Nasi Campur and Other Langkawi Eats

I brought along my Flavours’ Good Food Guide to Langkawi because I did not know what to expect, food-wise. Yes I know. The last time I used it for Petaling Street, I wasn’t very impressed. The recommendations did not live up to my expectations but then again, I am consoled by the fact that ALL Penangites consider themselves little food experts. Only Penang food is good enough for us food critics. One good indicator of good food in Penang is this: is the place still around after 1 year? If it closes shop within a year, everyone knows why. The food was below par!
Anyway, here are some of the places our friends took us to when we were in Langkawi two weeks ago (This is just Part 1…. Part 2 is coming up).
Restoran Siti Fatimah
Siti Fatimah serves nasi campur and is a popular place with the locals. Any place that locals frequent cannot be off the mark. I mean, locals can’t be bothered if food isn’t lipsmacking good right? (That’s why if you are in Penang, you must ask a local where to
get good chow.) Siti Fatimah serves food buffet style hence “layan diri”. You pick from the array of about 70 different types of masakan kampung Melayu. Ain says that one must come by 11.30am for lunch otherwise the good stuff will be gone!
We were greedy – we each picked what we liked pilling them on individual plates. We took a bit of each since we were really hungry. Fried ikan semilang, stuffed scad, ayam masak lemak, steamed lady fingers, daging masak kicap, ikan masin fried to a crisp, and ulam of all types with fiery sambal condiments. Our lunch for three, inclusive of drinks, came up to a mere RM26. The kampung ambience is highly authentic, we heard a buffalo behind some bushes and kampung chickens were running about. I’d come again just for the ulam!
Restoran Siti Fatimah, Bt 5 1/4, Jln Kampung Tok Senik, Kawasan Mata Air, Ulu Melaka, Langkawi. Closed on Wednesdays. Tel: 04 955 2754
Wan Thai Restaurant
This restaurant recently had a face-lift and had new menus printed. I guess that’s why it smelt of fresh paint the day we were there for lunch. You definitely come here for the food. Like all Thai restaurants, you just want to dig into the food which is basically rice with dishes. The otak-otak (RM16) came in a coconut and tasted heavenly. Slices of fish and seafood in a spicy, lemak base can truly whet one’s appetite. The Pandan Chicken (RM16) tasted good too. But I found the Beef Curry (RM20) a little tasteless, like the chef forgot to add salt. Otherwise the curry was superb over rice. The Mixed Vegetable (RM12) was just so-so; no one fries vegetables like the Chinese – fresh, green and crunchy. The Mixed Vegetables we had were drowning in diluted oyster sauce. They serve Pulut Durian (RM7) too but I prefer my durian as it is, without santan and pulut though if you like the richness of durian and the saltiness of pulut and santan, this is a pure hedonist dessert.
Wan Thai Restaurant, No 80-82, Langkawi Mall, Dundong, Kuah, Langkawi. Tel: 04 9671 214
Red Tomato Splash Beach Cafe


The Red Tomato is on Pantai Cenang and you’ll love the fresh and thick fruit juices to go with your breakfast. The mostly Western menu means you get your coffees, juices, homemade bread, yogurt and all the essential breakfast items while you eat on the beach itself, watching the waves roll in merrily.

Or if the day’s too warm, you can sit inside the rustic cafe. Initially I found the homemade bread a tad chewy but it seemed to grow on me. Coupled with rolls of salmon and a light salad, the breakfast was a good way to start the day. If you like croissants (RM5), you must certainly order them when you are here. Wash it down with brewed coffee (RM6)!

Red Tomato Splash Beach Cafe, Jalan Pantai Cenang, 07000 Langkawi. Tel: 04 955 3088
Nasi lemak


It’s odd to think that I am always looking for good nasi lemak whenever I travel. Maybe rice is a good comfort food for me. So Ain took us to this nice little warung on Pantai Cenang for some nasi lemak. Although I loved the fragrant rice with boiled egg, sambal, cucumber slices and fried ikan bilis with peanuts, Nic thought the sambal was too sweetish for his liking. There’s no menu here. The locals just order nasi lemak and it’ll be brought to your table.
Speaking of nasi lemak, Hoyoyi and I agree that there is nothing better than Banting nasi lemak with sambal sotong. I shall review that here one day. I grew up eating this nasi lemak and the sambal sotong is spicy yet mildly sweet.
A local Mat Salleh toddler (I know, what an oxymoron but he’s half-Malay and half-English and born on Langkawi) I met at this warung nasi lemak loves plain nasi and can wallop a whole plate of it!
Nasi lemak Warung (didn’t get the name), rustic shack same row as Tomato Nasi Kandar on Pantai Cenang.

5 thoughts on “Nasi Campur and Other Langkawi Eats”

  1. u got the flavor’s food guide? me too..lol.
    u ‘fan toong’ u..LOL!!! anyway, at least we hv something in common!

    Reply
  2. Yeah, I am so d ‘fan toong’. My idea is to weed out the not-so-fantastic eateries featured in the guide…sort of like debunking the myth haha.

    Reply
  3. You have to absolutely introduce the amazing nasi lemak from Banting. I swear there is none like it in Malaysia. Oh yeah, Penang can’t come close man. Never found anything that compares to “Banting Nasi Lemak’. Getting a wee bit nostalgic here.

    Reply
  4. Hi Jana: Yes I must. Only people who have lived in Banting go bonkers over that nasi lemak.
    Hi Vern: What is nasi lemak without ikan bilis? Give me the ori version too… wrapped in real banana leaf!

    Reply

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