It’s been two days kita roadtrip makan best from KL to Alor Setar. Our last stop was Nasi Natrah stall, Penang pekena nasi kandar with kari ikan biji nangka, ingat tak? Now dari Penang – kita dah nak balik KL, tapi jangan tekan minyak terus balik tau.
ROADTRIP DAY 3 – SEBELUM MASUK PLUS HIGHWAY KITA PUSING-PUSING DULU...
Aimi Lim Hokkien Noodles — Georgetown, Penang
Start early morning. Start light. This is one of the rare muslim owned Penang-style Hokkien Mee done right.
Clear broth. Deep prawn flavour. Steam hits first before taste. Lim tu suami Aimi so you know you’ll get it as authentically possible.
Locals come as early as 7am — that tells you everything.
📍 Why here?
Great breakfast, before the heavier plates including nasi kandar. Kena pace yourself.
🍛 OG First — Know Your Roots
Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu — Penang
Before modern setups and big signboards — there was this.
Rempah still ground in-house. That’s why sedap. Curries lighter, more refined. Come for fish kari, daging + sotong, kuah campur that doesn’t overpower. This is heritage nasi kandar.
Slow-built. Earned.
Eat Like Locals, Not Like Tourists
Restoran Ramzan — Capati & Kari Itik
More than 80 years of consistency. Capati made fresh, right in front of you. Kari itik lemak, deep, comforting. Tip : Pekena the briyani too. (With fried chicken)
Small kedai. No drama. Just food that makes sense in the morning.
🍖 When You’re Ready to Go Big
Deens Maju Nasi Kandar
This is where modern Penang nasi kandar meets classic. At Deens Maju. That’s him in the picture.
Kuah campur skills? Top tier. Ayam goreng always reliable. Lamb shank — optional, but worth it if you’re committing.
📍 Kalau nak makan puas-puas sebelum balik — this is one of it.
🏛️ One for the History Books
Hameediyah Restaurant — Original Outlet – Lebuh Campbell
This is where nasi kandar became what it is today. Ayam bawang. Kambing. Sambal nyok. First timers start with these ya. And then choose Nasi Kandar or Briyani. Your pick. And yes — murtabak wajib.
This isn’t about hype. It’s about respecting where it all started.
🆚 Old vs New — Pick Your Side, Dah try Hameediyah? Now this!
Yusuf Restaurant, Relau
Modern setup. New-gen energy. Rendang daging, ayam ros, kambing kurma. Sambal nyok + bawang goreng seal the deal. Kedai pun hipster yo! Murtabak pun ada. There is a Batu Kawan branch, tapi yang ini kesukaan hati.
📍 Debate time:
Kalau kena choose, mana satu? Team Hameediyah or Team Yusuf?
🌉 Leaving the Island (Mindset Shift)
Cross the Penang Second Bridge heading to the PLUS highway southbound. This is where you mentally switch from:
“Cari makan lagi”
to
“Balik elok-elok. Eh! Tapi boleh makan lagi”
Time to think about recovery & proper makan planning. Maybe try yang rare pula? Kat mana ya?
🛑 STOP KEJAP KAT THIS PLUS R&R STOP.
Senyum Sokmo (#7) — R&R Gunung Semanggol (SB)
Tak payah keluar PLUS highway for good kampung style food. Makan sini. Order the kurma kambing lemak gulai style, telur itik masak lemak & ikan keli goreng sambal with some warm rice here. Rasa macam Kak Ina masak kat kampung.
This is actually a good PLUS R&R food stall. Rugi kalau tak stop makan sini.
🍛 LAST NASI KANDAR CALL — IPOH – Exit PLUS Tol Plaza Ipoh Selatan!
Nasi G@nja Ipoh OR Restoran Majeedia?
Nasi G@nja Ipoh above— comforting, balanced.
Majeedia below — ayam masak merah, kuah campur padu.
DECIDE:
Both valid. Both solid. Tak perlu semua. Satu pinggan pun cukup kalau pilih betul. Ikut your mood of the day. Hari ni satu tempat. Hari lain, the other spot. Tip : Don’t forget the sambal nyoq and teloq masin at either one of these places. Next Level!
🥩 UNEXPECTED ROADTRIP STOP
After Ipoh – kita exit PLUS Tol Plaza Behrang
Anuar Rusa Steakhouse
Anuar owns a rusa farm. Kampung vibes. Tak jauh dari PLUS Tol Plaza Behrang. Kita break trip to try something rare.
Rusa bakar, kari rusa, lamb grill all got. Most ordered item is the Nasi Minyak Rusa Platter. Compare meats from Rusa, Lamb, Chicken with nasi minyak. Take your time. Chill tepi kolam ikan. Kari Rusa dia sedap weh.
Not planned — but memorable & berbaloi. Kalau boleh nak chill satu hari tepi kolam ikan but we still have one place to hunt down!
Masuk balik PLUS highway going southbound… kita cari one more stop. Watch out for the PLUS R&R Ulu Bernam sign.
🍜 CLOSE THE ROADTRIP PROPERLY
D’Famous Zul Mee Kari — R&R Ulu Bernam (SB)
Tempat ni bikers favourite! Zul’s mee kari special is loaded to the brim with cockles, fucuk, fried tauhu, sliced aubergine, cut chillies, half a lime, cut ladies finger, half a boiled egg and to top it all off…a piece of ayam goreng fried. Now, Zul’s daughter runs the joint, Linda.
Nasi Ayam tapau balik KL for late dinner. Just another 40+ mins away and we’re home!
Balik puas. Perut kenyang. Jalan highway pun senang
A good road trip is about kegembiraan. It’s all about making the right moves…
knowing when to exit
where to stop
& when to just go for it
Kita dah buat semua tu for FOR YOU.
So, don’t just save this post to let it ‘collect dust’ in your phone. Get in the car, hit the PLUS highway & just go. Now!
