A Malay Food Feast At Sambal Inc., The Starling Mall PJ

I had a question in mind, even before I visited Sambal Inc. earlier that day. Does Sambal Inc. sell sambal? I mean, apart from the food obviously. Just curious.

I got my answer later that evening, and no - unfortunately they don't sell sambal in a takeaway bottle, but oh-my, the portion that came with my Nasi Lemak - that, was pretty darn good. Sweet, and not too spicy - my kind of sambal.

Like the name suggests, Sambal Inc.'s menu consists of a simple range of traditional Malay cuisine, from Nasi Lemak, Nasi Dagang, Nasi Goreng and Nasi Kerabu, to locally infused drinks. All of which came with their own rendition of sambal. Guess which was my favorite?

The restaurant is really not that easy to spot however. Tucked right at the corner within Foodies' Nest Food Hall, The Starling PJ, the restaurant occupies a large, bright and comfortable space. 

In fact, the first thing I said to my friend upon entering Sambal Inc. was, "These marble tabletops look so aesthetically pleasing, especially when it comes to taking photographs of food!" Perfect.

A look at the menu and I noticed that prices are very afforable at Sambal Inc..

There are many traditional options to go with the Nasi here, from Ayam Goreng Berempah, Ayam Masak Merah, Chicken Curry, Gulai Daging, Sambal Sotong, Ikan Goreng, varying from RM7.90 - RM17.90, alongside a handful of add-ons, ranging from Kangkung Belacan to Telur Dadar, from RM1.50 - RM3.90.

My obvious pick here would be the Nasi Lemak with Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM12.90), with add-ons of Eggplant with Sambal (RM2.90) and Sayur Campur (RM2.90) below. The basmati rice was fragrant, not too overly rich, something which I liked, though my friend said that it could do with a hint more santan to boost. The sambal was sweet yet not too spicy, I can have this with almost everything. The fried chicken - was the bomb. It was spiced and marinated well, juicy, and had a fantastic crunch to it. I will never say no to fried chicken.

Dishes like these are so photogenic. Beautifully plated, vibrant colors, and a plethora of ingredients. The Nasi Kerabu with Ayam Masak Merah (RM15.90) was delicious. Like all traditional nasi kerabu, Sambal Inc.'s rendtion came with grated coconut, four angled beans, half a salted egg, fish chips and a side of sambal budu, which had an obvious kick to it.

Though I'm not a huge fan of fish, I enjoyed the Nasi of this Nasi Dagang with Fish Curry (RM14.90) the most, in which my friend also hungrily agreed. The rice was a combination of glutinous and basmati rice, giving the it an inevitable toothsome texture. This is the only dish in the menu that comes with the fish curry option.

I was quite surprised at how affordable these locally infused drinks were. Both the Pandan Selasih (RM2.00) and Lemongrass & Ginger Cooler (RM2.50) were thirst quenchers, especially after a rich meal.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10.

I bumped up the rating simply because of it's price - clearly value for money. Where else can you get a decent, delicious and huge serving of Nasi for just under 15 bucks? Not forgetting that Sambal Inc. is located in a comfortable, clean and air-conditioned setting. If you're out and about The Starling Mall and craving for a traditional Malay meal, I'd recommend dropping by.

Sambal Inc. Information:

Address: Foodies' Nest Food Hall, Level 3, The, Starling Mall, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours : 11am - 10pm
Phone: 016-424 4558
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sambal.inc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sambal_inc/