Grilled chicken wings stall takes off

Mohd Nor Hafizan preparing the chicken wings and skewers of chicken gizzards at his stall in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

SABAH has a special place in my heart.

This is partly due to my time spent there gaining a degree, and that period established a love for the Land Below the Wind.

As someone fascinated by different cultures and the outdoors, this opportunity not only gave me a chance to explore the state, but also to discover the different meals and snacks from its diverse ethnic mix.

One snack in particular stood out — grilled chicken wings.

Pop-up stalls selling these wings were located almost everywhere, be it in the city of Kota Kinabalu or the highlands of Kundasang.

Eager to taste those wings again, I did some research and discovered one such stall in the Taman Tun Dr Ismail commercial area of Kuala Lumpur.

Manning the grill at Kepak Madu Sabah is Mohd Nor Hafizan Omar from Lahad Datu, Sabah.

The menu here is identical to similar stalls in Sabah, comprising grilled chicken wings, skewers of grilled chicken gizzards, chicken skin and bishop’s nose.

“Our chicken wings are marinated with honey and a special mix early in the morning before they are grilled in the afternoon.

“We also serve our food with a dip made of chillies, dark sauce and sugar to create a sweet yet spicy flavour.

“This makes it suitable for both adults and children to eat,” said the 22-year-old.

On the surface, the wings have a smoky look but the first bite instantly reminded me of the ones I used to get in Sabah.

Each mouthful of the meat had a consistent sweetness and when coupled with the dip, it created a savoury taste with the right amount of spiciness.

Also providing a lovely balance of flavours are the grilled chicken gizzards, skin and bishop’s nose, with their crunchy exterior and juicy insides.

Mohd Nor Hafizan said the stall had recently spread its wings here following the growth of its flagship stall in Sunway Mentari, Petaling Jaya.

“Currently, we are able to sell about 200 wings a day.

“Apart from being well-received by the locals, we also have fellow Sabahans in the area coming here, especially those from Kota Kinabalu and Tawau,” he added.

Each wing costs RM2.50 while individual skewers of either chicken gizzards, skin or bishop’s nose are priced at RM1.20 each.

The stall is located along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3 in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Business hours are from 11am to 10pm and the stall is open every day except Sunday.

For details, call 011-7268 0858 or 011-3765 7267.