It’s the pick of the buffet for the Iftar meal at Nipah in EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur. There’s a stunning variety of dishes, with traditional Malay dishes catching the eye as you navigate the buffet in this Citarasa Nipah.
My first choice is always the kerabu or salads, such as the pucuk paku, kerabu betik muda, terung bakar, done Vietnamese style with nuoc cham dressing, kerabu jantung pisang and kerabu nangka muda, among many others. You can assemble your own ulam, and add on the dips of sambal belacan, budu and tamarind water.
Head out early to the Kambing Golek, on a spit. The lamb is roasted to perfection, moist and juicy, to be eaten with a salad or nasi biryani.
I enjoyed a dish from the Nipah Shell Out (hamparan makanan laut) series – one with prawns, lala, vegetables and salted egg sauce. Shell Out items are about seafood including bamboo clams and crabs, in three signature flavours: kam heong (spicy dried shrimp paste), sweet and sour, and salted egg.
Not to be missed is Lemang Pulut Hitam, with the delicious serunding daging, even the serunding ayam. Kuah Lontong Sayur Lodeh with its mix of vegetables, glass noodles and rice cake in a lightly fragrant turmeric and coconut curry is my favourite too.
You’re overwhelmed with the choices of Gulai Nangka Muda, Daging Dendeng Berlada (smashed beef with chilli paste), Itik Salai Cili Padi, Sambal Tumis Udang, Ketam Masak Cili (with turmeric and coconut milk). Mine would be the nangka curry, daging dendeng berlada and the Itik Salai Cili Padi, the last for the yummy smoked duck. Those who like crabs and prawns would like how they are cooked here.
Nasi Biryani Batu Pahat
Nasi Biryani Batu Pahat always catches the eye here, cooked with spices and garnished with eggs, fried shallots and Chinese celery. There’s also the Kambing Masak Biryani and Biryani Chicken.
The Muhibbah Corner lays out Salted Egg Fried Chicken with Spring Onion, Wok-Fried Black Pepper Beef with Capsicum, Stir-Fry Hong Kong Kailan with Garlic, Fish Head Curry with Okra Vegetables Sambar and Lamb Varuval. The black pepper beef and lamb varuval are so good.
Fresh oysters and smoked salmon may also tickle your fancy at the buffet.
Bak So
Desserts include a variety of cakes, tiramisu, Durian Choux, Cempedak financière, Ciku cheese cake and Sago Gula Melaka, Pandan Panna Cotta with gula Melaka , T Bubur Pengat Pisang, Serawa Durian,Malay kuih and icy desserts like Ais Kacang and cendol.
Citarasa Nipah is from 12 March to 9 April, at RM238+ per adult and RM114+ per child from the age of six to 12.
From 12 to 17 March 2024, and 7 to 9 April 2024, it is priced at RM198+ per adult.
New is the EQ Bazaar on Level 1 of the hotel, offering Malay street food, with Roti John, Bakso, Ayam Golek, sweet treats, finger food and small bites. It is priced at RM148+ per adult and RM74+ per child from 12 to 17 March 2024.
From 18 March to 9 April 2024 it will be RM168+ per adult, and RM84+ per child.