Pondok Ceri Ayam Penyet @ Jalan Kangkar Tebrau in Johor Bahru

Looking for way around another traffic jam along the Pasir Gudang Highway, we stumbled upon Pondok Ceri Ayam Penyet along Jalan Kangkar Tebrau.

Ambok Corner Nasi Ayam Penyet & Nasi Goreng Kampung at Jalan Biru Taman Palengi Hawker Centre

We ate at Ambok Corner twice and like their nasi ayam penyet as well as nasi goreng kampung.

Ayam Penyet @ Santeral Coffee Shop Johor Bahru 中央餐室

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.

Ayam Penyet Sarang Lebah in Johor Bahru JB Perling

Buddy Russel was keen that we try out his latest good food find together in Johor Bahru. He first heard about this ayam penyet stall in Taman Perling from his neighbour Din. That's how food news travel in JB - 一传食, 十传百, the good old fashioned way 😃

Mampir Lagi Indonesian Food Restaurant in Johor Bahru Pelangi ⭐⭐⭐⭐✱

Today, we visited Mampir Lagi, a 6 month old young Indonesian restaurant in Taman Pelangi in Johor Bahru. Thanks to arrangements by Diane and Elena who are mutual friends of Henny, the owner chef of Mampir Lagi.

今天到柔佛新山彩虹一家刚开不久的印尼餐馆 Mampir Lagi 吃晚餐. 来自印尼 Lombok 的老板娘煮的好几道美味的印尼特色的菜肴. 老板娘的 ayam penyet 印尼炸鸡好吃. 印尼式的牛肉汤也很好喝. 晚餐有不同的套餐. 我们喜欢老板娘的炸鱼套餐. 老板娘也很厉害做蛋糕. 他的蛋糕真的是很棒. 我极力推建 Mampir Lagi 的炸鱼套餐,牛肉汤和蛋糕. 地址 42, Jalan Pingai, Taman Pelangi. 早上11点到晚上9点. 星期天休息.

Warung Top 10 Ayam Penyet and Ais Buah in Johor Bahru, Kampung Pasir Putih

Food hunt today is at rustic Kampung Pasir Putih (at Pasir Gudang). Our usual method of asking around didn't work well this round as our first ayam penyet stop turned out to be not blog worthy.

Undaunted, we asked the locals again and was pointed to Warung Top 10 for their ayam penyet.



Warung Top 10 is a typical street side stall with simple furniture like folding tables and plastic chairs. The warung is very clean but a little hot under the heat radiating zinc roof.



Warung Top 10 serves Indonesian street food. It has an Indonesian ambiance with the TV tuned to SCTV (a popular Indonesian TV channel).



Warung Top 10 is popular with residents and workers from Pasir Gudang industrial park. Lunch time is especially busy with many customers in factory uniforms and bright overalls.



We ordered the basic ayam penyet set as our stomachs were already half full from the previous failed tasting session at another restaurant nearby.

The golden brown ayam penyet came dry as a bone on the signature shallow wooden plate.



When I asked my Indonesian friends what is considered a good ayam penyet, some told me that they like it crisp outside but moist inside. Others told me they prefer it crisp and dry throughout.



The style of ayam penyet at Warung Top 10 is crisp outside and dry inside. So, Warung Top 10 hits the spot for people who like their ayam penyet crisp and dry.



Whether they are from the dry or moist camp, all the people I asked agreed that the sambal chili makes or break an ayam penyet dish. The sambal must be pulpy and have layers of spiciness by blending together different types of chili.

Warung Top 10 scored high in the sambal chili department. Their sambal's texture and spiciness were spot on.



There was also a small plastic tub of a different type of sambal chili on every table. This was sharper and hotter than the sambal chili that come with the ayam penyet. This extra spicy sambal really spiked up the flavour of the somewhat bland tasting, slightly leathery chicken meat.



The small bowl of soup was pretty nice tasting with a balance of savoury and slight tangy flavours. I also found this soup very useful in balancing the dryness of the chicken meat and rice.



When I looked across at the other tables, I noticed many people having this interesting looking dessert with their ayam penyet. I hopped over and asked one of the customers "what is this"?

This is ais buah (or fruits with ice).

I have never seen this dessert before. So, I had to have one :D



Ais buah is a mix of cut fresh tropical fruits served in a bowl of slightly milky syrup and lots of chunky crushed ice. There were pieces of water melon, rock melon, jack fruit, papaya, pineapple, grapes and atap seeds. There were also many tiny bits of jelly. 



Refreshingly crunchy and not overly sweet, Warung Top 10's refreshing ais buah is a Must Try.

Perfect healthy, delicious dessert for scorching days.

Our total bill for the ayam penyet and ais buah came to RM9.50.



Warung Top 10's dessert station.



If you are a crispy and dry ayam penyet fan, Warung Top 10 is worth a try.

(Further down the road, just 5 minutes drive away are the famous Rahmat fried siakap and Abu soto.)

Restaurant name: Warung Top 10
Address: Jalan Pengkalah 10, Taman Pasir Emas, Pasir Gudang, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/eorzj
GPS: 1.438204,103.931023
Hours: 9:30am to 7:30pm (Closed on Sunday)
Halal

Date visited: 19 Jun 2014

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Johor Nasi Ayam Penyet Selection

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.

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Johor Ayam Penyet at Mama Zai at BESTMART, Nusa Bestari

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

Date visited: 2 Dec 2013

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Ayam Penyet at Banafee Cafe in Johor Bahru

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.

Johor Ayam Penyet at LC Catering in Taman Melodies in JB

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 other 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.

->> The place for dry and crispy fried chicken with "power" sambal chili.

Date visited: 24 Oct 2013

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Johor Ayam Penyet at Penyet World Express in Taman Setia Tropika, Johor Bahru

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