Boss Ayam Gepuk 📍Jalan Ibrahim 10 Minutes Walk from JB CIQ

I thought I was done ayam gepuk hunting for the day, my tummy was so full 😅 Then, I stumbled upon Boss Ayam Gepuk at Jalan Ibrahim just before heading back across the Causeway to Singapore. Struggled a bit before I decided to give it a try - I am glad that I did.

Boss Ayam Gepuk is the proverbial hidden gem.

(If you have been following me, you know that I don't use such hyperbolic cliché lightly.)

Boss Ayam Gepuk is located at the intersection of Jalan Trus and Jalan Ibrahim. About 10 minutes walk from JB CIQ (very near famous Hua Mui and Kin Hua coffeeshops).

The little shop is visible at the junction.

But, it is easy to miss if we came along the corridor.

Inside the hole in the wall entrance, reception and cashier is on the left, a narrow flight of wooden stairs leads to the upstairs dining room at level two.

Remove and leave our shoes here. (If you need to use the restaurant's toilet, get a pair of slippers from here.)

Put in your orders, pay up and proceed upstairs.

Ah.... I like this. Rustic lacquered wooden floor, chandelier, large side window with daylight flooding in, photos and memorabilia of the Johor Royal Family and of Johor. Furnishings are basic but sturdy. Very clean and well kept place.

I like the old Johor vibe and sense of place these nostalgic touches create.

It was 3pm on a blazing hot day. I was the only customer. The room was warm. Two little fans helped but only a bit. Staff said the air con was not working. But, I wouldn't expect the shop to turn it on for just one customer. I was sweating a little while enjoying my ayam gepuk 😁

Looking out of the dreamy, frosty window, the intersection of Jalan Trus and Jalan Ibrahim.

The best way to enjoy ayam gepuk is with our fingers, hence this pot for hand washing. Don't drink the water yah... 🫢

Fork and spoon available too.

I ordered set D RM15.50 nett.

Starting from the fried chicken going clockwise, cucumber slices, raw cabbage, fried tofu, fried tempeh, fried cabbage (kobis goreng), fried offal, cashew nut sauce, and sambal. Everything orbits around a mound of snowy white rice.

The whole dish together had a decidedly home cooked feel (which I much prefer over the fast food type servings).

Huge slab of fried chicken breast with wing.

Again (like at other ayam gepuk places), I was given breast by default when I didn't specify that I wanted thigh. So, if you prefer thigh, remember to inform the staff when ordering.

The outside was lightly marinated and fried to a light brownish colour.

Woah.... One bite and I was immediately struck by the natural sweetness in the tender, moist fresh chicken flesh.

The chicken was nicely done, neither over nor under cooked.

The cashew nut sauce makes or breaks the ayam gepuk dish.

Here at Boss Ayam Gepuk, the sauce was heavy, thick, creamy, grainy, nutty, savoury, and with a hint of sweetness.

There was enough for the serving and additional cashew nut sauce was available for RM4.

The sambal was fresh and fiery. On a scale of 5 for spicy hot, I put it at nearly 4.

Kobis goreng or stir fried cabbage with soy sauce. Another definitive ingredient in ayam gepuk. Soft mildly savoury sweet.

Firm nearly hard, chewy pieces of deep fried chicken gizzard. Savoury.

The single piece of fried tempeh was so good. It was tender and moist inside, and the soy beans were sweet savoury.

Nice fried tofu.

Raw cabbage, all sweet with crunch and juice.

They don't shave away the skin of the cucumber and I won't eat it 🫢

Drizzle a bit of sweetened savoury dark soy sauce on the fluffy plain white rice.

The soup was served in a small disposable plastic bowl, taking away a bit of the rustic charm of this unique place.

Otherwise, the savoury peppery aromatic chicken soup was quite nice.

Again everything was on point - kobis goreng, sambal, cashew nut sauce, but all these still couldn't beat the delightful natural sweet taste of the fresh chicken. Even the humble tempeh was next level, not those usual perfunctory ones that are included just to make up the set.

Approved

I like it that Boss Ayam Gepuk is an indie shop (for now), not another SOP (standard operating procedure) driven fast food style chain store. I love the unique ambiance here a lot. All told, this is my favourite ayam gepuk place now.