Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Golden Mile Food Centre is a haven for all sorts of cuisines and different types of dishes. One of the stalls that enticed me the most was Kantan by the SIB’s, an assuming stall specialising in the Pantai Timur dish, nasi kerabu.
Nasi kerabu is a dish that is popular in the East Malaysian states of Kelantan and Terangganu. The dish is served with vibrant blue pea rice and a mix of side dishes, plus a protein. Kantan by the SIB’s offers a range of protein options, including chicken, beef and fish. Customers have the option of having the protein as an a la carte dish too.
Having never tried Pantai Timur cuisine before, I was excited to get my very first taste of nasi kerabu.
What I tried at Kantan by the SIB’s
The first dish I tried was the Percik Grilled Chicken Nasi Kerabu (S$7), which came with blue pea rice topped with toasted coconut, a piece of ayam percik (grilled coconut spiced chicken), solok lada (green chilli pepper filled with fish paste), a wedge of salted egg, keropok and a small saucer of chilli. The presentation of the dish was stunning, especially with the vibrant colours of the various elements complementing each other.
The meat of the ayam percik was soft and tender. The sauce covering the chicken had a fragrant taste of coconut milk and a hint of sweetness. Given that I had never tried ayam percik before, I did not know what to expect, but I was definitely impressed by the aromatic flavours.
I would have loved for there to be more sauce, as it was absolutely delicious.
The blue pea rice was fluffy and soft, and I was delighted at the addition of the toasted coconut, which gave the rice an extra bit of sweetness and unique fragrance.
The solok lada was another element that I had never tried before. The fish paste was soft and mushy, and it didn’t have an overwhelming fishy taste. The strong and tangy taste of the green chilli balanced out the milder flavours of the fish paste well.
The keropok was a nice addition to the dish as it provided a bit of crunch. It was light and crunchy, and super fun to eat.
The side of chilli sauce did not disappoint either. It packed a fair bit of heat that spice lovers will definitely appreciate. I also found it to be a fantastic dipping sauce for the keropok.
I enjoyed Kantan by the SIB’s Percik Grilled Chicken Nasi Kerabu, and the serving sizes and amount of elements made it worth its S$7 price tag.
Unfortunately, Kantan by the SIB’s Ayam Goreng Berempah Nasi Kerabu (S$7) did not impress me as much as the previous dish did. Similar to the Percik Grilled Chicken Nasi Kerabu, the Ayam Goreng Berempah Nasi Kerabu was served with the same elements, but with a piece of ayam goreng berempah (crispy spiced fried chicken) instead.
The ayam goreng berempah was extremely dry and tough. Though it had looked appetising, I struggled to chew through the overcooked chicken meat. Even the chicken skin, which had looked crispy, was way too tough and firm.
The Ayam Goreng Berempah Nasi Kerabu was a huge let down, especially after the tender Percik Grilled Chicken Nasi Kerabu. The chicken itself was still nicely spiced, however. Perhaps the chicken happened to be overcooked when I visited the stall, so hopefully its usually not as dry.
Finally, I decided to try the Tiger Tears Beef Nasi Kerabu (S$8). I was initially drawn to the unique name of the dish, and I learnt why it was named that way. When beef is grilled, drops of water or fat fall on to the grill and produce a hissing sound. The water droplets represent tears, while the hissing sound represents the tiger. How interesting!
The beef was well-marinated with a sweet and tangy taste. I liked how zesty and unique the marinade was in comparison to most other beef dishes I’ve had, which tend to be saltier rather than sweet.
Final thoughts
Generally, I was impressed with Kantan by the SIB’s nasi kerabu dishes. Nasi kerabu is a dish that I rarely come across in Singapore, so being able to enjoy them at a local hawker centre was a delight.
While the toughness of the Ayam Goreng Berempah Nasi Kerabu was very off-putting, I hope that it was a one-time issue as the other dishes did please me. If I were in the area, I would drop by Kantan by the SIB’s again!
Expected damage: S$5 – S$8 per pax
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