Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar — Restaurant in George Town

Ayam Bawang Special (Saucy Red Chicken) = RM9.30 Sayur Mix (Mixed Vegetables) = RM3.00 Bendi Rebus (Okra / Lady Finger) = RM0.50 Nasi Kurang (Less Rice) Kuah Banjir (All Sauce Flood)

Total = RM15.50 6% SST Tax = RM0.93 Final Rounded Up Cost = RM16.45

Local Grab Drivers that I spoke with feel this Penang Kayu is not bad although it is considered one of the Expensive Nasi Kandars in Penang.

This was a Very Impressive Whole Big Dedicated Building with alot of Seatings. Its Open Air, not Air-Conditioned but was quite Cooling and Breezy. Thankfully Not Crowded and there were no queues when I was there at 5.30pm on a Tuesday Evening. The Staffs are Friendly and they keep to themselves.

The Most Unique Aspect of this Dish I feel, is the "Kuah Banjir" where you can choose any or all types of Curry Sauces to Flood your Whole Plate. Indian Curry itself is already Very Rich and Complex in Taste. Now just imagine Multiple Different Curries and Sauces all Lum and Mixed together. Rich and Complex upon Complex! Do note though, the Sauces are not Free of Charge. I've always thought its Free to Lum.

Rest of the Ingredients

There is a Grainy Condiment on the Rice which is a Deep Fried Roasted Chilli and Spice Mix. It is Complex and Intensely Salty with a Higher than Level Spicy Bite.

Ayam Bawang means "Onion Chicken". I feel this taste similar to Ayam Masak Merah. They look similar and taste similar too. Its Mildly Spicy, Very Saucy with a Sweetish Taste. What i like is that the Chicken is Tender enough for you to use a Spoon to tear apart. That said, I dun really find this very different from Ayam Masak Merah. If you have eaten such Malay-Styled Red Saucy Chicken before, you will know how this taste.

Sayur Mix is just a Mix of Broccoli and Cauliflower that I think is Coloured and Flavoured with abit of Yellow Turmeric. Tasted Cold, abit Nua Nua. They acted as a Palette Cleanser in the Dish.

Okra/Lady Finger or "Bendi" is something I always see people add when i see Videos of People eating Nasi Kandar. I even asked a few Grab Drivers why people choose Bendi, and the Universal Reply is "They dont know" or its just "Tradition."

Personally i feel it is just another Palette Cleanser. Its Soft and Veggie Taste perhaps helps temper too much of the Nasi Kuah Banjir and the Nua Nua nature give it a Different Texture? But thats just my Guess. Nothing really special about this, it tastes just like a Normal Okra actually.

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

I feel the Soul of Nasi Kandar is really the Kuah Banjir. We all know Indian Curries are already Superbly Spiced and Flavourful. And to mix many types of them together is only a Good Thing, never a Bad Thing.

At RM16.45 (S$5.00) for only 1 Piece of Chicken on my plate, I have to agree that it is not Cheap to eat Nasi Kandar at this Place. If I were to choose another Meat or more Premium Ingredients, who knows how high the price can reach? I reckon this is probably Agar Agar the Price Range that you are expected to pay when eating Nasi Kandar.

One thing though, while this Place and Staffs were not Unfriendly, i feel its because there were No Queues when I went. If this is your first time eating Nasi Kandar, NEVER go when there is a Queue. I myself was Overwhelmed by the type of Choices of Ingredients. I do appreciate that this place not only list out the names of the dishes, but also the price.

Pro Tip: Before you start ordering, Plan on what u want, so you won't Kalang Kaboh slowly choose in the event when there is a Queue. Also Plan Sensibly and Choose Sensible Ingredients instead of Premium Ones to avoid racking up a Huge Bill.

Having said that, this was a Very Full and Filling Meal. If you are here in Penang I can definitely recommend to give Nasi Kandar a try since this is Penang's Most Famous Dish. The Kuah Banjir (All Sauce Flood) itself is worth the price to try at least once.

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TL;DR, overly hyped Nasi Kandar that overpromises and under delivers Not to mention portions are sad and pricy.

The place is just a mess with an overly large menu and mediocre tasting foods. Food preparation and cooking is done outside, besides the main road. Way to go with the hygiene. Stalls that vary preparing breads to naans and poultry are just side by side.

The nasi kandar section is yet another confusion waiting to strike. No clear indication of where the line starts or ends. How to order or even choose cuts / dishes. And you are just standing in line trying to be at the correct end of it. When it is your turn, the annoyed and overworked server will just give you a black face and serve up with an attitude. With a sizable kitchen, can't then afford to give more of a serving than just a sad scoop?

After that all you have to line up and pay before eating. The payment system here is just screwed. Foods that you order come in a seperate bill, while the Nasi Kandar section has to be paid before consuming? Can't they just streamline the process?

As you're walking back to the seat, you're swamped with these annoying automatons that deliver orders. Within that limited space, how is it possible to navigate your way when the tables and chairs are just packing the entire room? It's alright if you're innovating but why are there still so many servers walking around? It doesn't help with the already congested situation.

Taste of food was just sad. It has no kick, no spice, no aroma, nothing more than overly priced stale food. Drinks were decent. Kopi was definitely creamier than others. When you request for a specific gravy or curry to compliment your food, it takes forever to get someone to attend you and even longer for it to arrive after countless reminders. Service is definitely not their forte. You're better off getting up and get it by yourself.

Payment can be done at the narrow counter with credit cards including American Express and the usual e-wallets. Cash is...

Kayu Nasi Kandar. Need I say more? Previously once a while there will be controversy regarding sky high prices from this Nasi Kandar outlet but I guess it is a thing of a past now. Each dish will be shown the price and you can now add up the amount yourself so no more worry about bill shock!

Having said that, this is definitely one of my favorite nasi kandar outlet around Bayan Lepas area. Love the ayam madu and also the special fried chilli powder. And as usual, I love to mix all the curry and I must say, it gives me the "kick" everytime. So yummy! The fried chicken is a hit and miss, sometimes you get freshly fried and it is so crispy on the outside yet juicy and tender on the inside.

Other favorites including dose (tosai) ghee and I really find it special here as it is really crispy and more aromatic compared to other nasi kandar place. You can also see people ordering roti tisu sometimes and you will get to see a really really big and elongated roti canai served using at least 3 plates arranged in a single row. Heck, come to think of it, possibly this place serves the longest roti tisu in Malaysia!

In short, put aside the bad reputation or controvery about overcharging customers in the past. If you want to be careful, just make sure you ask the price before you order. Don't be put off because of this and I strongly suggest that you give it a try, at worst case you will find it average? As I am confident you won't say it sucks... :)

July 15, 2022 update: I guess due to inflation, the price now is quite ridiculous and the fried chicken portion shrink so much. No longer feel it is worth eating as basically I took 1 piece of ayam madu, peria goreng and telur bawang and it cost me about RM14. Still love the ayam madu though but I guess I will only eat once in a...