Entree Kibbles: Rasa Rasa 回味 - Pandan Nasi Lemak Curry Chicken @ Penang in Malaysia #michelin

Friday, February 21, 2025

Rasa Rasa 回味 - Pandan Nasi Lemak Curry Chicken @ Penang in Malaysia #michelin

The excitement was reserved for Jetty 35, a cultural and arts precinct converted from a warehouse in Penang, yet the main draw was this small eatery, Rasa Rasa 回味, was awarded michelin bib gourmand!

I wasn't hungry but how to resist when it's quite rare to find a michelin restaurant that didn't appear too crowded?! Furthermore, I also wouldn't know when I would be back to the Pearl of the Orient. Freak the diet; I shall be conservative in my ordering.

Having lived through the 80s, and stayed in a village when I was a kid; stepping into Rasa Rasa 回味 was a trip down memory lane with the concrete flooring, retro furniture. Thank god it was air-conditioned though.

Ambra Asam Boi Smoothie - I watched many traveller vlogs about this ambra drink and finally got to trying it! One sip and I was rolling my eyes; this is balonglong juice right?! Even though it wasn't foreign to me, I still find this healthy drink refreshing, with a dash of sourness and a light touch of spiciness.

Pandan Nasi Lemak Curry Chicken - there were other dishes on the menu but I figured nasi lemak was their signature since it took up a few pages of the menu, with selections that included curry chicken, prawn, squid, chicken rolls, fish etc.

For me, I just went with curry chicken that had standard ingredients like pandan coconut milk rice, deep fried anchovies, cucumber, fried peanuts, hard boiled egg, long beans and homemade sambal.

Despite looking ultra rich and milky, I personally thought it lost out to Madam Kwan's version although still as satisfying for those craving for curry chicken that was cooked in coconut milk!

Of course, nasi lemak had to be eaten as a package; the curry chicken, the soft and light rice, the peanuts and the chilli, all in one! Yummy! p.s. the long beans tasted pretty raw whereas ikan bilis is not my to-order ingredient for nasi lemak.

One thing I was super impressed though; the sambal that had a rough texture! Sweetness aside, it was imbued with sourness, spiciness, herbines (like lemongrass), resulting in layers of flavors that combined perfectly!

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It wasn't a failed visit for sure and I am glad I put my foot down to check out Rasa Rasa 回味! For those who want to cut down calories, you can consider the classic pandan nasi lemak, which was also much cheaper at just RM8.90.

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