Zaini Satay & Om Burger @ Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

How I wish weekends could be just dedicated to food quests like this impromptu Ampang one. I had read on Goreng about Majid Satay's legacy being past down to his grandson Zaini. For the uninitiated, Majid Satay was THE satay of those good ole days. Just ask your parents and they'll remember this iconic satay man at Campbell Road, when that was the place everyone hung out at.
        Zaini's Satay is located at the same stretch with the famous Naan Corner. In recent years, I admit the Naan Corner is no longer a favourite place for me as I find their roti bom and curries a bit overpriced even though you dine with style under chandeliers.
        There's two satay stalls here but zoom in on Zaini's which usually has a long queue of people waiting. We're too late for the perut (intestine) satays so we make do with the beef and chicken satay. I also ordered the chicken liver satay to appease my cravings for some spare parts. Love the beef satay as it was juicy, smoky and tender. Seems they only use beef tenderloin. The chicken satay has less fatty bits (a plus point with someone who hates chicken skin!) but is quite juicy. I love their peanut sauce, not overly spiced with chillies like the other places but still creamy with the crushed fried peanuts. The chicken liver satay was generously skewered with the liver and gizzards. Sometimes other stalls tend to undercook these kind of satays but Zaini's get theirs cooked right with a nice crusty exterior and soft centers. Really lovely and chunky satays.
          Best of all I reckon is you also get to eat the super sloppy OM burger since it is right next door to the Naan Corner. We tried their OM hotdog that night and it was incredibly sloppy (no way this is for date night) but incredibly delicious with a black pepper sauce mingling with the egg. The burger stall also started selling a new version called the oblong burger that seemed quite popular.
         We both thoroughly enjoyed our late dinner that night. A little far but still completely worth the long drive to sample the best of both worlds: sloppiness you want to sink your mouth into and juicy large sticks of satay with creamy peanut sauce. So break away from the ho-hum of life and make a date with this place soon.


Zaini's Satay
At the stalls next to Naan Corner
Jalan Kerja Air Lama
Ampang


Tel: 013-369 3934


(Halal. Place opens from 6pm onwards to 12am. Call to check if open as it can close if they are catering for a function. OM burger is directly opposite and in front of the 7-11. For more pictures, see my Zaini's Satay flickr set and the OM burger flickr set. )


*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.