On the East Coast, nasi dagang is a ubiquitous dish of rice cooked with coconut milk and spices, eaten with local tuna curry
Malaysia is popular for a wide variety of rice dishes, from the perennial Nasi Lemak, local-favourite Nasi Goreng, the flavourful Nasi Kerabu and the rich Nasi Dagang. If you're a fan of coconuts, spices and fish curry, here are six places you can find the most delicious Nasi Dagang in Klang Valley.
Capital Nasi Dagang
A Kelantan original, the proprietors of Capital Nasi Dagang uprooted their operations to Petaling Jaya in 2013, bringing with them the secrets of their popular nasi dagang. The Kelantanese version uses beras nasi dagang that’s twice steamed with coconut milk and spices, resulting in wonderfully fragrant and slightly sweet rice, typical of the style. It’s accompanied by a winning gulai ikan tongkol, a fish curry made with local tuna. For the whole package, go for the Ultimate Nasi Dagang, which incorporates a bit of all their side dishes, including a fork-tender beef rendang.
Warung Terengganu
This bare-basics stall serves an excellent Terengganu-style nasi dagang; it differs from its Kelantanese counterpart in its use of white glutinous rice, here perfectly cooked to a pearly shine. The fish curry is laden with spices; you’ll be awed by the amount of bird’s eye chillies swimming in it, and the fish fillets are sweet and chunky. Open only on weekend mornings, the stall attracts a sizeable but manageable crowd to this hawker centre. You’ll know the stall by its signage advertising Terengganu fare and large metal pots of curries.
Nasi dagang is Malay for trader’s rice and is commonly eaten for breakfast in eastern peninsular Malaysia
Nasi Dagang Anak East Coast
New kid on the dining block Anak East Coast, which means Child of the East Coast, offers exceptional tastes from Kelantan and Terengganu. The restaurant, housed in a converted bungalow, is comfortable and homely. The nasi dagang, which comes with sides of kerabu salad and a salted egg, uses the glutinous beras nasi dagang, typical of the Kelantanese style, perfumed with fenugreek seeds and coconut milk, and a winsome fish curry, simmered to a rich concoction of coconut milk and spices.
Belanga Restaurant
Belanga Restaurant puts its own mark on Malay cuisine, complemented by a stylish interior decked out with traditional handicrafts. There is a wide variety of well-loved dishes on the menu, which has recently incorporated Western-inspired food such as grilled lamb and beef tenderloin. Here, you can have your nasi dagang with a choice of accompaniments – the signature ikan tongkol (recommended), ayam kerutuk, a dry chicken curry, or beef rendang. Belanga has outlets in various shopping centres around the Klang Valley.
Hayaki Café
Good Kelantanese eateries in the Klang Valley always induce excitement. Hayaki Cafe serves an array of irresistible East Malaysian fare, such as nasi kerabu, nasi ulam and nasi dagang. Its nasi dagang scores well with fragrant rice served with a good portion of fish curry, pickled vegetables and salted egg. It’s open 24 hours every day to scratch any around-the-clock itch for Kelantanese fare.
Kedai Kak Som, Kampung Baru
When it comes to Malay food, Kampung Baru is usually a good bet for where to go. Here, you can find a highly rated nasi dagang at Kedai Kak Som, which homesick Kelantanese friends have vouched for. The food is on the sweet side, common to the state’s cuisine, but also very rich. There is a lot of local flavour to this modest eatery, both in the ambience and the food.
Discover
Directories
Belanga Restaurant
UG-18, Jalan SS16/1, Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya, Selangor
Capital Nasi Dagang
29 Jalan 21/1A, Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya
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+6012 921 5200 |
Hayaki Cafe
2, Jalan Kristal J7/7, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, Selangor
Kedai Kak Som
13, Jalan Raja Muda Musa, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Dagang Anak East Coast
59, Jalan SS2/24, Petaling Jaya
Warung Terengganu, SS19
Hawker Centre, off Jalan SS19/6, Subang Jaya, Selangor
