Mini-Review: Waroeng Penyet @The Curve

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*mini-reviews are reviews which are not as intensive as a standard one, focusing mainly on food.

Okay, first off, sorry for the loooooooooooong delay. We've been pretty much busy with uh, 'real work', hence the huge gap between this review and the last one. But let us start off by conveying our sincerest gratitude for all the nice words and visits =)

Jom kita makan Ayam Penyet.

Translated directly, it means 'flat chicken'. Well apparently the chicken is kinda smashed down before cooking. We guess the logic is that it'll enable faster cooking... kot. These Ayam Penyet joints have been mushrooming around the Klang Valley area. One of the more prominent ones is Ayam Penyet Ria, but we went to the one at The Curve. Waroeng Penyet (Flattened Stall? HAHA)

Going on a busy night proved to be kinda bad; service was slow and there were a LOT of people around. But we suppose that suits the nature of the place and food kot? Well, you wouldn't expect five-star service and waiters in waist-coats right? The place was very informal, with simple plastic chairs and tables and service staff in polo tees and pants. Decor was minimal; think of it as what would happen if McDonald's served rice meals, and you'll get the gist.

We had to wait a few moments before we got a table; sat down, we glanced at the menu. It was small and limited affair, which arguably was all the better. We know of plenty of places where they try to be the jack of all trades but end up as the master of none. *cough*kedai tomyam*mamak shop*.


It basically boiled down to a choice of their own spiced fried or grilled(chicken/beef/bergedil/fish) with rice. There were other dishes on the menu as well, including kangkung belachan and sup buntut (and no, that's not ass soup, it's the Indonesian term for 'tail'. So 'sup buntut' = ox tail soup).

But since ayam penyet was the star attraction, that's what we had, with a bowl of sup buntut. To order, you ticked down what you want on an order form and bring it to the cashier; payment is done straight-away (yea the McD thing I mentioned above). I also wanted the Jus Alpukat, which was actually an avocado smoothie with chocolate sauce drizzled, but they ran out of avocado, so melepas la that night.. -_________-"

A few moments later our food arrived. Ayam Penyet first.

What did we get for our money? In the neat basket, a generous piece of chicken, some cabbage (ughhh) and... cucumber. Those scrunchy bits on top of the chicken are the crumbs from the frying. They were nice mixed in with the rice. Also served is the sambal, which comes in two forms: not-so-pedas, and pedas-gila. We had the pedas-gila one, and more on that later.

Then the Sup Buntut, which came in a bowl with a few chunks of ox-tail.

Syed also ordered some crackers to go along with it.


Suffice to say, the food was delicious. There's something very comforting about simple food done in a good way, and that was certainly the case with Waroeng Penyet. See la, it's just, in theory, ayam goreng, sambal and nasi. But somehow that combination simply works. The chicken was juicy and flavorful; whatever spices they used as the marinade lent this fragrance to the meat. So it was with the sup buntut; simple, but satisfying and hearty. The crackers though were stale and so-so.

Special mention must go the pedas-gila sambal. THIS is how all sambals should be like: insanely hot, sweat inducing, breath shortening. Superb.

Both of us ended up ordering an extra plate of rice each :P We ended the night with sweaty foreheads (literally, because the air-con wasn't really working kot?) and a bill of about.. RM30 I guess, for two. Which isn't bad.

To wrap up:

Food rating = 4/5, WANT
The ayam penyet was good, but the sambal is what transformed a rudimentary meal to an excellent one. The sup buntut was okay; not spectacular, but good. Overall, great food.

Everything else = 3/5, Okay
Service was fair if kinda slow, and the place tends to get crowded and hot. You won't feel pampered, but that's the point of it all I guess.

Overall = 3.5/5, WANT and Okay
Recommended, especially for lovers of fried chicken and haemorrhoid inducing sambal lovers. The service and ambience is nothing to shout about though.

:)

Waroeng Penyet @The Curve
First Floor, Lot 1.32
The Curve
Mutiara Damansara
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 017 - 200 3988

Waroeng Penyet review. DONE.

*apologies for the lack of detailed photos on this; camera issues (read: battery habis)