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Considering they’re both being rice-based, nasi kukus and nasi ayam penyet are often lumped into the same category together. However, they’re both completely different (but hearty nevertheless) meals.
Nasi kukus consists of steamed rice cooked in a muslin cloth or steamer, resulting in a fluffy and aromatic texture. So, hailing from Bangi, I’ve always heard of Pak Din Nasi Kukus and its reputation of being the BEST nasi kukus from Bangi. Surprisingly, I heard this from a friend who lives in Klang.
I even took to Google which echoed the sentiment of Pak Din being the best nasi kukus in Bangi. I then made my way to Seksyen 3 of Bandar Baru Bangi where this humble stall was located amongst a number of many other stalls. Despite it only being 12pm, the stall was relatively crowded with patrons from the nearby housing area and clinic.
Considering the size of the stall and limited seating, I tapau-ed my nasi kukus!
Chuan Kee Restaurant: Kopitiam with long lines for chicken rice but serves average char kuey teow
What I tried at Pak Din Nasi Kukus
The basic nasi kukus comes with rice, gravy, sambal and the choice of fried chicken or grilled chicken. On top of that, you get to choose add-ons of either begedil (potato cutlet), ikan keli berempah (spiced catfish) or ayam kunyit (turmeric stir-fried chicken).
I chose one packet with the fried chicken and another with the grilled chicken. The nice kakak even threw in some ayam kunyit and begedil for free!
The Nasi Kukus Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM9) was served with a relatively huge portion if we’re just talking rice-wise. Since it was tapau-ed, I was given a small packet of gravy and sambal. Being the spice-head I am, I was completely unsatisfied with the amount of sambal given in proportion to the amount of rice.
Now, when it comes to taste, the whole dish actually tastes cohesive and delicious together but the gravy was watered down which proved to be a downgrade. The fried chicken was crispy, tender and paired well with the dish. If you’re a fan of ayam kunyit, you might be slightly disappointed with the meh-ness of the dish.
The star of the show, however, was the Nasi Ayam Bakar (RM9)! Grilled to perfection, the chicken was crispy on the outside and melted in my mouth. It even looked so yummy that I got an additional piece of chicken!
I was thoroughly unhappy with the begedil however. A proper begedil should have some elements of crunch while still retaining the tenderness of the potato. This begedil just seemed off texture-wise and I found myself struggling to finish it.
Final thoughts
So, is Pak Din Nasi Kukus the best in Bangi? Gun to my head? No (Don’t come for me, people of Bangi!). I have definitely tried better nasi kukus around Petaling Jaya. However, Pak Din is the most economical option for those living or working in the area.
If you’re living in KL, I’d recommend you to find a better nasi kukus and hey, maybe let us know in our quest to find the best nasi kukus!
Expected damage: RM10 – RM20 per pax
Garlic Roasted Chicken Rice Shop: Queue-worthy RM6.50 chicken rice with a garlic twist in Sunway, PJ
