Since moving out of the family home last year, weekend brunches with the fam have become a weekly ritual, where we catch up with each other over good food. We try to look for places around Puchong, since it’s more convenient for everyone – and that’s how we came across Rasadulu Cafe, a charming spot tucked away in Pusat Bandar Puchong that serves authentic Melaka – Nyonya cuisine.

The cafe is located along a quiet, tree-lined road with single-storey shoplots that house a mix of eateries and car repair workshops. It can be easy to miss since the shopfront has frosted glass for privacy, so keep your eyes peeled!

We were there around 12.15pm on a Saturday and there was a queue waiting to be seated. You can browse the menu and write down your orders on a chit, and once a table becomes free, the server will usher you in.

The dining area is cosy and seats about 20 to 25. The interior is simple, with colourful stools and a wooden counter decorated with Peranakan-inspired tiles and a chalkboard menu.

Speaking of the menu, some of the specialities here include the Nasi Dulang (rice served with a variety of side dishes including meat and vegetables), Mee Rebus, and the cheekily named Mee Bodoh (a Melaka dish of fried yellow noodles which literally translates to ‘Stupid Noodles’).

Kicking things off with a bit of spice with the Rojak, featuring bite-sized chunks of cucumber, pineapple, and jicama, sprinkled with a liberal dose of crushed peanuts and bound together with a gooey sweet and spicy sauce. I’m not usually a big fan of rojak, but this had the perfect consistency and balance of flavours, making it a refreshing treat.

Also to share, a plate of cucur udang (prawn fritters). These were freshly fried, airy and soft in the middle but crispy on the outside, and not greasy at all.

Moving on to the mains, the Moomins had their signature Ayam Pongteh, served in a claypot and paired with rice, acar (pickled veggies), and sambal. Portions are very generous, and it may even be enough for two if you’re a small eater.

Ayam Pongteh is a classic Nyonya dish, comprising chicken and potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and sweet taucu (fermented soy beans), which gives the dish its distinct sweet-and-savoury taste. I’d give the version here a 9/10 – the chicken meat was tender, potatoes were soft, and the sauce was a real ‘rice puller’ as we say in Chinese, ie you can polish off bowls of rice with it.

N had the Mee Rebus, which are yellow noodles in a spicy gravy, topped with tofu slices, fried prawn fritters, and boiled egg.

N and I had a go-to spot for this dish back when we still stayed in Puchong, so we couldn’t help but draw comparisons to our regular spot. Rasadulu’s version, for me, was tasty – but I think it tasted more like a mild curry in comparison to the Mee Rebus I’m used to. We also wished the portion was larger, as N was still hungry afterwards and had to grab a burger. But overall I’d give this a 7/10.

The self-proclaimed fried rice connoisseur aka the Bro had fried rice. Didn’t taste this but he said it was good with balanced seasoning and plenty of wok hei.

As for myself, I went with the Kari Ayam Kapitan – an order that did not disappoint! The curry sauce was the perfect combination of savoury, spicy, and sweet, with the turmeric, chilli, garlic, tamarind, and other spices coming together harmoniously. The consistency was somewhere between the creamy thickness of rendang and a more liquidy curry.

Finally to wash everything down, a refreshing, ice-cold bowl of cendol, topped with pandan cendol, red beans, and drizzled over with sweet coconut milk and gula melaka.

Overall we really enjoyed the food at Rasadulu. Unlike some places that are heavy handed with the salt, sugar, and seasonings, everything we tried here was perfectly balanced in flavour and tasted like authentic Nyonya food – something you would eat at a friend’s home.

Come early on the weekends, as by the time we left around 1-ish there was a long queue waiting outside the cafe. Expect to pay about RM20+ for main dishes.

RASADULU CAFE

36, Jalan Bandar 13, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 11AM – 9PM (daily)

Phone: 013-305 5333

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PS2: All food expenses are out of my own pocket unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses in any way.