Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock
If ever you are at Central Market with friends or visitors, wander back to Jalan Balai Polis, it is a five to ten minute walk and you will be surprised at how many interesting places, shops and restaurants there are, along the way.
One of them is Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock, a unique name by itself. From the outside, one would think that it is a shop selling antiques or artefacts from the 1950s. But do venture inside, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that it is in fact a restaurant, a typical Malaysian Restaurant, Kopitiam. A welcome sign hangs outside the restaurant in three languages – Malay, Chinese and Tamil – greeting visitors who wish to enjoy traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian Food.
The establishment was set up by three friends: Ernest Ong, Colin Koh and Bruce Wong. They chose the name Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock to signify the muhibbah (unity) among the races in Malaysia. The concept was also chosen to recreate the environment of the kopitiam with the atmosphere of warung kampung (village stalls). The arrangement of tables and chairs is a combination of those found in village stalls, kopitiam and Mamak restaurants that gives a sense of nostalgia among many patrons. Benches and long tables are used, and round marble tables and stools like those typically found in kopitiam.
Maria and I decided that this would be a good place for Enak!s outing. We went over a few days before to make final arrangement. We were met by Teoh (the restaurant manager). He was very pleasant and accommodating, willing to provide a vegetarian meal and making suggestions on how they would serve the dishes so that we all could try them. With his recommendations, we placed our orders.
Appetiser:
Chee Cheung Fun, a rice noodle roll with soya and sesame sauce
Roti Jala with chicken curry, a net bread/lace pancake made of yellow noodle.
Main Course:
Nasi Lemak, a Malay fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf
Special Malay spiced fried chicken
Lontong vegetables curry, a compressed rice cake with vegetable curry
Stir-fried Kway Teow noodle with seafood
Thursday, 9 August…eight of us came. Teoh was there to greet us and making sure that we were well looked after. Lunch was then served. Eight was a good number, we sat comfortably at the round table, able to converse and get to tell stories of our activities during the summer while tasting and enjoying the delicious food of Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock Kopitiam.
You could also find Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock Kopitiam branch in Damansara (where Teoh actually works) and in Bangsar. Here are their addresses:
Ali, Muthu and Ah Hock
Oasis Ara Damansara 2
Jalan PJU 1A/7
Oasis Ara Damansara,
47301 Petaling Jaya
Selangor