Kakatoo Starling Mall Nasi Kerabu

There is something to be said about malls being a welcome refuge from the tropical heat, so that's how I came across Kakatoo Starling Mall. I was in the Uptown area of Petaling Jaya, sweating buckets after walking the length of the big square. Time to duck into Starling to see what's available for an early lunch.

Walking around on the top floor in the blissfully cool air, I spotted a shop called Kakatoo Nyonya Kampung Delicacies. I decided to try the Nasi Kerabu with Curry Kapitan Chicken. It's an interesting mix of the traditional Kelantanese blue rice dish with a Straits Peranakan take on curry chicken.

The lunch set at RM21.90 included a drink. I had an interesting exchange with the server. Ice lemon tea got sugar? Yes. Soya bean got sugar? Yes. I got a refreshing glass of ice water with lemon instead.

Good thing I didn't have any meetings planned after lunch because it was a heavy meal. The gravy on the kerabu rice was thick, spicy and surprisingly not sweet, so it's a welcome change from the original (I try to limit my sugar intake). The finely chopped veggies were fresh and crunchy and mixed well with the rice. There's a dab of sambal sauce in case the gravy isn't hot enough. The acar pickled vegetables were crunchy and had quite a hint of chilli heat in them.

The kapitan curry doubled down on the creaminess. I enjoyed the fragrance from the coconut milk and hints of spice from lemongrass and candlenuts. The chicken was tender and juicy on the outside but strangely enough, the meat close to the bone was dry.

Next time at Kakatoo Starling Mall, I might order the Nasi Kerabu with grilled chicken, or plain rice with the Curry Kapitan. Two dueling sauces make for an interesting combination which might be overwhelming to some palates.