This is a simple ayam penyet stall in Santeral coffee shop in the heart of old Johor Bahru, just beside City Square Mall. There could be more tasty ayam penyet in JB, but I like the experience here in this old, low profile kopitiam.
Santeral coffee shop has just three stalls - the kopi (coffee) and drinks stall, Kak Lu's ayam penyet stall, and Pak Anas' nasi padang stall (which I will cover in a future post after a couple more visits because he got so many dishes I want to try 😋).
Kak Lu who hails from East Java has ran an ayam penyet stall for over 20 years in all, with over 10 years in this stall in Santeral.
Kak Lu cooks the chicken breasts and thighs in spices, and leave them to cool. They are deep fried and given a smack with the side of a cleaver just before serving. (Ayam penyet means "smashed chicken".)
Ayam penyet is a staple in East Java, Indonesia - it is relatively simple but oh... so.. delicious and satisfying.
This set together with a small bowl of chicken soup costs RM8 at Kak Lu's stall.
I tried Kak Lu's chicken breast and chicken thigh, on separate days.
I like both - crisp outside, tender inside though not very juicy. The spice flavour is very mild, almost subtle.
What won my heart about Kak Lu's ayam penyet is her sambal chili.
The pulpy sambal is made with several different types of chili peppers, giving it layers of spiciness - from mild spiciness to spikes of sharp stings. There is underlying savouriness from fermented shrimps, sweetness from onion and zest from lime. Kak Lu makes her sambal chili daily, so they are fresh and spritely. Feels and tastes really good.
Kak Lu is always generous with her sambal chili when I requested for more 😄
The fried tofu, fried tempeh (soy bean cake), cabbage and cucumber complete the dish.
A simple, clear chicken soup which Kak Lu makes with chicken feet. Nice chicky flavour but leans a bit on the salty side.
Kak Lu's stall is in Santeral coffee shop. Pak Annas' nasi padang stall is in front. Kak Lu's ayam penyet stall is inside.
Restaurant name: Ayam Penyet stall inside Santeral Coffee Shop 中央餐室
Address: Jalan Station, Johor Bahru (beside the Hong Leong Bank branch)
GPS: 1°27'37.7"N 103°45'51.6"E | 1.460460, 103.764324
Hours: Brunch/ lunch (closed on alternate Saturdays)
Halal
Date: 14 Aug 2017, 23 Aug 2017
Return to Johor Kaki homepage.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments submitted with genuine identities are published