Nasi Ayamui @ Jerantut Pahang

After posting on Krabi, it's time to get back on track... clearing up my backlogs which has been put aside for quite a long time. Been wanting to write after Chinese New Year but my hectic schedule has not been too nice to me. Went up North last weekend using the coastal road starting from Kuala Selangor up to Butterworth but didn't take any photo of some of the amazing restaurants that I'd gone to, because it was not convenient for me to take pictures in front of my customers.

Anyway, my friend had told me about a famous chicken rice restaurant in Jerantut. On my way back to Kuala Lipis, I passed by this little quiet town again. The clock showed 3++pm which was already past lunch time. Feeling hungry, I decided to try my luck to search for this place. It wasn't long before I spotted this sign.

How do I know that this IS the place??? For one, it is located next to the famous Guan Yin temple in Jerantut.

Lucky for me, it was still opened at that time... we were actually the very last customers of the day. The lady owner was kind enough to accommodate us even though she was preparing to call it a day. While she prepared our order, I started to utilise my camera.

She only had a fried chicken left so it left me no choice but to go with that selection... half of it to be precise. From the look, it looked very tempting!

Complimentary acar was given but it was forgetable.

The stewed eggs served as perfect side dish for our meal.

The half chicken came in a plate drizzled with sweet soy sauce. The skin was crispy while the meat retained its moist and very tender too. Perfect comfort food to my hungry stomach!

Leo's verdict - No doubt that this is the best chicken rice shop in Jerantut but I wouldn't suggest you to drive all the way to Jerantut JUST for the dish. They had opened a branch somewhere near the town area but I didn't get the exact location. Apparently they had tried expanding to Puchong area (the new parking mall opposite IOI Mall) but was closed several months later due to the poor crowd. Find your fav chicken rice shop to fix your cravings

Man Fook Lau @ Taman Jerantut, Jerantut Pahang

A break from KL food... the next 3 posts will be on Pahang food! Most of you should already know that I live in Pahang... but my blogs on KL food are more compared to those in Pahang. Truth is... I normally eat out in KL compared to Pahang... coz eating home cooked food is definitely healthier and less damage to the pocket :)

Jerantut.. this name never really rings a bell except for those who had gone to Taman Negara before, as this sleepy town is a gateway to the oldest national park in the world. I don't really blame you for not knowing where Jerantut is.. I even have friends who don't even know that Jerantut is actually a province in Pahang state. This town is located about 45 minutes drive from Kuala Lipis. A little history lesson, I was born in Kuantan and not in Kuala Lipis as many of you would think. My dad's factory used to be located in Kuantan from 1977 (I was not even born yet!) until 1985 when they moved to Kuala Lipis. My dad only relocated us to Kuala Lipis in 1986. I still go back to Kuantan once in a while (although not as often as I would go KL)... to visit my relatives who live there. And during Chinese New Year, my family will definitely go back Kuantan to celebrate.

I was driving back to Kuantan one day when I passed Jerantut. Feeling hungry, I called my friend who then directed me to this particular restaurant.

This restaurant still retain its original setup.. typical old Chinese style with round tables covered with red table cloth and those ubiquitous banquet chairs.

Messy counter... in small town like this, you don't really need elegant interior as it might scare potential customer away.

Kwai fei chicken is a must order if you come to this restaurant, claimed my friend. Initially I thought that this was a chicken dish but it came as a surprise. Chicken skin & meat on top and fish meat & sesame at the bottom with a piece of ham sandwiched in between... it was deep fried before served with chilly sauce for dipping purpose. Jenn & I were delighted to taste such a delightful dish, as the skin was crispy while both chicken and fish meat retained the moist.

Buttermilk pork ribs - another thumb up for this dish! Being a fan of nai yau (or buttermilk in English), the delicious gravy enveloped the ribs making each and every bite a bliss. Not too spicy despite using cili padi and curry leaves to prepare this dish. The meat was fork tender too!

Stir fried veggie with garlic - fresh but I found that there were too many stems compared to the leaves.

Leo's verdict - This place is not that hard to find despite being hidden from the main road. The restaurant has 2 sections, open air section where economy rice is served for working people while indoor section for functions such as wedding. Total bill came at RM37 which is considered cheap for the dishes that I ordered. I know where to dine when I go back to Kuantan again in the future!