Datin Isma — founder, chef and the culinary force behind the popular @masakwithpassion account — taps into her east coast roots to craft authentic Kelantanese dishes rarely found in Kuala Lumpur.
The vibe: Kantan draws steady crowds that spill out come mealtime, a sure sign it’s one of the city’s top spots for Kelantanese fare. Casual and cheery, there’s no better place for a hearty, satisfying meal with family and friends.
The food: It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that almost everything is excellent at Kantan, but the standout is the nasi kerabu; it’s plated with fragrant yellow rice (not the usual blue), paired with traditional ulam like bunga kantan and daun kesom (no cabbage here), budu, sambal, tumis, grated coconut, half a salted egg, crispy ikan masin, and crunchy keropok. Pick your protein: ayam percik, ayam bakar, ayam goreng, daging bakar, or kambing bakar. Other must-tries include the nasi ulam with sup daging and the rich, creamy laksam — a Kelantanese classic done right.
The drinks: All your local favourites are accounted for: hot or iced kopi and teh, refreshing barley and cincau, sirap, and the standout ‘Sabarjala’, a mix of sirap, barley, and lychee that’s as fun to drink as it is to say.
Time Out tip: Be sure to save room for dessert - the lompat tikam, a traditional Kelantanese sweet featuring pandan pudding, pulut, coconut cream, and gula Melaka syrup, is well worth it.