Dam Cafe Nasi Kerabu Breakfast

It's another weekend morning that starts out with a gray film over the sky but the weather forecast calls for bright sun before noon. My motorcycle's engine is quickly warming up. I hope the neighbors don't mind the deep, loping exhaust rumble. My breakfast today will be nasi lemak next to a river in Kuala Kubu Bharu at the Dam Cafe - Coconut Shake Corner. First gear snicks into place and off I go.

A little over an hour later, I'm parked at the small roadside restaurant on the outskirts of Kuala Kubu Bahru town. Actually, it's located just next to a small bridge over a stream that runs from the mountains. A hot cup of coffee with condensed milk helps to bring the day to a proper start. You can choose from plain white rice, nasi lemak or the Kelantanese specialty nasi kerabu to go along with a counter full of traditional Malay dishes. Seeing nasi kerabu on the menu, I opt for that instead of my original plan for nasi lemak.

The combination of fluffy rice, crunchy raw veggies, roasted coconut flakes and a thick, spicy and slightly sweet gravy add up to make a rich and satisfying breakfast. Spicy beef lung in a sambal sauce is my choice today to go with the rice; you can also go for various chicken and fish dishes.

I've had the nasi lemak here before and I found it to be cheap and good. Expect most breakfast servings to be under RM10 including a hot cup of coffee or tea. There are outdoor sports purveyors and camping sites down the road if you're into paragliding, hiking and river rafting. You can also follow a small riverside trail to get to Ampang Pechah, an old ruined dam and a swimming area with basic picnic facilities.