In the world of Malaysian food, it is generally agreed upon that “old is gold”. Many of the best hawkers out there are old uncles and aunties just doing their best to make customers content and happy. There is no better evidence of this than the one stall named Mutiara Binjai.
The tale of two siblings
Located in a Kuala Lumpur food court close to Hospital KL, this stall is run by a pair of siblings, both over the age of 70. The younger of the pair is Pak Idris, who runs the stall while his elder sister Kak Roshi does the cooking.
Their stall in its current form opened in 1995, and they have stayed put here for the past 30 years. Quite an impressive feat, considering Kak Roshi is not a professionally trained chef. All her skills come from experience, and she has that in abundance.
Mutiara Binjai goes viral
If their story sounds familiar to you, chances are that you caught it online. During the pandemic, a video about the difficulties they faced went viral. Netizens came in droves to support the stall afterwards, often leaving tips to support the surprised elderly siblings.
Business nowadays remains brisk, with lots of work to be done for both siblings. The bachelor Idris sometimes gets up as early as 4.45 am to prepare for the day’s work. These days, the stall opens in the late morning to avoid being overwhelmed by orders early on.
Uncle Roger would approve
As you draw closer to their stall, you can quite easily pick up the smell of fried food wafting through the air. Mutiara Binjai is famous for its menu of fried rice, with many different options available.
The most famous of this is the nasi goreng cendawan ayam, which has rice fried with mushrooms and served with chicken in a homemade red gravy (kuah merah). The gravy is apparently oil-free, which is a plus in its favour.
For RM8, you can get a plate of fried rice, topped with an egg, with a side of gravy chicken and soup. It is quite the steal, especially given KL prices. Little wonder then that the stall can run out of food as early as 12 pm.
Taste-wise, Kak Roshi’s rice is simple but genuine. As home-cooked food to lighten up your day, the fried rice and the chewy mushrooms will do the trick. Throw the gravy-soaked chicken into the mix and you have a feast on your plate.
Worth your time?
Overall, there is little reason not to stop by here the next time you are in the area. In addition to enjoying home-cooked food, you will be supporting a hardworking pair of siblings. And from the sounds of it, they aren’t stopping any time soon.
Mutiara Binjai
Address: Gerai No. 16, Medan Selera Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50586 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 11 am – Sold Out
Halal Status: Muslim-owned | Pork-free
You should also check out: This Uncle is so tired of publicity we almost couldn’t review this famous egg fried rice in PJ!
