KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Sometimes, doom-scrolling deep into the wee hours of the morning yields a pleasant surprise.

Much like mindlessly going through endless Netflix titles and stumbling on a gem, I was put on to Jeda Cafe when I saw at least four or five friends post about the cosy little TTDI establishment.

Located on the first floor, the quiet yet inviting space is a welcome intermission from working life, with food to match.

While their sign and Instagram bio mention Nashville hot chicken, the last I saw of it on their social media was in 2020 and there’s no indication of plans to bring it back.

However, their weekday lunch sets feature a host of rice bowls, with some taking on a decidedly Indonesian twist.

What’s The Mattah? (RM16.50) is a fried chicken fillet with Balinese sambal matah on "jeda rice”, which is filled with shredded kaffir lime leaves, torch ginger flower (bunga kantan) and crispy shallots.

Having tried sambal matah on a trip to Bali years ago, I was filled with anticipation for this and I’m happy to say it does not disappoint.

Unlike most sambal that we might be used to here, raw shallots, cili padi and herbs are the building blocks in constructing a spicy, slightly sweet yet refreshing sambal.

It’s perfect for people who enjoy some heat but are otherwise unable to take flaming hot spices, and is a match made in heaven with crispy and juicy fried chicken.

I added a fried egg (RM2) just because I think runny yolks over rice are one of life’s greatest and simplest pleasures. Washed down with a glass of iced tea that’s reminiscent of teh botol Sosro, I could eat this for lunch every day.

For those looking for something with a little more kick, Ayam Kau Hijau (RM16.50) is a good bet. Instead of sambal matah, it’s topped with sambal cabe ijo, which is a green chilli sambal.

It’s definitely packing more in the spice department, but still retains a floral fragrance that isn’t found in red chillies.

The menu is really helpful in indicating the spice levels of these dishes: What’s The Mattah? clocks in at level 2 whereas Ayam Kau Hijau is a level above.

Unsurprisingly, the Ayam Geprek Jeda is listed as the spiciest item on the menu. A sense of self-preservation kicked in and I decided it would have to wait for another visit.

The eggplant balado (RM6) is more than complementary as a side. Meltingly tender and topped with a warming sambal that won’t take your head off, I think it’s the perfect addition to complete the meal.

For Ramadan, there is a choice of chicken or the special of the week for your main meal. This will be served with the vegetable of the day as well as a side dish and a special addition of telur dadar Minang. All this comes with free flow sirap ais and dessert, though it is for dine-in only.

Jeda Cafe and Diner

24A, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Ramadan hours: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday, 12pm-4pm, 6pm-9pm. Closed on Wednesday and Sunday.

Tel: 03-7732 1608

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeda.cafe/

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