Station kaklong kawasan — Restaurant in Negeri Sembilan

HANDS DOWN, the BEST restaurant I visited in the entire area! 😍

I was staying in PD with my husband’s family and needed to find a good spot to tapau lunch, especially since my in-laws were arriving that afternoon. We wanted to treat them to something really nice. I did a quick search on Waze, and this restaurant popped up nearby, so I told my husband to head straight there.

We arrived around 11:30 AM, and a few customers were already lining up. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful from the moment I stepped in until I left, which made the whole experience even better 💜

When I saw the dishes, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything looked mouthwateringly delicious and truly authentic Negeri Sembilan cuisine! Yes, the prices were slightly on the higher side, but totally justified—and thankfully, they accepted card (and also QR) payments.

There’s also a free parking space right at the side, and it was quite spacious. Major bonus 🙌

Now, for the food review:

🍖 Daging Salai – Beautifully smoked meat with rich, flavorful kuah. I just wish it was a bit spicier (personal preference), but still a strong 9.5/10.

🐟 Asam Pedas Pari – The kuah was nice and tangy, but the fish wasn’t very fresh. My least favorite of the bunch. 6/10.

🥘 Siput Sedut – YOU MUST ORDER THIS. Absolute star of the restaurant. We even tried this dish elsewhere later, and it didn’t come close. 15/10, no kidding 👍

🌶️ Sambal Belacan – Not bad, but lacked that punchy balance I was hoping for. If they nailed this, it could've elevated all the dishes. 6/10.

🍛 Tempoyak Gesek – EVERYONE WAS OBSESSED WITH THIS SIDE DISH. I regret only getting 3 packs—I should’ve bought 10. 15/10, a total must-have.

🍗 Ayam Goreng – Nothing super wonderful. I wish it was more crunchy. 7/10.

My father-in-law is a super picky eater, but because of the Tempoyak Gesek and Siput Sedut, he refilled his plate FOUR times! 😂 Thank goodness I bought enough rice for everyone.

Wishing them all the success they deserve. I’ll 100% come back here if I’m ever...

The restaurant is very crowded during school holidays and weekends. My family visited during a school holiday, and parking was quite limited. Be cautious about parking near the restaurant, as some spots require a RM 5 entry fee.

The dining experience here is self-service, where you need to use a tray to pick up your food. Finding a table can be challenging due to the crowd, and you’ll need to queue. However, I recommend not leaving your child alone at the table while picking up food. I had an unpleasant experience when someone switched tables with mine because they saw only my daughter seated there. We had initially secured a table under a fan, but they swapped it with a table in a spot without a fan.

The restaurant gets very hot and uncomfortable during lunchtime, especially with so many people around. Luckily, I found another an empty table near a fan after returning with our food, and we moved again to avoid sitting in the heat.

For our meal, we chose Tunjang Masak Lemak, Daging Salai Masak Lemak, and Siput Sedut Masak Lemak. The Tunjang and Daging Salai were delicious, reminiscent of authentic Negeri Sembilan cooking. However, the Siput Sedut had a smoky flavor that I didn’t enjoy as much.

All drinks are priced the same, regardless of the type. The food is slightly pricey for the small portions, but the price tags are clearly displayed, so you’ll know the cost beforehand.

The service could be improved. You need to find your own table most of the time, and the staff must be asked to clean up leftover food from previous customers.

Overall, I would rate the food at this...

Every time I’m in Port Dickson, there’s one pit stop that’s non-negotiable: Station Kak Long Kawasan. But here’s the thing – makan kat situ? Rare. Not because I don’t want to, but because it’s always full. That’s how you know a place is legit. Locals? Check. Out-of-towners? Check. Everybody’s queuing. So what do I do? Tapau, of course. And the dish I never skip is the Masak Lemak Cili Api, especially with Udang Galah. Creamy, spicy, lemak enough to make you close your eyes and go mmmmm...drooolll... If you’ve never tried Negeri Sembilan’s iconic dish before, this is the place to start. tapi jap...let me drop you a serious food tip: 👉 Tempoyak Daun Kayu. This one’s not just food, it’s culture. A Pahang-style dish, rich with tempoyak (fermented dorian), mixed greens, and herbs that’ll hit your tastebuds with an explosion of earthy, tangy, umami goodness. Sounds intense? It is. But trust me. SubhanAllah...sedap gila. Kalau kau adventurous and you want a taste of real, rustic Malaysian cooking, this is the dish to try. And here’s my perfect combo. Aku tapau everything, head to the beach, and makan sambil tengok laut. The contrast of that creamy, spicy food against the sea breeze? Next-level experience. Pure Malaysian soul food with a view.

Final Thoughts; If you ever find yourself in PD and you’re hungry for something real, something authentic, Station Kak Long is where it’s at. Just go early. Or be like me, tapau and picnic like a local. Either...