After starting her online food delivery business four years ago during the Covid-19 lockdown, former public relations consultant Chuah Jay Mee finally plucked up the courage to make the transition into a physical restaurant last May.
Named Herba & Rempah, it refers to the multitude of herbs and spices used in her cooking to create the delicious food served at her restaurant. The menu showcases a plethora of Nyonya and Malay specialities, based on the cherished Peranakan recipes she learned from her 90-year-old grandmother.
The restaurant is only a few months old, so the interior remains austere for now. Marble-topped tables and dark wood chairs dominate the main dining space.
Due to the labour-intensive preparations involved, we discovered that seafood dishes such as Pineapple Longan Prawn Curry and Kerabu Sotong have to be pre-ordered at least two days ahead. Also, specific individual set meals are served on different days of the week. This is because Chuah, who does all the cooking herself, handles a full plate as she still caters to online orders as well.
Since her Rainbow Roti Jala with Chicken Curry (RM16.90/5 pcs) has gone viral, we couldn’t resist ordering some too. Instead of the normal beige- or yellow-coloured ones, Chuah’s roti jala came in assorted hues.
She tells us that natural juices of butterfly pea flower, pandan, turmeric, strawberry and purple sweet potato are used to colour the rolls of lacy, net-like pancakes. Complemented by aromatic, santan-rich chicken and potato curry, the roti jala managed to whet our appetite from the get-go.
Another notable appetiser we tried was Nyonya Pie Tee (RM18/6 pcs), dainty little top-hat shells filled with jiu hu char (stir-fried shredded jicama with dried cuttlefish). We love the top hats’ crunchy texture interspersed with the delicious, limpid-soft filling.
Our only grouse was the accompanying chilli sauce lacked that punchy kick which could have dialled up the appetiser’s appeal.
Our favourite dish of the day was the house specialty, Salted Fish Bone Vegetable Curry (RM30 small, regular RM59). From the full-bodied gravy to the tender chunks of eggplant, long beans and cabbage, the overall complexity and depth of flavour of the dish had our approval. We couldn’t help but douse the tasty curry liberally over the Bluepea Rice.
Crispy and subtly spicy, Chuah’s Sambal Hae Bee (small RM26, with petai, RM32) hit the spot for us. The dried shrimps’ piquant savouriness contrasted against the petai’s astringent taste and fresh crunch, making it perfect to pair with rice or even bread.
Although Beef Rendang Tok (RM35 small, regular RM59) isn’t Peranakan fare, Chuah is partial to the dish and has included it in her menu. Her grandmother loved Malay dishes and embraced many of the recipes, especially this Perakian specialty.
Thoroughly suffused by the assortment of fragrant spices and kerisik (dry-fried grated coconut), the beef dish induced us to return for repeat helpings.
To give customers greater value for money, the restaurant also offers individual rice sets priced between RM19.90 and RM25.90 each. We found the Chicken Curry and Vegetable of the Day (kangkong belacan) with Bluepea Rice Set (RM19.90) on-point and substantial enough for light eaters to share.
Diced sweet potatoes and yam, black eye beans and multi-coloured tapioca starch balls in slightly sweetened coconut milk broth made the classic Bubur Cha (RM12) an apt treat to round off our dining experience.
We wished though the yam and sweet potatoes came in slightly chunkier pieces instead of small slivers. Orh Nee (RM12), a Teochew yam paste dessert, was the other unexpected dessert option. Mildly sweet, the smooth yam paste studded with some ginkgo nuts wrapped up our lunch session nicely.
Herba & Rempah’s nostalgic dishes represent Chuah’s attempt to preserve her Peranakan family recipes with her own modern, intrepid touches. We found all the dishes hardly spicy as Chuah says her customer profile prefer it so, but if you would like to dial up the heat, call ahead to inform her beforehand.
HERBA & REMPAH
No.13-1, Ground Floor
Block I, Jalan PJU 1/37 Dataran Prima
Petaling Jaya.Business hours:
Monday-Saturday: 10am-3pm
Sundays closed.
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