Nasi Kandar Hijrah

johnnykuochung

Me and Janson did what food people always do: heard someone say “very good,” then drove all the way from Singapore to JB just to try it. This time, the destination was Nasi Kandar Hijrah. Even before we reached the shop, I could feel Janson’s excitement. Once we arrived, he started walking up and down in front of the stall like he wanted to eat everything. Pointing here, staring there, then suddenly he asked the guy behind the counter, “Boss, the whole lamb rib how much ah?” “Thirty dollars,” the waiter replied. At that point I already knew: expectations were sky-high. We ordered big, of course. Rice banjir drowned in curry, fried chicken, egg, sotong, vegetables the whole plate. Heavy, colourful, full-on nasi kandar vibes. First few bites? Okay. The curry was decent, the chicken crispy, portions generous. Nothing wrong but also nothing that makes you stop talking mid-sentence. No eye-widening moment, no “wah” under your breath. By the time I finished the plate, my honest thought was simple: normal only. Nice if you’re already in JB. But cross the Causeway just for this? Probably not. Still, I was glad we came. Because sometimes food trips aren’t about “wow.” They’re about the journey, the hype, and finding out the truth after one full plate 🍛 As we were leaving, Janson turned to me and said, “Eh, same la. Don’t need to come all the way from Singapore for this.” I laughed because he was right. The trip was fun, the meal was decent, and the hype was a little overblown. But that’s okay. Not every place lives up to the hype, and sometimes the experience the drive, the laughs, the shared disappointment is what makes it worth it. If you enjoy food stories that are more about the journey than the “wow,” follow my IG @Johnnykuochung for more 😁

a month ago

Lim Swee Choon

This restaurant is crowded eventhough it's way past lunch time. Not to worry though coz the staffs are super efficient and soon it's your turn 😄. The portions are quite big so two servings shared by 4 pax. The classic ayam goreng berempah can never go wrong ... crispy spiced coated skin outside with juicy meat. Love the selections of vege dishes. The sambal style brinjal is soft and flavourful. The bitter gourd chips tossed in curry spices and the potatoes are delicious. The bean sprouts stir fry still has some crunch. The thick slice of ikan tenggiri in curry is an absolute marvel with thick spiced curry. The begedil is of course a comfort food which goes so well with the kuah campur banjir. The salted egg and crispy papadom adds additional flavour to the nasi kandar. Washed off the meal with abang mamak's special teh tarik, ginger tea and the cooling coconut drink .... indeed a satisfying meal. Come for lunch, left in a curry coma.🤣🤣😅😅

a month ago

Vincent Kang

The food here is unbelievably sedap (delicious)—the flavour is rich and truly authentic! Food Tip: If you're looking to try their most incredible or 'must-have' dishes, be warned: they are huge and rich! You really need to share them to get through it all and try a variety. Bring a friend! I was surprised by the crowd, even cross-lunch time (around 3 PM), but what amazed me is how quickly the queue was moving. For seating, since I dined alone, getting a spot wasn't an issue. However, I noticed that if you were to dine with more than three people, it can be quite tough to secure a table. Nonetheless, this Nasi Kandar experience is absolutely worthy.

3 months ago