I FEEL like having something spicy a lot of the time during this pandemic. So, the thought of a Nyonya laksa Malacca style and nasi lemak kukus with rendang chicken were most appealing.

We drove up (before the enhanced movement control order) to a clean, airy food court in Taman Universiti, Petaling Jaya, where Auntie Ling’s Nyonya Cendol is located and packed home the laksa, nasi lemak, some kuih and even the cendol.

The last was an almost impossible feat – we had to get home before all the ice melted in the cendol. The cendol (RM4.80 for takeaway) was expectedly good: the fresh, creamy santan had a little salt in it, bringing out the light sweetness of the aromatic gula Melaka drizzled on the shaved ice, the plump, fragrant pandan “noodles”, and adzuki beans.

We are so used to curry laksa, KL style here, with chicken, tofu puffs, long beans and chilli sambal in a lemak curry. Malacca laksa (RM6.50) at Auntie Ling has a rich curry broth from fresh santan and a different spice blend.

Fish balls, tofu puffs and prawns are in the laksa, which is garnished with slivers of daun kesom and fresh peppermint leaves. A special chilli sambal ramps up its spiciness. I would have loved more daun kesom, but the laksa had the requisite flavours and I liked it.

The next best thing at Auntie Ling is definitely the nasi lemak kukus with chicken rendang (RM8.50). The rice had the rich aroma of santan, and the chicken rendang was delicious.

The scent of lemongrass and turmeric leaves came through in the blend of chillies, candlenuts, ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, kerisek, onions, and tamarind paste that the chicken had been cooked in.

A dark and lightly sweet sambal, fried ikan bilis, egg, blanched kangkung, and cucumber completed the nasi lemak, which was so satisfying.

The food is cooked every morning by Auntie Ling. Nasi lemak is available daily, together with curry chicken and mee siam. The menu will include otak otak, rempah ayam, ayam cili merah and sambal sotong soon. The weekend special is Ayam Pongteh.

We have had kuih from Auntie Ling before and liked it, particularly the kuih talam and pandan Angkoo bursting with a smooth mung bean filling that’s not too sweet. We like the sticky smooth and delicate Mochi with peanut filling, and the kuih kochi is lovely too.

There are also curry puffs. The nyonya kuih is RM2.40 per box of two. The homemade Leng Chee Kang tastes good too, with dried longan, red dates, snow fungus and lotus seeds in it.

Auntie Ling Nyonya Cendol is open every day except Monday, from 7am to 4pm. It’s located at 1 Medan Selera Wawasan, Jalan SS3/33 Taman Universiti, Petaling Jaya. Call KK Lau to order at 012 366 3555. All the food is pork-free. – July 10, 2021.
 

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.