Satay from the southern state

Satay Johor serves juicy chicken, beef, lamb and intestine satays along with a serving of onion, cucumber, nasi impit and sweet peanut sauce with hot sambal.

SATAY may seem like a simple hawker’s delight as it is basically skewered meat served with peanut sauce, but there is more to this grilled delight that makes it so appetising.

Foodies know that the ingredients used to marinate the meat, cooking method as well as a balance of herbs and spices with roasted peanuts go towards creating a robust sauce.

These are some of the things cooks do behind the scene to make eating satay an enjoyable experience.

Galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, shallots, salt and sugar are common ingredients used to marinade the meat before the pieces are placed on skewers and grilled on charcoal fire.

Sugar in the marinade helps in the caramelising process, leaving charred marks on the meat.

Various types of satay being grilled on a charcoal stove.

Recently, when I went on a search for good satay in Kuala Lumpur, it led me to Satay Johor at Aji-Don Alley in Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas.

The aroma of the satay being cooked, smokey meaty pieces and flavourful peanut sauce with peppery sambal impresssed me at first bite.

The family business run by Mohd Faizal Othman Padilok, 35, is among the popular stalls in Aji-Don Alley.

Although operating from a humble stall, there was a long line of customers ordering either the chicken, beef, lamb or intestine satay that is served with sliced onions, cucumbers, nasi himpit as well as peanut sauce with sambal.

I found the chicken and lamb satay tender and juicy. Both went well with the generous amount of peanut sauce and spicy sambal.

“My father started this business in Johor in the 1970s and we have taken over but the business is now based in Kuala Lumpur.

“He is still very particular about the taste. So much so that until today, my father prepares the marinade and peanut sauce at home,” said Faizal, who is the eldest among three siblings.

Some regulars recognise the taste of the satay that was sold at the old Johor Baru railway station.

“We start setting up around 5.30pm and it gets busy from 7.30pm onwards,” said Faizal.

Customers can also take home satay sticks, at the same price, so they can grill them at home.

Parking is convenient here as there is ample space at Plaza Damas and Hartamas Shopping Centre.

Business hours are from 6pm to 9.30pm. The stall is closed on Sundays.