Naughty Nuri’s Warung has four restaurants in Klang Valley. The closest outlet to downtown Kuala Lumpur is located in Life Centre. The eatery is packed with customers during lunch hours, thanks to the large number of offices in the vicinity.

The restaurant’s dining section has a welcoming ambiance. Wooden tables and rattan chairs present an exotic Balinese charm. In addition, rattan ornaments and warm lighting hang from the ceiling.

The Tiki bar stocked with a wide variety of alcoholic beverages including beers, martinis, mojitos and sangrias. For customers who need some privacy, an exclusive dining section is available. There is also a section of the restaurant where Balinese handicraft is sold.

Naughty Nuri’s specializes in Balinese barbecued meat especially pork. For this month, the restaurant offers 50% discount on a selected menu of signature dishes. This promotion only applies on weekdays and before 3:00pm.

The most popular dish at Naughty Nuri’s is the Signature BBQ Spare Ribs (RM24.50). This pork dish is a must when visiting for the first time. The half rack of juicy pork ribs is marinated with flavorful spices from Bali, and then grilled over fire while being basted with savory sauce. Using the word “gratifying” to describe this dish would be an understatement.

Another crowd favorite is Nasi Goreng (RM12.50). Seasoned with special dark sauce from Bali, the fried rice is cooked with mixed vegetables, onions and chili peppers. Roasted pork belly, fried egg and prawn crackers are also added. The overall taste and aroma are mouthwatering indeed.

BBQ Satay Lilit (RM13.00) is marinated with lemon juice, pepper, shallots and other spices. Unlike regular satay, BBQ Satay Lilit is wrapped around lemongrass stalks. This helps to impart a distinctive aroma to the skewered pork. In fact, the Indonesian word “lilit” means “to wrap”.

Nuri’s Punch (RM28.80) is a mixed fruit punch that contains lemongrass, lychee, pickled plums and mint leaves. This is one of the two drinks that is served in a large jug; the other is Lemongrass Ginger Fizz. The 50% discount does not apply to drinks.

Naughty Nuri’s is one of the best barbecue franchises in town. Not only is the food superb, the restaurant’s ambience and hospitality are commendable too. Although the regular menu is quite pricey, the restaurant offers special promotions from time to time. In fact, I am eager to try the Snout To Tail Buffet on Sunday noon.

Address: Lot G-05, Ground Floor, Life Centre, 20, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 019-300-7221
Business hours: 11:00am-12:00am

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Naughty Nuri’s started as a popular roadside stall in Bali. Founded by an American-and-Indonesian couple, the restaurant specializes in Balinese fare. Compared to the mainstream Indonesian cuisine, Balinese food differs most notably in its liberal use of pork. Indeed, pork dishes are Naughty Nuri’s strongest suits.

No visit to Naughty Nuri’s will be complete without ordering Naughty Nuri’s 1995 Signature BBQ Spare Ribs (RM48.00). The pork ribs are first marinated with a Balinese spice mix. Then, the ribs are grilled over flame while basted with a special sauce. The result is a gratifying delicacy of epic proportions. The meat is so tender is that it virtually peels off the bones.

Naughty Nuri’s BBQ Pork Chop (RM25.00) is another delicacy which brings out the best of the swine. The pork chop is also marinated with peppery spices from Bali. Barbecued to perfection, the flesh is succulent down to the bones. Thanks to a glossy coating of honey, the pork chop carries a noticeable hint of sweetness.

As for poultry, Balinese Ayam Bertutu (RM35.00) is guaranteed to tantalize the taste buds. Bertutu is a Balinese spice mix which prepared from a mortar and pestle. The braised chicken is served with caramelized onion rice on the side. Meanwhile, acar awak (spicy vegetable pickle), sambal hijau (green sauce) and sambal dadakan (chili paste) serve as condiments.

Sukawati Inspired Red Curry Rendang Bebek (RM42.00) is another spicy dish that uses duck instead. “Bebek” is the Indonesian term for “duck”. The duck’s flesh is arguably more flavorful than the chicken’s, but I think this is just a matter of personal preference. Like the previous dish, the duck goes well with and acar awak, sambal hijau and sambal dadakan.

Indonesian Style Nasi Goreng (RM23.00) is not a dish to be trifled. The rice is stir-fried with fiery aroma à la Balinese style. The presence of juicy roasted pork makes the rice even more enticing to the palate. The fried rice is topped with a fried egg and crispy prawn crackers.

I cannot commend Naughty Nuri’s BBQ Satay Lilit (RM26.00) highly enough. Satay Lilit (“lilit” means “wrap”) is made from minced pork marinated with Balinese spices. The pork is wound around lemongrass stalks and grilled over flame. Bursting with lovely flavors, every bite of pork is extremely gratifying.

As for drinks, Lemongrass Ginger Fizz is available by the glass (RM11.00) or the jug (RM28.80). This non-alcohol drink is not really fizzy because we opted for the warm version. The drink helps to cleanse the palate between dishes. A lemongrass stalk serves as the stirrer.

Naughty Nuri’s caters to drinking crowd, as evidenced by a well-stocked bar that serves mojitos, martinis and sangria. Unfortunately, we are unable to try these drinks this round. According to the friendly staff, Naughty Nuri’s also serves all-you-can-eat buffet lunch (11:00am-3:00pm) on Sundays.

Address: G25, Atria Shopping Gallery, Jalan SS 22/23, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: 012-446-6679
Business hours: 11:00am-11:00pm

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Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Directly opposite of Noordin Street House is a modest eatery called Eat Scream. Due to its proximity to 1st Avenue Mall, this family business at Lebuh Noordin is popular among office workers on weekdays.

The signature dish here is Indonesian Nasi Lemak With Rendang Chicken (RM13.80). Served on weaved rattan platter, this dish is formulated based on a recipe from the proprietors’ maternal grandmother in Medan. In Indonesia, this dish is more commonly known as “Nasi Uduk”, which literally means “mixed rice”.

Indonesian nasi lemak revolves around santan- (coconut milk) infused rice seasoned with pandan leaves, lemongrass, cloves, kayu manis Cina (Chinese cinnamon) and other spices. But unlike its Malaysian counterpart, the Indonesian version does not rely too heavily on santan. This explains why the large heap of rice does not feel too surfeiting.

Another difference between Indonesian and Malaysian nasi lemak is the type of chili sauce. The local Malaysian version focuses on savory belacan (fermented shrimp paste), whereas the Indonesian sauce – called “Sambal Lado” – appears fresher and carries sweet-cooling sensation. At Eat Scream, a fresh batch of sambal lado is prepared every week.

Also included is a piece of rendang chicken thigh and drumstick. Braised in thick gravy, the chicken presents more savoriness than spiciness. There are also stir-fried yardlong beans, corn, capsicum and shrimps in fermented soybean paste (豆酱). Other items are hard-boiled egg, sliced cucumber, fried anchovies, roasted peanuts and fried onion. For a single person, the food portion is quite filling.

As for snacks, Salad O Pocket (RM7.80) is a new item on the menu. The crispy pieces are essentially youtiao (油条). The youtiao goes through two stages of frying, resulting in dual layers of crispiness.

On the side is a cup of mayonnaise-based sauce. This sweet-tangy emulsion serves as dipping sauce for youtiao.

Gado-Gado (RM8.80) is an Indonesian mixed salad comprising of boiled egg, tofu, potato, long beans, cucumber, bean sprouts, lettuce, cabbage, crackers and fried onions. Individual items are brought together by spicy peanut dressing that tantalizes the tongue in a playful manner. This dish is not listed on the regular menu because it may not be available every day.

As for specialty drinks, the 3 types of Traffic Light (RM7.80) are Red Stop, Yellow Ready, Green Go. Using carbonated soda as the base, the drinks are flavored by chipped pieces of popsicles (冰棒) called “Ice Ganefo”. The different colors of Traffic Light are provided by strawberry, pineapple and cucumber-lime respectively. Actual fruits are used.

Ice Ganefo is named after Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO), a sporting event that was held in Indonesia at the height of the Cold War (pun is not likely intended). The popsicles are also sold for RM2.00 per stick. There are roughly 20 different flavors in total. Once popular in rural areas where commercial ice cream was not available, it is increasingly rare to find homemade popsicles nowadays.

Bubur Cha-Cha (RM5.80) is a traditional Nyonya (Peranakan) dessert that has entered Malaysia’s mainstream cookbooks. At Eat Scream, this sweet dessert is only available on Fridays and Saturdays due to the lengthy preparation process.

To prepare this dessert, coconut milk and pandan leaves are boiled to produce sweet, milky syrup. The thick soup also contains banana slices, taro (yam) and three different colors of sweet potato (yellow, orange and purple). Meanwhile, the translucent jelly is made from tapioca flour with food coloring.

Although there aren’t many Indonesian restaurants in Penang, Eat Scream’s Indonesian nasi lemak is able to convince me that Indonesian cuisine has a unique character of its own. I think it is worthwhile your time to try this signature dish. If I were to nitpick, one minor blemish during my visit is the “oily” state of air in the restaurant. This is due to the enclosed nature of the kitchen. Perhaps the ventilation system should be improved.

Name: Eat Scream
Address: 66, Lebuh Noordin, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 016-499-8807
Business hours: 12:00pm-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm, closed on Sundays
Website: https://www.facebook.com/EatScream
Coordinates: 5.41164 N, 100.33109 E
Directions: From Lebuh Mcnair, turn right into Lebuh Noordin. Eat Scream is approximately 30 meters on the right, just opposite of Noordin Street House. There are ample street parking spaces on both sides of Lebuh Noordin.

Nuri Simply Indonesian Food is an Indonesian-based restaurant franchise specializing in Indonesian cuisine. There is a new outlet located at intersection between Burmah Road (Jalan Burma) and Cantonment Road (Jalan Cantonment) in Pulau Tikus, George Town.

Nuri uses the self-service fast food concept. Food is ordered and served at the counter. Like economy rice concept, the available dishes are displayed behind the glass panel for customers to choose from. The difference is that the staff helps with the serving.

There are ample of dining tables as the restaurant occupies two levels.

We ordered two sets of Nuri 2 Meal Set for RM12.50 each. Each set includes a choice of two meat dishes, Gado-gado, Sambal Belacan, rice and a choice of carbonated beverage.

For the first set, we had Ikan Acar Kuning and Daging Rendang as meat dishes.

The Ikan Acar Kuning is a whole fried mackerel garnished with a type of pickling made from long beans chili peppers, vinegar and other spices. The pickling results in sweet and sour flavors, yielding a taste which is reasonably acceptable.

The Daging Rendang is a spicy beef stew infused with flavors from local spices such as turmeric, chili peppers and garlic. While the flavor is okay, we are disappointed that the serving portion is rather small.

As for the second set, the meat dishes are Ikan Goreng and Ayam Semur. Actually these are the only viable options remaining because other dishes are unavailable or unappealing (for example, egg dishes).

The Ikan Goreng is also a whole fried mackerel fish with onions, shallots and chili peppers stuffed inside. The stuff fillings are quite decent in taste, but the fish itself remains mostly plain.

Ayam Semur is a stewed chicken marinated with sweet soy sauce, giving the dish a savory and appetizing flavor. The meat is quite enjoyable but it turns out too dry.

Each meal set comes with a serving of Gado-gado, a type of Indonesian salad made from potatoes, bean curd, boiled eggs, bean sprouts and lettuce. The salad dressing is peanut sauce, similar to those used for satay.

The Gado-gado is quite a nice salad. It is sweet and has some buttery taste from the crushed peanuts. In fact, rojak lovers should find this dish quite delightful.

As for the Sambal Belacan, the condiment is quite strong in flavor due to the rich diversity of Indonesian spices. However, the Sambal Belacan here is quite oily; I prefer less oil for better effect. The spiciness can be overpowering for those who are not accustomed to Indonesian cuisine.

Our choice is drinks are the F&N Sarsi and F&N Zappel.

Overall, the dishes at Nuri are not too impressive except for the Ayam Semur and Gado-gado. I think it is not necessary to have many dishes available, but instead just focusing on a handful which are exceptionally good.

The location of Nuri is problematic despite the fact that it is located at a busy intersection. Especially with the recent one-way traffic directions, getting here and finding a parking are major turn-offs. The restaurant needs to move to a more accessible location or heavily rely on food delivery method.

One positive note is that the restaurant crew is friendly and welcoming.

The location of choice today is Ole-Ole Bali in Solaris Mont Kiara. It’s in the middle of the affluent business/residential area, so this is not one of the places to find affordable food.

I must say that I am very impressed with the décor that Ole-Ole Bali has to offer. They must have invested substantially to give the whole place an authentic Balinese atmosphere. Even the piped music sounds exotic, making you feel that you have just been teleported to Bali.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. This raises the question why anyone would even bother to order burgers or pasta from the menu (which they do offer anyway). Without much hesitation, we immediately flipped the menu to the page where it says “Best of the East”.

The Bali Trio is an obvious choice. It comes with BBQ chicken wings, satay lilit and fried squid. All three were great to the taste buds! Be sure to try out the sauces that come with it. They go well with the respective dishes.

Next on the line is Nasi Campur. This consists of grilled lemongrass prawns, fried squid, grilled fish and chicken or beef rendang (we picked chicken). Merely by taste alone, we knew that the seafood is very fresh!

Moving on, we also ordered Siap Bumbu, which features a generous piece of chicken thigh with marinated with lemongrass, roasted till golden brown. This dish is served with yellow kunyit rice. This dish is among my favorite, as the marinating really blends well with the chicken.

Last but not least, Cumi Metumis was on the table. This dish features a serving of stir-fried squid with several types of spices and peppers. Personally, I feel that the squid is a little too oily, although still falls within what I consider acceptable.

Most dishes are served with a piece of rempeyek, which is deep-fried anchovy cracker. It is preferable to consume it while it is warm and still crispy, something that we failed to realize. Another special side dish for most dishes is the bean salad, or lawar kacang as the menu says. I didn’t know that beans can make an impressive side, but Ole-Ole Bali proved me wrong.

Overall, the dining experience in Ole-Ole Bali is excellent and satisfactory. It costs around RM30 to RM40 for a dish, so the bill added up to over RM150 for a table of 4. This is one of the few places that I will visit again soon to try other dishes, but not so often because of the damage it just made to my wallet!