Kampung Baru - A Treasure Within Kuala Lumpur

Mentioning Kampung Baru by its name alone triggers countless memories to many
Malaysians, especially to those who have stepped foot in it. This is after all, one of the most
historic places entrenched in the heart of Kuala Lumpur that is well and alive, unlike many
other historical places where only scarce remnants of how it was back then can be felt.
The current folks living here have created an impressive lifestyle from the small quaint
village founded back in 1899, mostly thriving from the renowned culinary industry, as
witnessed by the awesome and legendary food stalls and restaurants located in and around
Kampung Baru area. Impressively, the hereditary and historical aspects of Kampung Baru is
still preserved in the classical Malay houses seen in its glorious traditional architecture all
over the neighborhood and the economy of it being right smack in the capital with the growing
potential of property prices makes it to be the sleeping giant of Kuala Lumpur..


History


Initially the village was formed when a group of Malays living in Sungai Gombak and Sungai
Klang had to move to provide space for the development of Kuala Lumpur.

The initial area of Kampung Baru, up 90 hectares is borders Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz to
the north, Dang Wangi Road to the south, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to the west and to
the east is the Klang River. While Kuala Lumpur pursuits growth to become on of Asia’s
modern city Kampung Baru rapidly expanded as some of the projects that are now historical
icons and architectural greats such as the Royal Selangor Club, the Post Office,
Victoria Institution and Sultan Abdul Samad Building in its vicinity.


Early Life In Kampung Baru


Surrounded by the rhythm of modernization as well as various skyscrapers, Kampung Baru
have produced many respected figures who were raised there, such as Tan Sri Aishah Ghani;
Founder of Sapura Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Tan Sri Ir. Shamsuddin Abdul Kadir and AmBank
Group Chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim, who up until now frequents and contributes actively
to the development and well being of Kampung Baru.




Tody, there are over 100 Malay houses in Kampung Baru that still retain their traditional design
s and the designs of the traditional houses differs from one another depending who made it
and back then residents came from all over the Malay Peninsula at that time. For example,
if one looks at the beautiful traditional houses located next to Kampung Hujung Pasir where
the average population comes from Malacca, they feature beautiful stairs leading up to the
house where friends and families like to hangout in the evenings, making the inner house a
more uninterrupted formal place for the family. The traditional houses in Kampung Atas A
and B are also beautiful with its tall pillars, signalling those were built by the more affluent
people.


There is nowhere else in Malaysia such a collection of Malay traditional houses are located
close by to one another in a single area and this is something that many young generation
should be educated of, to learn the history of the early Malay folks, before they disappear
and be long forgotten. This is the lasting legacy of Kampung Baru that should be preserved,
fought for and sustained to last for future generations of Malaysians. For many Malays, this
is where it all began and this is where it will continue to be. To leave Kampung Baru’s fate
to the profiteering rich investors is akin to leaving a part of Malaysia’s important history be
eaten by up by colonisers, a bitter lesson that should not be repeated.



Tourists from all over the world are now making Kampung Baru walk a must- see list in
their list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur. Jalan-Jalan @ Kampung Baru tour is hosted by
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) where  the cultural guided walk with a local guide
will share different aspects of the Kampung Baru, from retelling the history to tasting the great
local delicacy to mingling with the local folks.




Masjid Kampung Baru




Visiting mosques is about something more than religious devotion; it’s a way for Muslims
to connect the local community, to find inner peace and most importantly to connect to God.
Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru has become the focus of Kampung Baru living. Three times
the original building has been demolished and three times it has been rebuilt to suit the
purpose and use of the local community as well to cater to the functions of the Islamic
community in Kuala Lumpur.


The mosque is ____ square meters in size and is able to accommodate, especially during
Friday prayers, approximately 8,000 worshippers at all times. The Mosque of Kampung Baru
Jamek also has different prayer halls for Muslim and Muslimahs where both are fully air
conditioned, an administrative office, a meeting room, a guest room, a management room,
a kitchen room, Imam & Bilal room, and also a library. The mosque is famous for the bubur
lambuk that is served for free during the Ramadhan fasting month. And this mosque, which
have seen everything to be seen in the country’s history, is the epicenter for any gatherings
in the city, where people ask for guidance and safety from Allah before proceeding to rally for
their causes.


The mosque offers halls that can be used for functions such as weddings (akad nikah) and
other religious events (kenduri, tahlil, majlis ilmu).


The Kampung Baru Masjid Jamek Islamic Kids Centre, which facilitates up to 150 pupils
provide 5 classes per session from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. The child care centre, consisting of
Kampung Baru children and kids of people living and working in the area, received many
positive testimonials from parents and surrounding communities and is a sought after place
for city folks to send their kids while they work in the nearby offices.


Food In Kampung Baru


Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak was cited in Sir Richard Olof Winstedt 's 1909 book' The Circumstances of
Malay Life.' Its name in Malay means 'oily, or fatty rice' but in this context it means' rich'
and' creamy;' with its roots in Malay culture and Malay cuisine. The name is taken from
the process of cooking rice with coconut cream (santan) and then the mixture is steamed
The rice is normally cooked with pandan leaves that gives it a distinctive flavour and texture.
Different style of cooking gives different varieties of nasi lemak but the Malaysian variation
typically is served with achovies, sambal, boiled eggs and slices of cucumber.


There are 3 hotspots for Nasi Lemak in Kampung Baru, where all are major players of the
nasi lemak scene in KL. One is Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa, located in Jalan Raja Muda Musa
and the other is the older Nasi Lemak Wanjo (or Mak Wanjo),, just 200 meters apart of each
other. Another nasi lemak spot, CT Garden which packs up a punch is located further ahead
near Kelab Sultan Sulaiman. All are legends on its own term.


Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa
Once, this was THE destination for the best nasi lemak in Malaysia. However, according to
some commenters the quality have dropped from its previous number 1 ranking. Nevertheless,
crowds still throng this place until late at night and most of the time it is fully packed. Nasi
Lemak Antarabangsa started of humbly as a side business for a housewife with 5 kids in late
70s, sending nasi lemak packets to workers who ordered them but as orders rose, she focused
on the nasi lemak and opened a restaurant. The owners boasts of having the rice steamed
thrice and the sambal and many said that the best dish is cockles (kerang).


Nasi Lemak Wanjo Kampung Baru
This restaurant started from scratch as a small nasi lemak stall 55 years ago and is now
one of the top destinations for nasi lemak in the Klang Valley. This place is well loved because
you don't get charged for extra sambal or rice. Sambal is spicy but sweet and the best things
here is the sambal sotong and the crunchy fried chicken!


Nasi Lemak CT Garden


Nasi Lemak CT Garden is no pushover and have its own cult following as compared to the
other 2 places. Located beside Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, this evening until late eatery provides
a beautiful view of the KLCC Twin Towers while eating nasi lemak, maybe a plus point
compared to the other pervious 2. CT Garden offers up plenty of nasi lemak bungkus that
is cheap and a wide array of lauk to go together. Unlike the other 2, the nasi lemak is wrapped
and self serviced. Come early to get a good spot.




Tomyam




Tomyam / Seafood
Tomyam originated in Thailand where the words "tom yam" come from two Thai words.
Tom refers to boiling, while yam refers to a Thai salad that is spicy and sour. Tom yam
stalls first appeared around the end of the 1970s and early 1980s in Peninsular Malaysia.
Contrary to local Malay food, the food is essentially Thai and somewhat similar to Kelantan
cuisine. Generally a tomyam restaurant will have a generic menu known to most Malaysians
as below:
Tom yam (the soup, can be either of beef, chicken or meat)
Nasi paprik
Nasi goreng Kampung (village fried rice)
Nasi goreng Cina (Chinese fried rice, which is not spicy as in Chinese food)
Nasi goreng Kampung (Spicy, usually with prawn paste or belacan)
Nasi goreng USA (Fried rice with shrimp(Udang), squid(Sotong) and chicken(Ayam) )
Nasi masak merah (cooked red rice)
Nasi pattaya (Pattaya style fried rice)
Telur bistik
Kailan Ikan Masin (kailan vegetable with salty fish)
noodles (choice of mee, bihun, kuetiau) in different styles of making:
fried (goreng), soup, adding chicken (ayam), beef (daging), seafood, or mixed (campur)
Seafood ones also offer fried fish and other seafood in various treatments of cooking
Sayur campur (mixed vegetables)
Ikan pedas (spicy fish)

Rosdet Tomyam
By Google ranking also word of mouth, Rosdet Tomyam, nearby the Chow Kit Market wins
by a big margin over other tomyam/ seafood eateries in Kampung Baru. There are even
stories that some are willing to come to KL to have a taste of the red tomyam, stay in a hotel
(most probably Hotel International Kuala Lumpur , right beside it) , eat at Rosdet tomyam and then go
back home the next day. It’s that good!  A must try here is Ikan Siakap Masak Rosdet, Ikan
Siakap Kerabu Mangga and its signature dessert, pulut mangga. Very few complains of poor
service here and it has its own surau and clean toilet so it's a good place to bring the whole
family for a wholesome eating experience.








Sukhumvit Restaurant
If authenticity of food is high on your priority list of North Thailand food is your taste then
say no more, Sukhumvit Restaurant Kampung Baru is the place for you to experience it.
Named after a district in Thailand, this place saves you a flight ticket there where even the
waiters/waitresses greets you in traditional Thai language.
Try MIang Kham for starters, something most restaurants don’t have, which is great to
kickstart your appetite.The Three Palace Fish or the Ikan Goreng Serai are 2 delicacies
favoured by most who frequent here. Tucked in a corner at Jalan Hamzah, this restaurant
gives you a nice view at night of the KLCC Twin Towers.
Suraya Seafood
Suraya seafood at Jalan Raja Alang still ranks high for its array of menu which are not the usual for
tomyam/seafood restaurants, especially kerabu and all kinds of kerabu are available here even kerabu
maggie! Usually full once its open in the evening, many come here for the seafood galore it offers such
as kerang rebus and kerabu sotong.




Restoran D' Lala Seafood
Located by the side of the main road of Kg Baru at Jalan Raja Abdullah D’lala seafood is famous for its
delivery of fish cooked in different varieties, which many swear is authentic as those from Thailand.
It is also known for its assortment of desserts: pulut durian, mango sticky rice and red rubies.





Juara Tomyam Kampung Baru
This restaurant started off more than 20 years ago and is still at the same spot at
Jalan Puan off Jalan Raja Uda. The restaurant has its own strong following from its long stay at
the area and many people who frequent this places swears by its taste, which they deem to be the
best tomyam in Kampung Baru, or “juara” in Malay, meaning champion. It serves siakap goren 3 rasa,
one of the most famous food to order at this place.




Tomyam 3000
Tomyam 3000, at Jalan Raja Alang is a place frequented by many who prefer a Kelantanese twist to
the tomyam as its menu caters to the East coast tastebuds. You can find laksam, nasi dagang here,
dishes not found at many places nowadays.


Restoran Hasan Tomyam Seafood


Hasan Tomyam at Jalan Raja Abdullah,




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