Beggar's chicken

Malaysian Food

Yes! This the restaurant I want to re-visit. The food : the famed beggar's chicken from Kuala Selangor.

Some 10 years ago, I remember taking 5 hours in total to finish my Sunday lunch - 3 hours driving to and fro the restaurant, and 1 hour to wait for the food (we were early, in case we lost our way), and another 1 hour to finish the food. I can still visualise the place and the food as though it happened just recently. I lost the contact no. and so has my friend who introduced the place to me some 10 years ago. Now I will make my reservation soon!

Here's why you should pick up the phone and place your reservation in advance:

New Beggar's Delicious Restaurant
Jalan Harmoni 2
Ijok, Selangor
Tel: 603-3279 1936 or 019-317 3687

1. It opens for business 3 days a week only : Wed, Sat and Sunday (and public holiday)
2. Opens 5pm - 10 pm (but I remember going for lunch!)
3. Minimum order is for 10 pax, (even if you have less than 10, you pay for 10). Yes, we had to make up the numbers then also.
4. The standard set of 10 dishes costs Rm 298.00.
5. Oven capacity is for 200 tables.

Beggar's chicken is a delicious, mouth watering meal of chicken-stuffed-with-herbs-and-wrapped-in-aluminium-foil-then-covered-with-clay-before-burying-under-charcoal and-ash to be baked for 6 hours. The herbs are good for improving blood circulation and body qi.

I remember the oven to be made of bricks and dome-shaped (will confirm once I get there), and I remember seeing the workers using the wheel-barrow to get the cooked chickens to the main eating place. Once its cooled sufficiently, the clay is cracked open, and the chicken is ready to be served.

What's in the set meal?
1.Baked beggar's chicken
2.Baked Pork shoulder with yam and mushrooms
3.Baked Duck stuffed with Chinese mushrooms
4.Glutinous Rice,
5.Pig stomach soup
6.Prawn dish
7.Fish dish (they had de-boned-Tenggiri fish, and fried with skin intact. Wonder if they still has it)
8.Crabs
9.vegetable
10.Fruits for dessert

Total damage - mere Rm 298.00 (can't remember how much was the damage 10 years ago)

I remember we did not have any dinner that day, because the glutinous rice is very filling for the stomach.

Thanks to the food columnist at The Star for featuring this restaurant.

I was told by another friend that there is another restaurant somewhere in KL that serves similarly cooked chicken. Will check out the place also