Nasi Ganja Ipoh ( Nasi Kandar ayam Merah) — Restaurant in Perak

We reached here around 3pm on Saturday. The restaurant was crowded with a long queue for take away. And the shop itself was also packed with diners.

We have no idea how to order since this is our 1st visit to this eatery. To dine in, we were asked to find a sitting table and then some one will attend to us.

The nasi kandar seller took our order after seated for a short period of time. We wanted to order 2 nasi with different protein & vege topping. However, the staff walk away once we mention “2” and order 2 nasi kandar biasa for us at the serving counter. Yes, we hv no idea what are in the menu.

For standard set, it comes with rice+ayam merah + 1pc lady finger + few pcs of cucumbers and half the salted egg, then topped with some mix gravy.

1st impression, emmm…look plain and not appetising, small portion of foods and seem dry with scanty gravy (we used to gravy banjir for Nasi Kandar served in Penang & Kedah).

Once dig in hv our 1st spoonful, it was like “wow”, this is no play play!! Saying from a nasi kandar, nasi minyak & nasi dalca fans!!

The ayam merah is slightly cruchy on the outside, juicy from the inside. And it is just well seasoned. Not over empowering. One of the best ayam merah ever had!! Love the texture and flavour.

The mixed gravy flavour taste similar to Kedah style nasi kandar, more to curry powder flavour. Comparing to Kedah side, this gravy has stronger spices which I enjoy it more. However, it is very spicy to my acceptance. Even my hubby from the North whom take chilies padi like snack also found it pretty hot & spicy. Between, the gravy was not scanty at all, it was more than enough. The gravy is dense, hence it does not present the banjir effect.

We added lady fingers and daging cincang which comes with respective different gravy. We realise that each gravy hv a distinct flavour, yum!! Unlike most nasi kandar, the curry gravy for different protein have the similar taste & flavour.

I hv to tell you this, the daging cincang is really good!!!! The meat was so flavourful and tender. Must try!!

Overall the portion was sufficient and very filling.

Service wise, seriously not bad given the crowd size.

Will definitely...

Tried this on our recent food hunt in Ipoh. Despite I am from Ipoh, I have not really given this stall a proper opportunity to tickle my taste buds.

In fact, this stall was not even on our food hunt list, as with all the mixed reviews by fellow Local Guides, and reviewers, we were prepared to give this stall a skip, to keep our stomach food quota! However, as it was fated, we past by and there was no crowd. Hence, we stop by and give it a chance.

Got to place the mixed reviews in perspective. The food is actually nice, but not out of this world or fantastic as how some bloggers describe it. If one were to ignore all the hype-up reviews, and savour this rice dish "Nasi Ganja" (as how they are known) of Ipoh, as it is, it is a pretty decent "nasi kandar ayam merah". It is actually an Indian curry rice with chicken.

With 2 pieces of chicken, appetising and not so spicy curry gravy, cucumber, some chutney, hard bolied eggs and a decent amount of rice, at a price of RM6/6.50, what more can one ask for!

Of course, one can add on other stuff such as sotong (cuttle fish), mutton, fish etc. The add on will increase the price accordingly (as per menu). However, if it is just a plain old nasi kandar ayam merah, we feel it is decent and reasonable.

No need to charter a helicopter just to savour it, as reported by the newspaper claiming one of the politician did that. If one have not tried it, by all means try it. Do not let the mixed reviews put you off. If you are in Ipoh, and want some carbo, by all means try it.

Some reviewed that the chicken is dry and hard to bite, we cannot verify that as both the chicken we had, was succulent and tasty.

Verdict: Will we specially return to Ipoh to have it? The answer is NO. However, will we eat it again if we are in Ipoh? Yes, since there are other stuff like fish, sotong and mutton to try out, provided there is no crowd or at least not...

Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah (Nasi Ganja) | Kedai Kopi Yong Suan | Ipoh

Ipoh State pride - Ipoh Horfun, yes, but also Nasi Ganja!

For the unordained; Ganja is the Malay word for Cannabis! However, rest assured there is no illegal substance in the dish la. The term was coined as the proprietor of Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah’s built up a slew of die-hard fans, claiming his cooking is so tasty that it is as addictive as cannabis.

Nasi Ganja, is a very popular northern Malaysian dish, originally invented in Penang (Penangites call it Nasi Kandar). It comprises steamed rice and a variety of different curries and side dishes, all on the same plate.

Operating in a Chinese-owned coffee shop named Kedai Kopi Yong Suan, it is inarguably one of the most popular nasi kandar in Ipoh. Since 1957!

According to the manager of Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah, Mr. Mohamed Nihmatullah Syed Mustaffa, they have been in the business for 61 years when it was first operated by his grandfather, the late Mr. Kassim Mohamad of which a plate of Nasi Ganja then would only cost RM1.20 per plate.

MUST ORDER: signature plate of ‘nasi ganja’ each consisting of a plate of rice complemented by the specially prepared chicken (it takes 8 hours to prepare the chicken), ladies fingers (okra), fried fish, mutton, squid, and …. the secret ingredient… Ganja Sambal which contains coconut & mint that makes it so flavorful!

5 of us with a nasi ganja feast, and a total bill of 147 ringgit. It was so delicious and definitely worth the visit! . . 📍 4, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300...