What took me so long?
It’s been quite some time since I last wrote about Lontong, it’s a dish that has always been on my B-list. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why, especially after tasting the Lontong from this remarkable stall! The rich, coconut-infused broth, tender rice cakes, and perfectly balanced spices made me realize it deserves far more attention!
Gem Hidden for 36 years!
This Lontong was recommended to me by my friend Reuben, who said that he would only eat the dish at this particular stall in Aljunied. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the stall has already been around for 36 years! It is run by Cik Maimunah, 67, who started selling her Lontong at the same coffeeshop since 1988 when it was just $1.50.
I had walked past the old coffee shop before but never considered stepping in, as it seemed like a sleepy old place. The coffee shop had recently undergone a major renovation and is now buzzing with activity but Ya Halimm is the only stall that returned.
Lemak Coconut Gravy + Sedap Serunding = Boom!
The light coconut gravy is incredibly addictive, especially when combined with the flavourful serunding, which Cik Maimunah tells me takes three hours to make. It ranks right up there as one of those delicious things that would make you jump over the wall and cut short your fasting regime to eat!
She also mentioned that she still makes all the rempah at the stall the old-school way. Lontong has to be one of the tastiest vegetarian meals you can find locally! And if all Lontong were this good, I’d happily become a flexitarian! 4.5/5
Conclusion
This under-the-radar stall in Aljunied makes a mean Lontong that is well worth a trip to eat! They also serve other things like mee siam and mee rebus which I haven’t tried, AND I was told that Cik Maimunah also makes an excellent epok epok that is usually sold out by 9am!
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