My favorite food from my hometown of Malacca has made very little headway in the Klang Valley, but here's hoping that Royal Satay Celup will help change that.
This Damansara Utama outlet's bountifully stocked fridge beckons to us with familiar temptations evocative of many a satay celup meal in the 1990s.
The most important ingredient, cockles, is present. Perhaps not as plump as we might prefer; when it comes to cockles, size certainly matters.
Crullers, kangkong, pork balls, intestines and innards, bound for boiling pots of peanut gravy.
Hygiene-conscious customers, note that each table is supplied with sauce that's fresh and free. But it's less chunky than expected, with a sour-spiciness that tastes Thai.
Edited Oct. 5: Royal Satay Celup has now changed to public sharing pots, promising gravy that's thicker and richer with peanuts.
Edited Oct. 5: Royal Satay Celup has now changed to public sharing pots, promising gravy that's thicker and richer with peanuts.
Still, this is a commendable effort that comes close to replicating the Malaccan experience, thanks to the cornucopia of crab claws, squid and prawns.
Bacon-wrapped pork sausages and man tao. Prices are pleasing; each stick costs 80 sen, ensuring that many patrons can dine for under RM15 per person.
Quail eggs, pandan chicken and century eggs. Dunk into the steaming sauce, wait a minute, and voila, everything's ready and remarkably flavorful to eat.
A sweet finish: house-made cendol, complete with pure santan and gula Melaka.
Royal Satay Celup,
53, Jalan SS 21/1A, Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya.
Open 5pm-midnight, except Mondays.
