Line Clear opens its first restaurant outside Penang

Nasi kandar at LC Restaurant in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, on Feb 3, 2016.

WHENEVER I go back to Penang, I’ll make a beeline for my favourite nasi kandar at the popular Line Clear off Penang Road.

So what did I do when I heard that it had opened its first outpost in Kuala Lumpur? Made a beeline for it!

Last Sunday, three days after its soft opening, my family and I eagerly drove from our home in Petaling Jaya to the spanking new LC Restaurant to tuck into one of Penang’s best-loved fare.

We arrived at No. 113, Jalan Raja Abdullah in Kampung Baru at 8.30pm on a hot and humid evening and joined a line of almost 70 people to wait for our food.

As it was self-service, there were more orders than the queue indicated because others had to be seated to get their tables.

LC Restaurant in Kampung Baru is also open for lunch.

Under the roof of an open, spacious Malay-style building of white walls and downlights, tiled floors and pebble-wash feature, an army of serving staff whizzed through the almost-packed hall that could seat over 300.

My other half and I were glad we were not dressed in our Sunday best because before long, we were sweating profusely as we stood in line. Not unlike eating at the narrow alley of Line Clear in Penang – minus the drains and rustic ambience, of course.

Our turn came an hour later and we were lucky not to be denied the pleasure of sinking our teeth into the fried chicken, which flew off the metal bowl as soon as the pieces were out of the wok!

We settled at the table with our food – white rice, fried chicken, fish, prawns, squid, boiled eggs and the cucumber and onion salad.

Did it hit the spot? For me, yes, as I am partial to the Line Clear brand.

The hubby felt the mix of kuah kari that drenched his rice was not quite up to mark.

Long queue for food.

Also a nasi kandar bellygod from Penang, he always insists that it’s the “mixologist” – the person who dishes out your food and spoons in the variety of curries onto your rice – who adds that “oomph”, or X-factor if you will, to your plate.

Our two teenage children, who have been weaned on nasi kandar, enjoyed their food but reckoned it could have been better.

With a bill totalling RM66.50, including RM30 for two succulent tiger prawns and drinks, there was not much to complain about.

Intan Zinedine Ashiqin said she was curious to check out the place with her parents after hearing the buzz about LC.

“It was good but not fantastic,” said the 18-year-old named after superstar footballer Zinedine Zidane by her football-mad father in honour of France’s victory in the World Cup in the year she was born.

“Hopefully, the food will get better after the opening period,” she said, adding that the price of RM46.30 for three was reasonable.

Dr Nazaluddin Mat Nazir, 35, was seen savouring fish-head curry and other stuff with wife Sitie Faizah Mohd Nor, also 35, and their four young children.

The lunch crowd at LC.

“It’s different here but it’s still better in Penang,” said the doctor from Kuala Lumpur.

More than six decades after its inception, the Line Clear name has gained fame far and wide. It continues to draw in the crowds, both local and international, even after rumblings of its high prices in Penang surfaced on social media.

A recent highly publicised family tussle over ownership of the Penang operation has not dented its reputation, judging by the stream of patrons at its new outlet in the capital city.

“We were really surprised by the wonderful response to LC in just three days of opening.

“We are grateful to God,” said Hashim Abdul Hamid, who is responsible for ensuring the freshest catch for the restaurant.

His father Abdul Hamid Seeni Parkir is retiring after failing in the High Court to stop the Penang Island City Council from letting a cousin take over the Penang premises under a four-party rotational system.

On Jan 20, the court ordered Abdul Hamid, 67, to vacate the place in three weeks.

Next in line to operate the business is T. Abdul Latiff, 55.

Abdul Hamid’s children and relatives will now focus on LC in Kuala Lumpur, of which a launch is planned for this month.

Putting the rift behind it, LC declares itself to be “Always Clear” (its tagline). Clearly, it just wants to keep calm and curry on.

LC Restaurant opens daily from 6am to 2am, with the morning reserved for roti canai, thosai, chapati and other mamak staples. Nasi kandar is served from 11am. For more information, go to its Facebook page.

This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.