: LC Catering Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC GPS: 1.490226,103.766871 Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am Halal
At LC Catering, the fried chicken is not battered and there are no fried crummy bits scattered around. The fresh chicken leg precooked in coconut juice is deep fried without batter and skin, when there is an order.
The skinless leg is fried till golden brown and forms a stiff crisp outer layer. Overall, the meat is fairly dry though there is still some moisture remaining inside. As you can see, there is hardly any excess oil on the chicken leg - a plus point.
The chicken's flavours were slight. I ripped the quite dry meat easily off the bones and scooped sambal chili with it much like the way we eat keropok or French fries. The outer layer is a little stringy. Personally, I find this style likeable and there are people who prefer this over others.
The sambal chili is a key element in the ayam penyet set. The sambal was pulpy, tangy from fresh limes, mildly spicy for my tastebuds and slightly savoury from the belacan (dried fermented shrimps).
The sides of fried tempeh and toufu were average. The greens were fresh with my favourites of crunchy kacang botol, long beans and a stalk of fragrant leafy green.
This ayam penyet is understated and free of frills, and charming because of that.
You can have a choice of local white rice or upgrade to this premium biryani rice.
I opted for this nasi serai which is premium grade rice cooked with fragrant lemongrass. The ayam penyet nasi serai set costs RM8.50.
LC Catering is clean, spacious and airy. There is also an air conditioned section.
Date visited: 24 Oct 2013
While looking for the best ayam penyet, I realised that there are many ways to fry a good chicken leg! And, each style has it's own appeal. LC Catering's style of ayam penyet has it's fans - I like it too :)
Restaurant name: LC Catering Address: 340, Jalan Balau 1 (off Jalan Tebrau), Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/NBdxC GPS: 1.490226,103.766871 Hours: 10:00am to 3:00am Halal
At LC Catering, the fried chicken is not battered and there are no fried crummy bits scattered around. The fresh chicken leg precooked in coconut juice is deep fried without batter and skin, when there is an order.
The skinless leg is fried till golden brown and forms a stiff crisp outer layer. Overall, the meat is fairly dry though there is still some moisture remaining inside. As you can see, there is hardly any excess oil on the chicken leg - a plus point.
The chicken's flavours were slight. I ripped the quite dry meat easily off the bones and scooped sambal chili with it much like the way we eat keropok or French fries. The outer layer is a little stringy. Personally, I find this style likeable and there are people who prefer this over others.
The sambal chili is a key element in the ayam penyet set. The sambal was pulpy, tangy from fresh limes, mildly spicy for my tastebuds and slightly savoury from the belacan (dried fermented shrimps).
The sides of fried tempeh and toufu were average. The greens were fresh with my favourites of crunchy kacang botol, long beans and a stalk of fragrant leafy green.
This ayam penyet is understated and free of frills, and charming because of that.
You can have a choice of local white rice or upgrade to this premium biryani rice.
I opted for this nasi serai which is premium grade rice cooked with fragrant lemongrass. The ayam penyet nasi serai set costs RM8.50.
LC Catering is clean, spacious and airy. There is also an air conditioned section.
Today, I found a good ayam penyet place in Setia Tropika thanks to the invite from JJ, one of the partners of Penyet World Express which serves delicious Indonesian street food in a simple yet comfortable setting.
Restaurant name: Penyet World Express Address: 14, Jalan Tropika 1/1, Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/z1YzL GPS: 1.544679,103.710669 Hours: 11:30am to 10:00pm Halal cert in process
Inside Penyet World Express (PWE), it is comfortable, air conditioned, clean and neat. I like the colour theme here because apple green is my favourite colour :) It's such a calming and cheerful colour.
Ayam Penyet Traditional RM8.90
My friends will tell you that I am a crazy fan of ayam penyet. I can have ayam penyet everyday for a week for lunch at my favourite stall in Singapore near my old office.
Ayam penyet is made by smacking the deep fried chicken during the last stage of the dish's preparation, hence the name ayam penyet which is "flattened chicken" in Indonesian.
At PWE, chicken is coated with a crispy golden brown batter that keeps the inside of the meat moist and tender. We can taste the chicken's sweet natural juices.
PWE's ayam penyet comes with the usual tempeh and raw crunchy vegetables which are very clean and fresh.
PWE's sambal chili really kicks butts. It's an interesting blend of spiciness but it is not overly sharp or hot. It is made with a combination different varieties of chili peppers blended together.
The rice is a key element of good ayam penyet and yet the dish is often let down by use of poorer quality rice that are starchy and stuck together in wet clumps. PWE uses quality long grain fragrant rice.
I really love PWE's ayam penyet. It is actually better than my old favourite in Singapore which I used to eat nearly everyday.
Sotong Penyet RM8.90
Sotong penyet is the second top seller at PWE. At PWE, we can choose to have either the traditional raw vegetables or potato wedges and fries to go with our main dish. For our sotong penyet, we opted for the fries and wedges.
Ikan Penyet RM7.90
Besides ayam penyet, I am a big fan of ikan penyet. PWE's ikan penyet is excellent. JJ told me that customers often finish everything on the plate, leaving only the fish's backbone. JJ said that even the head is often eaten :)
Actually, that doesn't surprise me at all as that is also how I eat my ikan penyet :) The fish is so crispy, it is like keropok.
Fried eggplant or brinjal. PWE's signature batter does magic with every ingredient. The fried eggplant is crunchy crispy outside and soft and savoury inside. It's like a pisang goreng made with eggplant. I like this.
Fried bakso (beef balls).
Whole spring chicken RM17.90
PWE's popular spring chicken.
Coconut Shake RM4.90
This coconut shake is a "must try". Made from fresh fragrant coconuts, the creamy cold refreshing drink goes very well with fried and spicy food.
Bandung Soda RM3
I like this Bandung soda which is a slightly fizzy drink with real pandan flavour.
If you have an Indonesian Tehbotol craving, you can get your fix here at RM2 a pack.
PWE is an excellent place for a simple yet delicious lunch or dinner.
Date visited: 17 Oct 2013
Today, I found a good ayam penyet place in Setia Tropika thanks to the invite from JJ, one of the partners of Penyet World Express which serves delicious Indonesian street food in a simple yet comfortable setting.
Restaurant name: Penyet World Express Address: 14, Jalan Tropika 1/1, Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/z1YzL GPS: 1.544679,103.710669 Hours: 11:30am to 10:00pm Halal cert in process
Inside Penyet World Express (PWE), it is comfortable, air conditioned, clean and neat. I like the colour theme here because apple green is my favourite colour :) It's such a calming and cheerful colour.
Ayam Penyet Traditional RM8.90
My friends will tell you that I am a crazy fan of ayam penyet. I can have ayam penyet everyday for a week for lunch at my favourite stall in Singapore near my old office.
Ayam penyet is made by smacking the deep fried chicken during the last stage of the dish's preparation, hence the name ayam penyet which is "flattened chicken" in Indonesian.
At PWE, chicken is coated with a crispy golden brown batter that keeps the inside of the meat moist and tender. We can taste the chicken's sweet natural juices.
PWE's ayam penyet comes with the usual tempeh and raw crunchy vegetables which are very clean and fresh.
PWE's sambal chili really kicks butts. It's an interesting blend of spiciness but it is not overly sharp or hot. It is made with a combination different varieties of chili peppers blended together.
The rice is a key element of good ayam penyet and yet the dish is often let down by use of poorer quality rice that are starchy and stuck together in wet clumps. PWE uses quality long grain fragrant rice.
I really love PWE's ayam penyet. It is actually better than my old favourite in Singapore which I used to eat nearly everyday.
Sotong Penyet RM8.90
Sotong penyet is the second top seller at PWE. At PWE, we can choose to have either the traditional raw vegetables or potato wedges and fries to go with our main dish. For our sotong penyet, we opted for the fries and wedges.
Ikan Penyet RM7.90
Besides ayam penyet, I am a big fan of ikan penyet. PWE's ikan penyet is excellent. JJ told me that customers often finish everything on the plate, leaving only the fish's backbone. JJ said that even the head is often eaten :)
Actually, that doesn't surprise me at all as that is also how I eat my ikan penyet :) The fish is so crispy, it is like keropok.
Fried eggplant or brinjal. PWE's signature batter does magic with every ingredient. The fried eggplant is crunchy crispy outside and soft and savoury inside. It's like a pisang goreng made with eggplant. I like this.
Fried bakso (beef balls).
Whole spring chicken RM17.90
PWE's popular spring chicken.
Coconut Shake RM4.90
This coconut shake is a "must try". Made from fresh fragrant coconuts, the creamy cold refreshing drink goes very well with fried and spicy food.
Bandung Soda RM3
I like this Bandung soda which is a slightly fizzy drink with real pandan flavour.
If you have an Indonesian Tehbotol craving, you can get your fix here at RM2 a pack.
PWE is an excellent place for a simple yet delicious lunch or dinner.
