The Ultimate Nan Cheese (and Ayam Tandoori) Showdown

The malays called it mengidam. The cravings to eat certain type of foods during the pregnancy period. The craving s ranged widely from the normal type of food to the special extravagant ones. Some rumors even include non food cravings. 

All this while I don't really face any discomfort with the mengidam case. Most of the time, the foods that we will have to get is just normal foods and it is not really hard to get. Personally for me, if it is still in the food category I don't have a problem with it. 

But when the opportunity rises that I could actually sampling the supposedly best nan cheese and ayam tandoori, suddenly this really took my attention

When Lia's urge to eat the ayam tandoori, it was about two months ago. She was one that googled wide and far for the best ayam tandoori in JB.

Restaurant #1: E&U Restaurant, BBU, JB.

Actually with both of us is working and finding a free weekend time to go to the place is next to impossible, we just went ahead by going there during the weekday for a dinner. All is because of mengidam, for the sake to eat ayam tandoori together with the nan cheese.

Upon reaching the place, it was nothing unlike any other mamak restaurant. But when we took our seats, it was clear that this place is quite proud with the title best ayam tandoori in town.

Ya ka? Let us see what the supposedly best in JB town have to offer....

The ayam tandoori is full of spice flavor. But unfortunately, most of the flavor is tend to be on the spicy side. It is too spicy.

While I could feel the cheese in the nan bread, it was too long and afar from each other. You could actually eat this nan and will not realized that you're eating a nan cheese. And both of the ayam tandoori and nan cheese were too dry.

Reeling from the dejected feeling, the stars finally looking up to me when unexpectedly I have the opportunity to fest on the best in KL and Melaka.

Restaurant #2: RMSY Restaurant, Jalan Medan Tuanku, KL

The restaurant that we're headed in KL was the famous RMSY restaurant at Jalan Medan Tuanku.

We went there on a Friday morning. We had been so eager to eat there that we arrived too early. The waiters were only just beginning to set up the tables and chairs.

'Abang, kedai dah buka ke?'

'Tak lagi. Pukul 12 tgh nanti baru buka.'

And it was only 11am.

After spending an hour at the shopping complex nearby, we finally being able to fest ourselves with the famed 'pizza nan cheese'.

The restaurant is famous with its pizza like naan cheese. The large parmesan cheese is melted inside the nan bread giving a new definition of a nan cheese. The nan is so full with the cheese that when you lift up the slice, it is not unlike the scene famous in the Pizza Hut ad.

Even the pizzas at Pizza Hut don't do things like that nowadays.

The ayam tandoori was OK. The flavours is quite right on the note and not too spicy. It ia just the servings that in my opinion is just too small.

But be warned though. Eating at KL you have to be ready to spend more. You'll be charged RM6 for the nan cheese, but even that is worth every ringgit. But I have a grudge with the fact that there is no kuah dhal to go together with the nan. Something that supposed to be free in any other place, it'll be RM2 per bowl here.

So what about the third heavy weight? We were so bent on eating nan cheese and ayam tandoori that we went to another restaurant on that very day in Melaka for dinner.

Restaurant #3: Pak Putra Restaurant, Bandar Melaka

It was the Pak Putra restaurant in Bandar Melaka. And this time we brought along the whole group to try it out.

If at RMSY, the star is the nan cheese, the ayam tandoori is the undisputed main dish at Pak Putra.

And it is rightly so. Out of the three restaurants that we went, this place have the best ayam tandoori. The size of the servings is right on spot. The flavor is right on spot. 

Even though the nan cheese is not as great at the RMSY one's, the nan is in the right balance between taste and as a healthy food. The bread is soft and I could actually felt the cheese between the bread. And it will only cost you RM3 per pcs.

Everyone seems to enjoyed the dinner.

Conclusions:

All of this is possible because someone have a mengidam case. 

In my opinion timing is a factor when you're visiting RMSY. The first time that Iqbal took me to RMSY, it was at night for dinner. It was fully packed. The nan was dry and didn't taste as good when I went there with Dahlia during the early morning.

Eating at Pak Putra is different though. Don't eat there twice in a row because you'll be disappointed during the second time. That was my experience when Dahlia and myself eat there the first time last year. Making your trip to this restaurant sparsely will reward you.

The best nan cheese = RMSY.

The best ayam tandoori = Pak Putra.

Do check them both out.