THE BREAKFAST SESSION AT PONDOK SANTAPAN

Eventually we managed to get breakfast at Pondok Santapan in Larkin. It had been Selera Johor for sarapan all this while, therefore we needed a change. Mr. Ridwan Wahid and his family was on a one night weekend getaway in Johor Bahru and it was customary for us to embark on the gastronomic adventure Johor style. We had dinner the evening before [READ HERE] and we met one more time before they headed home to Shah Alam in the afternoon.

We arrived at about 8:20 a.m. and there were still a few empty tables. What a relief.

We had Mee Kari [Curry Noodles], Soto, Laksa Johor, Lempeng Kelapa [Coconut Pancake] and a variety of "kuihs" [sweet dessert].

By 9:15 a.m, diners arrived in bigger number and a few were standing, looking for empty seats. It was time to leave the dining area to give way for the newly arrived. And I was about to introduce them to the Pasar Tani [Farmer's Market] that Saturday morning.

God willing, I will be seeing them again next week in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor.

THERE IS ALWAYS A SECOND TIME AT KUEH CAFE

   6th DECEMBER 2025    ~ Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, initiated a meet up for tea late in afternoon on my second day in Shah Alam.

She was also accompanied by her husband and son, both who were not strangers to me.

The chosen venue was Kueh Cafe located at Seksyen 13. This was my second time here, and was here for lunch for the first time a few months ago. [READ HERE]

The place was still packed with diners at 5:30 p.m. Many items on the menu were already sold out, even cold drinks were not available as they were out of ice cubes. Hence, Puan Hanna opted for something light like Lempeng, Cucur Udang, Cekodok and Rojak.

I got to thanks Puan Hanna and family for coming over all the way from Taman Tun Dr. Ismail to meet me [and send me back to the hotel after that]. We will sure, god willing, be meeting again soon.

FOOTNOTE: Current news related to this cafe is the owner of Kueh, Mr. E. is now married [was just married last week] to a Malaysian celebrity actress/singer Erra Fazira.

ARRIVING AND HAVING BREAKFAST IN SUNGAI PETANI FOR THE FIRST TIME

   21ST APRIL 2025    ~ I was back in Kedah as I had to attend a national level symposium held by Jabatan Kebajiikan Masyatakat (JKM) [TRANSLATE: Welfare Department]

I took the flight to Penang Internationa Airport and I was lucky to meet Puan Mawar, an officer of the department who was on the same flight. Because of that, I was given a lift to Alor Setar in the department's car. Since we arrived early in the morning, we decided to get breakfast and the driver diverted to Sungai Petani just for that.

The destination for breakfast was Warung Pokok Sawa and the main reason was to get Peknga, known as lempeng in other places [TRANSLATE: pancake] eaten with curry.

This was officially my first time setting foot in Sungai Petani and it was started with a gastronomic adventure. This should be a kind of introduction as I would be going back to the same place again in May to attend a wedding reception.

THE BREAKFAST DATE IN SUNGAI PETANI WITH AN OLD FRIEND [AND HER HUSBAND]

   16th MAY 2025    ~ Puan Zur'aiza Abdul Hamid [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] set a breakfast date on the second day of my stay in Sungai Petani, Kedah. They had to drive all the way from Jeniang just to see me and have breakfast together that Friday morning.

The chosen venue was Cerek [TRANSLATE: kettle] Restaurant. If you scroll down the page, you might find the significance of the name "Cerek".

This place should be popular. When I arrived at 9:30 a.m., all the seats were taken. I had to sit outside first and was only called when there was a vacant place inside. Thank God it did not take that long to secure a place.

I had Peknga, known as "Lempeng" in other places, which was eaten with Gulai Ikan Termenung a.k.a Fish Curry.

Banana Cekodok [fritters]

I also got to befriend with Puan Zuraiza's husband, Mr. Ismail, by then. Food was good and the company of an old friend and her spouse made it much better.

Puan Zur'aiza was kind enough to send me to the groom's mother's house which was that far from the restaurant. She then left but there was another plan right after Friday prayer.

To be continued...

THE FIRST TIME HAVING BREAKFAST AT PONDOK SANTAPAN

The gastronomic adventure of the day began with the breakfast session at Pondok Santapan located in Larkin area. Even though I am a local here, this was actually my very first time coming here. I only got to know of its popularity from an ex-colleague who is now staying in Kuching, Sarawak.

This was the best time as my UPM TESL friend, Puan Sakinah Ismail, and her husband, were in town. They were also suggesting this place for breakfast, which meant they had done their homework much earlier.

We were there at about 8:00 a.m. when the seats were approximately 50 percent occupied.

Nasi Ambeng

Laksa Johor

Lempeng [Coconut Pancake] and
Puri [Indian flat bread but round in shape]

THE VERDICT: All the food was commendable, and we even decided to come back again to this same place tomorrow morning to try other food, to try other food in the menu list.

As we were leaving, more and more people were filling in the seats in the dining area. Where did all these people come from? I thought they should be in the office already.