I remember when the 1Malaysia concept came about 5 years ago – I was competing in a national beauty pageant and was forced to pretend to understand what it meant or at least, “wing it” when it came to Q&A with the press. Frankly, I have no idea why they insisted on the girls championing the cause because it felt as though we were forced to take a side.
Interior
Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock at Oasis Damansara seems more 1Malaysia if you ask me. The menu comprises a mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese favourites with the nasi lemak ayam berempah being their best seller.
Cham ais
The restaurant feels like a traditional kopitiam – wooden chairs and tables with olden day furniture to add to the nostalgic atmosphere. Admittedly, I haven’t been to their newer outlet in KL despite working within the vicinity. Ordering is simple – you basically look through the menu and note what you want on the ordering chit on the table.
Nasi lemak ayam berempah
A Malaysian favourite
We tried the nasi lemak ayam berempah, which was said by many to be similar to the one from Village Park and Rail Canteen. That said, it didn’t taste the same. The chicken was nicely seasoned but I found the crust (kerak) quite hard and difficult to bite into. The rice wasn’t lemak enough and the sambal was too sweet for my liking.
Nyonya Laksa
Richly flavoured, yet spicy from the sambal
The Nyonya Laksa was quite good though. It was rich, moderately spicy and packed with flavour; just the way I love my laksa. Some might find it too rich though, for the soup is thick from all the blended spices and ingredients so do take note.
Mee goreng
Mee Goreng is also pretty good here albeit slightly on the higher price point. I liked how the noodles weren’t too soggy and there was a nice balance of spicy and sweet in the seasoning. I’ve never been a fan of Mee Rebus but the version at Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock is worth checking out. The gravy is thick, aromatic and packs a wallop. A squeeze of lime livens up the flavours so don’t forget to do so.
Mee rebus
Good stuff
All in, I found the food at Ali Muthu & Ah Hock pretty decent. While the nasi lemak failed to wow, I’ll definitely come back for the Nyonya Laksa and Mee Rebus.
Came for the nasi lemak but liked the laksa better
Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 6.5/10 (halal)
Verdict: Not that big on the nasi lemak, so I would recommend the Nyonya laksa and mee rebus.
Oasis Damansara outlet
Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock
B-G-01, Ground Floor,
Block B, Oasis Square,
No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/7,
Petaling Jaya,
47301 Malaysia.
Facebook Page
1 comment
The environment is all good, but the food, especially the sambai, is sweet and overly sweet. You will feel sick after eating it, so the chefs need to be careful.