Sloppy Joe's

If you happen to be out partying in KL and come back to an empty stomach, why not stop over in Ampang for Malaysia's very own "Sloppy Joe's". A termed which me and my cousin use to describe this unique and particular burger stall in the fringes of KL.  Sloppy Joe's in the States means a burger made out of minced meat and tomatoes and stuff.  The term Sloppy Joes is that when you eat it, the meat and all other goodness just escapes through your fingers as you hold the buns together to take a bite.

In Malaysia and in Kuala Lumpur, I have discovered this particular place, and ONLY this place has Malaysia's very own, Sloppy Joes.

The Stall
The stall is located in front of 7-Eleven in Ampang Jaya, as with any other burger stalls scattered around KL and PJ, and Subang, and Shah Alam, and Klang...etc etc etc.  Ok, basically you can almost find a burger stall, infront of ANY 7-Eleven and that's a fact ok.  This particular burger stall only opens after 9.30pm every night.  If you come early, you will see another burger stall a mere 5 metres away but thats not the right one.  This stall owned by this 'Wak', only starts selling burgers after 10pm.  This is because he comes in at 9.30, sets up his stall and starts cooking his burgers and hot dogs in the dark.  He doesn't switch on his stall lights until after he is ready to sell.

Once his stall lights are on, and you hear the oh to familiar Malay+Hindi music on god-knows-what-radio-channel, then you know he's in business.

The Food

What makes his burger so different from the rest of the other burger stalls?  If you can see from the picture, first, he cooks ALL the hot dogs and burgers.  If you go during the weekend, you will see stacks of chicken, beef burgers and hot dogs, all cooked.  This reduces the waiting time if you want a burger or a hot dog as it is sort of 'pre cooked'.  Now the speciality there is to ask for his 'Burger Special with Cheese' or if you have just come back from a rugby game in the middle of the night or just plundered a small village as part of your hobby and you're hungry like Vikings, then ask for his 'Double Special Burger with Cheese'.  Special burger means that the burger is wrapped in friend egg. I will personally guarantee that you will never forget this burger stall.  Unlike any other burger stall, this 'Wak' which means Uncle in Javanese language, has no respect for tidyness in his cooking, and that is what makes it great.  He cooks is just the way he wants it.  There is no recipe, there is no timing and there is disregard for all the laws in cooking a burger.  This is your original sloppy joe's burger.  None of those nicely tidy egg wrapped around your burger.  He just cracks the egg over the flat pan, whisks it around in the greasy oil and you can hear the egg cracking and popping as it gets cooked.  Drops a piece of Cheddar cheese on top of the cooking fried egg, tops it with a burger, a dash of Lea and Perrins sauce and a squeeze of mustard on top.  Messily wraps the fried egg with the melted cheese around the burger and quickly lifts it off the pan and onto the bed of burger bun, stacked with coleslaw, mayonaise and if you like a dash of HP sauce which he calls 'engine oil'.  After the burger is on top of it, he squeezes some tomato or chili sauce and wraps is all out.  Now you won't believe it, but all that melted cheese, mustard, fried egg, chili sauce, mayonaise and oil mixes into this oozing gooey stuff which is just orgasmic.  Check out this video below:

Now when thats done, you wouldn't know which way is up and you'd be cursing at how to eat the burger as its just so messy and the whole burger would be oozing stuff and you may find it very hard to get a mouthful of it without messing your mouth or your cheeks. If you're having the 'Doube Special Cheese' where you have 2 pieces of burger in that sandwich, just squeezing the buns together will definitely slip all the gooey, cheesy greasy goodness out the other end.  Most people would start off by licking the plastic as its just too gooey and the cheese and other stuff is just oozing out of the burger. Its the only burger that has gravy into it, imagine that.  One thing for sure, its hell of a lot cheaper than that McDonalds just a few hundred meters down the road and its 200% tastier than that.  This Sloppy Joes is one of those things which you must have at least once a month, or twice a months if you've just started it.

The Location
Again, the food is useless if you don't know how to get there.  You can approach this place both ways.  If you are from the KL City Centre, take the Jalan Ampang, right up just before Ampang Point.  If you know where Suzi's Corner is, its so much easier because you just head towards Ampang Jaya and when you passed the ISKL (International School Kuala Lumpur), its just beside it.  Ok that doesn't make much sense if you still don't know where it is.  From Jalan Ampang, take a left before you hit the flyover to Ampang Point.  At that left corner is Suzi's Corner.  Go straight but keep to your right after that left turn at Suzi's and you will be under the MRR2 flyover.  Turn right at the lights underneath the flyover and proceed straight.  You will pass a huge Petronas station with McDonalds on your right.  Keep going straight.  On your left would be International School Kuala Lumpur.  Keep left and slow down as the junction into that area is unseen.  You will see 7-Eleven signboard and turn left.  There you are.  If you are there early, wait for that guy to start his business.  If you are terribly hungry, may I suggest, Zaini's Satay which is located across 7-Eleven.  That satay is really good, but thats another review.  Until then, just to whet your appetite, check out another video.  This will really make up your mind to go there ASAP.  Quote of that night "Dude, have you ever looked at your food and swear".  Well with sloppy joes burger in Ampang Jaya, you will definitely do that.  Hope you had a pleasant read.

The coupe de gras video