All that you can eat @ Kota Bharu

It's natural that when people found out where you originated, they will start asking what sort of food to recommend at your familiar place. A lust for good food, that is the common trait that every Malaysian share.

It's rather unfortunate that during my childhood, digital camera and blog still non-existent, otherwise there will be more to show. Before all is too late or my memory fade, this is my silly attempt to collect food that worth recommending at Kota Bharu, Kelantan. A place that many non-Kelantanese may have a distorted impression. Of course the choice of food to recommend is subject to my personal preference. Have diarrhea at your own risk :)

lakso/laksam, (name difference mainly to differentiate noodle's shape, lakso = spagheti type, laksam = kway teow type) -- imho this is a dish that rarely made well outside Kelantan. The noodle is made fresh everyday from rice flour, sweetish gravy of santan with fish pour on top. Sprinkle some green herbs, scallions, sliced cucumber and bean sprout for flavour, and a spoon of sambal to spice up your life. Here showing pictures of lakso from two different places, I like the taste of the left better don't be misled by the look.
Venue to benchmark: The night stalls behind Jalan Hamzah but only start operating after 10pm.


I guess you will never see Pizza sell at stall in a big city, here is ingenious way to sell pizza a la Ramly burger style and at fraction of the price.


For the unperturbed, you can also try nasi kukus(steamed rice), this particular one that I'm going to introduce is Restaurant Zaeman Nasi kukus at Pengkalan Chepa fronting Pantai Timur hypermarket, you can have it with dish of your choice in chicken, lamb or fish, it is appetizing, the kick actually come from that unique curry spice. If you want to attune to local practice then you can try to eat with your bare hand. Disclaimer: Stay away if you are on diet, because you may eat more rice than you normally do.



If you are really into malay food, here another popular coffee shop among local at Jalan Gajah Mati name Jee Leong famous with their Nasi Sumatra.



Lim Seong Kee's beef noodle at Jalan Hamzah, opposite KB mall. The taste is exquisite and one of a kind in town. Die-die must try.

Sung Kee chicken rice at Jalan Tok Hakim, don't be fooled by the unassuming appearance of this old shop, mind you they serve the best cantonese style chicken rice in town.

Tumpat's temple Khao Jam and porridge, this place normally only known to the local, landmark of this temple is statue of standing Buddha, situated next to the traffic light before enter a small town call Tumpat (where fish cracker or keropok segera commonly sought), a stall under a tree in this temple arguably serve the most authentic Khao Jam and tasty porridge in town, and also not to miss the fish cracker, each with a price next to none -- RM1. No Bull.

When you are already around that vicinity, not hard for you to spot many temples around i.e. reclining Buddha, Dragon boat and one that you must not miss is sitting Buddha.



Wakaf Bharu is also a place where Thai food restaurants are aplenty, the most popular one is Cheng Mai Thai food restaurant, but to the local we perceive it as a bit commercialized. If you are not too branded conscious there are plenty of other choices too. Ask around, different people will point you to different restaurant. Of course if you don't want to drive away from KB town for dinner, you will not be deprived of seafood, there is this shop called EYE seafood restaurant on airport road Pengkalan Chepa that can fill the void, caveat is you need to know what to order, recommended dishes are Kangkung stir fry with garlic and mouth watering Asam fish.



Stadium PoPia, it's located just outside the food court of Stadium Mohamed IV. You can order Rojak Jawa or Rojak Mee with Popia, only at RM3. This dish always bring back the memory of school days when we always savored this snack in group either after a game of badminton or tuition. Business hour start at 3pm.











Yati Ayam percik, at the entrance you will notice many kuih melayu greeting you, tooth-achingly sweet. As stated in their name this place is famous for their Ayam Percik. Picture of Nasi Kerabu at your right. Normally the rice is in blue color.

Nasi Lauk, unfortunately I don't have a picture to show, this is a breakfast dish for most Kelantanese just like Nasi Lemak to KL folks. There are 2 types available:- chinese style and Malay style. For the Malay version my benchmark will be from the one in morning wet market at Kubang Pasu Jalan Merbau. For chinese version, popular one is either at Padang bank or near Chung Cheng school.


For tourist, normally they will hunt their food around KB's china town -- Kebun Sultan so to speak, almost at the end of the stretch there is a Mui Kee's Yong Tau Foo eatery place but I'm introducing you a Chinese&Thai restaurant across the road named Golden Leaf, you won't be disappointed. (latest update: this restaurant has ceased operation)


If you are the type that must eat authentic chinese food, then the old timer Foh Cheong Restaurant at Jalan Che Su can be your other option.

To hunt for Yong Tau Foo in KB, Quek Restaurant behind Kebun Sultan Jalan Seri Cermelang is the place to go, their chicken wing and curry fish head also not bad, do take note that their operation hours start at evening from 630pm-10pm.



Generally Kelantan was referred as cultural desert by many, but now I'm glad that there is this Jing-Si Books & Cafe at airport road Jalan pengkalan chepa offer a tranquil hub in town.

春有百花秋有月，夏有涼風冬有雪，若無閒事掛心頭，就是人間好時節.

Common perception is that Kelantan is a poor state, however as long as not too lazy to open the mouth there won't be people starve to death in KB because there is a restaurant offer free vegetarian food for all near Grand Riverview hotel, donation to the shop is voluntary, so remember this kind place, my gratitude to the owner.


to be continue ...