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
The night before I went down to Taman Setia Tropika for an appointment, I requested for breakfast suggestions from Johor Kakis. Zaiha, Kheng Boon, Halim, Khairul, Nir Ali, and Syairi suggested that I try the roti jala stall at Restoran Mak Tok.
I took up their suggestion and enjoyed a delicious traditional breakfast. Thank you Johor Kakis :D
Budi from West Java (Indonesia) runs the roti jala stall at Restoran Mak Tok for 3 years now.
Budi makes the roti jala batter at the stall. The batter is mainly made from flour, eggs, water and a little turmeric powder.
Budi makes the roti jala on the spot when there is an order. So at Mak Tok, all the roti jala are freshly made. From this picture, it is easy to see why this dish is called roti jala or "net bread".
The roti jala are rolled and served hot, straight from the frying griddle.
The roti jala is served with a small bowl of chicken curry.
The roti jala has a soft and bouncy mouth feel. The roti was slightly sweet and was complemented well by the savoury and mildly spicy curry. The 4 roti jala rolls didn't felt enough for me :D
I love this roti jala so much that I ordered a second set before finishing the first. The staff asked "bungkus? (packet?)". I replied "Bukan. Makan sini. (No. Eating here.)" The staff was surprised but quickly regained his composure and smiled :D
If you are looking for a delicious traditional light breakfast or tea at Setia Tropika, the roti jala at Mak Tok is a good option.
Restaurant name: Restoran Mak Tok Address: Jalan Setia Tropika 28 (next to Domino's Pizza), Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Ue2cK GPS: 1.54391,103.710347 Hours: 7:00am to 7:00pm Halal
Date visited: 25 Nov 2013
The night before I went down to Taman Setia Tropika for an appointment, I requested for breakfast suggestions from Johor Kakis. Zaiha, Kheng Boon, Halim, Khairul, Nir Ali, and Syairi suggested that I try the roti jala stall at Restoran Mak Tok.
I took up their suggestion and enjoyed a delicious traditional breakfast. Thank you Johor Kakis :D
Budi from West Java (Indonesia) runs the roti jala stall at Restoran Mak Tok for 3 years now.
Budi makes the roti jala batter at the stall. The batter is mainly made from flour, eggs, water and a little turmeric powder.
Budi makes the roti jala on the spot when there is an order. So at Mak Tok, all the roti jala are freshly made. From this picture, it is easy to see why this dish is called roti jala or "net bread".
The roti jala are rolled and served hot, straight from the frying griddle.
The roti jala is served with a small bowl of chicken curry.
The roti jala has a soft and bouncy mouth feel. The roti was slightly sweet and was complemented well by the savoury and mildly spicy curry. The 4 roti jala rolls didn't felt enough for me :D
I love this roti jala so much that I ordered a second set before finishing the first. The staff asked "bungkus? (packet?)". I replied "Bukan. Makan sini. (No. Eating here.)" The staff was surprised but quickly regained his composure and smiled :D
If you are looking for a delicious traditional light breakfast or tea at Setia Tropika, the roti jala at Mak Tok is a good option.
Restaurant name: Restoran Mak Tok Address: Jalan Setia Tropika 28 (next to Domino's Pizza), Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Ue2cK GPS: 1.54391,103.710347 Hours: 7:00am to 7:00pm Halal
Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified Halal
Johor Kaki was invited to visit the Vivo American Pizza & Panini outlet at Bukit Indah. I have seen Vivo outlets around JB but have never stepped in before because there are so many choices in town and I tend to go for local businesses.
I was happy and surprised to find out that Vivo is actually the brainchild of passionate Johoreans whose love for food led them to partner a Chicago (USA) traditional pizza house to bring specialty pizzas into our region.
A note: For my first visit, we focussed on Vivo's chicken dishes as we did not have sufficient stomach space for pizzas on that day. It was our third food tasting of the day. I make it a point to eat all the food served at the table and get a real feel for the food during invited food tastings. I actually eat all the food instead of just taste test a few sample pieces. The disadvantage of my approach is that I cannot review so many dishes in one sitting, and so would need to return for additional sessions.
These were the dishes we tried at Vivo.
Garlic Bread RM5.50
Vivo executed this basic item very well. The airy, fluffy bread had a good thickness and the garlic butter spread was savoury without being overly greasy. If you like garlic bread, you are likely to be pleased with Vivo's rendition.
Honey Baked Chicken Wings RM15.90
The honey baked chicken wings were well marinated with Vivo's house blend savoury sweetish sauce. Made with chilled chicken, the marinade penetrated right through the chicken fibres. Well done, every part was evenly cooked yet still fairy tender and slightly moist. This baked chicken wings will appeal to people who like deep strong flavours.
Baked Chicken Chop RM16.90
Vivo is proud of their baked chicken chop which has a crisp layer outside with the juicy more tender flesh inside. Deeply marinated with a mainly savoury, slightly sweet sauce.
The grilled chicken chop is served with this buttered rice with a nice savoury flavour and not overly greasy. The good quality grains were fluffy and separate easily.
Tropical BBQ Chicken Chop RM17.90
The chunky tropical BBQ chicken chop is also well marinated with Vivo's own BBQ sauce. Grilled till the savoury sweet outer layer is caramelised with some charred bits. Underneath that wrinkly caramelised skin was the still juicy tender chicken meat. The sweet and robust savoury flavour will appeal to people who like stronger flavours.
Seafood Spaghetti Aglio Olio RM19.80
This seafood spaghetti aglio olio actually wowed me and was my favourite of the evening. The well executed al dente pasta had good mouth feel and was infused with a rich seafood broth of distinct savoury flavour. Lightly stir fried in garlic and olive oil making the pasta fragrant and slick without tacky greasiness. It was lovely. And, it had a generous shower of spicy chili flakes that gave the whole dish an interesting zing. The NZ mussels, fresh shrimps and small cubes of salmon completed the whole dish.
The staff kept wanting to take away this plate of spaghetti to make room for other dishes which Vivo wanted to showcase. I kept holding onto this spaghetti until I ate it up all up completely. I love it.
If you like savoury and spicy seafood spaghetti, this is for you too. I certainly would be happy to eat this again and again.
I enjoyed the tasting at Vivo today and am looking forward to try out the other dishes, especially the pizzas in their menu.
Restaurant name: Vivo American Pizza & Panini (Bukit Indah outlet) Address: AEON JUSCO Bukit Indah, Johor Bahru (Vivo has a total of 12 outlets in Johor Bahru, Segamat, Malacca, KL and Singapore) Map: http://goo.gl/maps/1sXlc GPS: 1.480958,103.6545 Hours: 10:00am to 10:00pm Certified 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.
