Kak Laily Nasi Ayam Original

Written by ayeh | 29 August 2009
Posted in Selangor - Malay cuisines

When you've been in business for more than thirty years, I guess it shows. It's hard to find halal nasi ayam hawkers that has been serving 'kai fan' for a long time, and it is even harder to find one that is halal. This one is. Laily's customers are old timers and even kids whom has grown up eating her chicken rice. Now, Laily is no longer running the place due to health reasons and her recipe is taken over by her faithful assistant who has been with her for a long time.

Nasi Ayam Laily is located at the SS15 Subang Jaya Food Court called the Square. Her typical chicken rice will consist of a plate of roasted chicken, a bowl of chicken broth, a plate of rice with cucumber slices and of course, garlic chili paste for that extra kick. No steamed version but just as good.

They don't make chicken rice like Kak Laily's anywhere else. The rice is delicious and flavourful. You can taste the chicken stock in the rice, not too overpowerful, just right. The tender chicken is glazed slightly with honey and roasted crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. We suspect that the chicken is semi boiled, semi roasted and then fried in a huge wok to give it the nice distinctive Laily flavour. On top of the chicken, light soya sauce is poured.

You can even ask for some fried liver and gizzards to go with the chicken. And what else? Chicken feet with the broth. Yup, they have them all. So pour some chili paste on your plate, put in some chicken slices, scoop up some soya sauce to the rice, cut in some sliced cucumbers, mix it all up and in you go... delicious. Order up some kopi ais with that! Laily is open everyday from about 11am - 3pm.

Naili's Place

Written by ayeh | 29 August 2009
Posted in Kuala Lumpur - Malay cuisines

One step into Naili’s and you’ll be immediately transported to a beach resort, as the bustling sound of traffic outside the venue is melted by soothing music. Even at the main entrance, you will find two jet skis greeting you. As you make your way in, you’ll notice fishing boats, surfboards and palm trees that make up the surrounding, creating the laid back ambience of a seaside chalet at night. It is hard to believe that this place is located in Sentul.

Owned by two friends, Mr. Norizan and Mr. Jamal, Naili’s was originally a roadside stall selling Nasi Lemak and Ubi Rebus. That was seven years ago. Now it is a full-fledged restaurant, with a seating capacity of 450-500 pax, offering a wide variety of Malay, Chinese and Western dishes. One of the owners, Mr. Jamal, is a self-confessed beach bum and loves the beach scenery so much that he incorporated it in Naili’s furnishing and landscape. As for the food, Naili’s employ experienced cooks and chefs who really know their stuff.

There are a number of things that sets Naili’s apart from other eating places. First, there are many types of seating styles. Customers have the liberty on whether to choose the ala-Japanese seating style on a bamboo floor, or to dine up on one of the two tree houses at the venue.

Diners can also opt for a table overseeing a large, almost life-size ‘sunset on the sea’ backdrop or have an intimate candlelight dinner beside a colourfully lit water fountain surrounded by lush greeneries. Another thing that’s unique here is that the kitchen is situated right after the entrance, open to all curious eyes (and noses).