I am in a WhatsApp group of Liverpool fans, with the majority hailing from Johor.
Besides football, another hot topic is food, especially from the southern Malaysian state.
We consistently argue over which state has the best food. I steadfastly say, in no particular order, that it is Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Melaka. The others insist Johor is No. 1.
And one of the eating habits often discussed is how folks from Muar – a town about 166km from the state capital of Johor Bahru – love having satay for breakfast.
Although I am a satay lover, I never considered having it for breakfast – until I stumbled upon Sate 7 Pagi in Taman Sri Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
I had sent my sister for her regular check-up at Serdang Hospital, and having some time to kill, I Googled for places to eat.
As the name implies, it opens at 7am and serves satay, lontong, kacang pool, and other Johorean delights.
It also has nasi lemak, mee hoon, mee, kuih-muih such as kuih koci, kuih kasui, talam, kek gula hangus, and a host of other food to please any foodie.
Among my favourite smells is that of cooked meat. That is what hits you as soon as you open your car door. The aroma from the ‘chefs’ preparing the juicy satay is heavenly.
The three times I have been there, I took a packet of nasi lemak (RM3.50) and five sticks of beef tenderloin satay (RM8.50).
A plate of nasi lemak is RM2.50, and you can add a fried egg for RM1.80.
The satay is marinated perfectly with a special homemade marinade for 12 hours and melts in your mouth. My only complaint is that they should serve more of the peanut gravy or kuah kacang (full disclosure, I love kuah kacang, so the more of it I can get, the happier I am).
The restaurant charges RM3 for an extra plate of gravy (boo!).
When my wife joined me for breakfast last month, she had the lontong (RM8.90) – with the sambal on the side. She gave it two thumbs up but could not finish the meal as the portion was huge. She tried the satay and agreed it was one of the best we’ve ever had.
Although I have taken the nasi lemak each time, it struggles to break into my top five nasi lemak.
I like my nasi lemak to be a little on the spicier side but with a sweet twist. This nasi lemak has that combination but needs a bit more heat. Add some of the kuah kacang to the rice for an extra kick.
My wife tapau-ed some kuih for a meeting later in the day, and her colleagues gobbled them up. They were blown away by all of the cakes, especially the apam gula hangus cheese!
A former colleague, who hails from Muar, swears by Kopi 434, and yes, you can get it here, too. I tried it extra kaw – twice hot and once with ice – and could not get enough of it.
There is also a corner to take your Instagram-worthy pictures. Best of all, parking is a breeze in the morning!
I shared the location of Sate 7 Pagi with my Liverpool pals. They told me they had visited the place more than once!
Their verdict? Everything served there is as good as in Muar.
So, do not just take my word for it. ‘Orang Johor’ also endorse the food.
Sate 7 Pagi
Address: 3244 Jalan 18/37, Taman Sri Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Tel.: +6012-211 9490
Operating hours: Wednesday-Sunday (7am-2.30pm), Mondays (7am-11.30am)
Closed on Tuesdays
