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Relish Kedah style ‘nasi kenduri’ at Kota Damansara’s Restoran ATOK

Malay Mail
Malay Mail

PETALING JAYA, Nov 30 — I was introduced to ATOK or A Taste of Kedah by a friend who works around Kota Damansara as she really enjoyed the food.

Started in July this year, the eatery labels their food as nasi kenduri as they serve nasi minyak with a spread of dishes usually found at weddings. It's similar to nasi kandar since the rice is topped with a mix of gravies. There's also various dishes like daging masak hitam, kambing kerutub and ayam masak kurma.

The nasi kenduri sets offer great value. Select from chicken, beef, mutton, duck or sotong — served with nasi minyak drowned with mixed gravies — a choice of hard boiled egg or vegetables. There's also a free beverage, which is a choice of teh O, sirap or Sarsi.

You will be spoiled for choice if you choose chicken as there are six different cooking styles to pick from. Popular choices are ayam masak madu and ayam masak merah. Prices range from RM11.90 for the ayam goreng rempah to RM18.90 for the sambal sotong.

I sampled the daging masak hitam set for RM13.90. Rather than a chunk of meat, they serve you shredded meat. This makes it much easier to eat with the rice while the flavour seems to be infused more into the tender meat.

It may not look beautiful but this is one tasty meal with 'nasi minyak' with a mix of gravies, 'daging masak hitam' and vegetables.
It may not look beautiful but this is one tasty meal with 'nasi minyak' with a mix of gravies, 'daging masak hitam' and vegetables.

It may not look beautiful but this is one tasty meal with 'nasi minyak' with a mix of gravies, 'daging masak hitam' and vegetables.

The 'kambing kerutub' is incredibly flavourful although the meat may not be as tender as you'd like.
The 'kambing kerutub' is incredibly flavourful although the meat may not be as tender as you'd like.

The 'kambing kerutub' is incredibly flavourful although the meat may not be as tender as you'd like.

For the kambing kerutub set (RM15.90), the gravy was incredibly flavourful. While the meat isn't incredibly tender with some parts having a bit more chew to it, the meat was tasty. I also tried out the ayam masak madu which was good too. What I liked was this version wasn't overly sweet with a more mellow sauce that went well with the rice.

On the menu, you can also get nasi lemak served with ayam rempah goreng, sambal sotong or sambal udang. There's also a small list of fried dishes such as mee goreng mamak, kuey teow kerang, nasi goreng and mee siam. You also have an assortment of kuih, bottled soft drinks from a local brand and toast paired with soft boiled eggs.

'Bunga mangga' decorate the food counter to signify they're offering 'nasi kenduri'.
'Bunga mangga' decorate the food counter to signify they're offering 'nasi kenduri'.

'Bunga mangga' decorate the food counter to signify they're offering 'nasi kenduri'.

For my next visit, I'm eyeing the cucur udang and Northern style pasembur that are also on the menu. They serve an unusual pasembur with crispy fried chicken or fried sotong, which looks interesting too.

Just an important note when dining here though. When I dined there, the food wasn't packed in a brown packet as I saw on YouTube. Instead my meal was served on plastic wrap and a plate.

The place features a mural paying tribute to Kedah's paddy fields and a modern look for the food counter.
The place features a mural paying tribute to Kedah's paddy fields and a modern look for the food counter.

The place features a mural paying tribute to Kedah's paddy fields and a modern look for the food counter.

I suggest if you like to mix the gravies together with the rice — just twist the wrap around the rice and your choice of protein — and wait for some time to allow the flavours to mingle together. Or better still, pack the food home and it would have perap longer to let the flavours be infused.

If you prefer to enjoy the food from the comfort of home or office, the restaurant is listed on Foodpanda.

Restoran ATOK (A Taste of Kedah), No. 23-1, Ground Floor, Jalan PJU 5/10, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Open: 10am to 9.30pm. Tel: +6012-5239106. Facebook: @atokmy.official