Restoran Salero Negori

09.03.2008
Since other restaurants nearby were packed with lunch crowd, the half empty Restoran Salero Negori was the obvious pick. There was no electricity when we entered the restaurant, leaving the place in total darkness.

The waitress with a thick accent told me how to make the order. And without hesistation she recommended me those dishes with cut-throat prices. Even though I didn't ask for the price, I knew it was expensive. I have been to other Padang-type outlets, so I could estimate the price range. So I changed the menu accordingly - ayam kampung, ikan cili, sayur campur and daging dendeng.

Since there was no electricity, they could not reheat the food. But luckily enough, the nasi was still hot. We sat outside so that we could enjoy the 'hot' afternoon breeze ;p Ayam kampung was succulent only if you take it with the 'habuk' (or floss). Sayur campur was ok but the dendeng was a bit 'liat' and ikan cili was a bit flat.

And when its time to pay - those 4 items plus 2 glasses of drinks came close to RM30.00!

We had our lunch at the Kelana Jaya branch. Below is review of the Amcorp Mall branch.

**********Extract From The Star**********

Indonesian cuisine whets the appetite
Restoran Salero Negori
247, Level 2, Amcorp Mall,
18, Jalan Persiaran Barat,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-79566968 / 016-3171155

Negri Sembilan and Padang cuisines share many similarities. This is because Padang in Indonesia is also the ancestral homeland of many Negri Sembilan families. Khalkani Aliaman should know this better than anyone else, as she is also the owner of recently opened Restoran Salero Negori.

The restaurant has over 30 dishes freshly cooked daily.
The restaurant has over 30 dishes freshly cooked daily. “We use traditional recipes handed down through the generations of a Negeri Sembilan family, which were passed on and taught to me by my mother-in-law,” said Khalkani. “Our chef is from Padang, so diners can enjoy the full taste of authentic cuisine prepared home-cooked style.” “Salero” is a Minang dialect meaning “selera” in Malay and “appetite” in English. Salero Negori simply means “flavours from Negri”.

Salero enjoys a good lunch crowd that comes here for the variety of authentic Negri Sembilan and Padang food. The dishes are priced between RM1.50 and RM6 per serving. The price is based on the choice of food but it seldom runs past RM10 for a three-dish meal. And, there are about 30 varieties of meats and vegetables arranged on the counter and served in individual plates alongside steamed white rice.

“The cuisine is often marked by the generous use of fresh, fiery birds eye chilli and different spices for each dish,” said Khalkani. Salero serves two types of sambal - Tanak Lado, which is a blend of green chillies with crispy ikan bilis and coconut water, and the other, which is made of freshly pounded red chillies.

With such variety in the dishes, house specialities are far from few. Khalkani said the Dendeng, Ayam Kampung Goreng with Bumbu, Telur Itik Gulai and Ayam Kalio can hardly be removed from the menu. Dendeng, is a type of beef cut into thin strips and fried till crisp with a texture similar to a meaty biscuit.

The Telur Itik Gulai, is a favourite among Negeri Sembilan families while Ayam Kalio is a curry dish. For the more adventurous foodie, Khalkani suggests trying out the Otak Lembu, which has cow's brain cooked in a coconut-based gravy.

The restaurant remains unadorned and its simplicity and down-to-earth home-cooked food lures a steady stream of diners every day.

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Restoran Salero Negori
4, Jalan SS5B/2, Kelana Jaya,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel No: 03-78774437

Cuisine: Padang
Rating: Food = C+ / C

Rating System:
A = Recommended
B = Worth A Visit
C = Average
D = Below Average
E = Waste Of "Hard-Earned" Money. Seriously, I'm Not Kidding!