Aunty Aini's

Out in the boondocks way away from 'civilization' lies a small and very quaint 'kampung' style restaurant called Aunty Aini's.  When I first heard of the place and where the location was, I went "Huh?"  Never knew there was a such a restaurant with such a name.  The usual names for such restaurants in that area would normally be called ' Something something Tom Yam ' or ' Restoran XXX Masakan Thai '.  To hold such fancy restaurant name in that area was somewhat peculiar for me and you would know why after I tell you.

My first thoughts of Aunty Aini's, was some way out place in the kampung but with a modern twist.  I mean, just imagine, in the kampung somewhere you have an English name for a restaurant where the community predominantly is filled with Malay folks.  I had the chance to sample some of Aunty Aini's just last week, after our Satria GTi Club's track day session in Sepang International F1 Circuit.  It seemed very logical to have our break of fast there after such a tiring and sweltering day at the track during the fasting month.

The Restaurant

Aunty Aini's restaurant has this laid back feeling of being back in the kampung.  To those who stay in the city and hardly go back to their hometown, one can relate to the kampung ambience where the restaurant is surrounded by trees, chicken and cats roaming freely around the restaurant.  True to the name, Aunty Aini's setup is very rustic and rural.  Guess that is what 'em city slickers would like.  To get away from the normal high flying attitude like restaurant and go back to basics.  A place where they can remember home.  That is why it is called 'Kampung Cafe'.  Aunty Aini's couldn't hold such a large crowd.  Full capacity would prolly be around  80 pax.  There is an area where you sit under the open clouds and another that is sheltered plus a special area, where you sit cross legged around a very low Japanese like table ala kampung style.  So, imagine having your hot rice with authentic kampung dishes served to you on a very low table with you sitting cross legged feasting on such delicacies would just be bliss.  After a heavy meal, sit back and relax and listen to the slow and soft jazz and R&B tunes being belted out the speakers of the restaurant.  Although the restaurant may look small and it is filled with plants and trees and the birds and bees, you can be sure of a place to sit to have your food.  This place would remind you of other restaurants where the location is in town, but they try to have the setting with a kampung mood like Naili's in Ampang and Sentul.

The Food

What is served at Aunty Aini's?  Well thats the special part.  Aunty Aini's speciality is the kampung cooked dishes.  Some of these authentic home cooked dishes would just whet your appetite.  Dishes such as ' Daging Salai Masak Lemak Cili Padi ', ' Ikan Jenahak Asam Pedas ', ' Sambal Tumis Udang ', ' Ayam Kampung Goreng ' would just send some city dwellers making a beeline to the restaurant.  Apart from having authentic kampung styled dishes, Aunty Aini's also belts out local dishes like Tom Yam and other stuff and also Western food.  Yup, when I was there, I saw huge portions of steaks, chicken chops and even pizza being served to patrons.  So if you have a sensitive tongue to the taste of chillies, you can opt for the bland western food.   If chillies are your thang, then to cool you off, Aunty Aini's has an assortment of blended drinks.  I had the Lemonade Freeze and let me tell you, it is guaranteed to wake up the sleepy eyed after a heavy meal and cleanse your pallatte.  Aunty Aini's also has this cute little hut that looks like a bar where they serve ice cream from.  Well sort of your ice cream hut instead of a beach bar.

The Location

Now trying to find Aunty Aini's on your oen may be a little bit hard as it is a little way off from any town.  The restaurant's location is infact, just beside a busy little trunk road that heads towards Salak Tinggi.  I'll try my best to describe to you how to get there.  There are actually 2 ways for you to approach the restaurant.  One way is through the North South PLUS highway where you exit at Nilai town while the other is from KLIA airport.  I'll describe the one from the airport as that was the route that I took to get there.

From KLIA toll heading towards the KLIA airport, take a left towards the Sepang International F1 circuit.  Once you have turned left, you will head towards a roundabout and go straight which is 12 o'clock.  Go straight all the way until you see a traffic light and take a left.  From there proceed straight till you see another traffic light and take another left towards Salak Tinggi and Nilai.  You will see a small traffic light that turns slightly to the left and right.  Take the RIGHT.  Proceed straight and you shall pass several more traffic lights and also a Petronas petrol station.  Aunty Aini's is some  few kilometers on your left after the Petronas petrol station by the side of the road.  I would advise that you travel slowly as Aunty Aini's restaurant is partly hidden and if you travel fast on that trunk road, you will definitely miss it as you would mistake it for another person's house.  Parking is a wee bit hard, so you have to make do by parking by the roadside.  Make sure you are well inside the dirt road and not to park haphazardly as that trunk road is busy with vehicles plying it.

Summary

Aunty Aini's is a great restaurant to get away with that special someone.  It is some sort of a getaway restaurant away from the hustle and bustle of the town.  You can take your time to eat and relax in a nice kampung environment.  I would suggest you bring a few of your close friends, get the area where you sit cross legged on the floor and order your hot steam rice with authentic kampung dishes.  You may even get to share your dishes with the local cat that roams the restaurant to give you an even more authentic kampung feel.  Try it, and I guarantee, it would be a great place to unwind.  Another one of those, 'well kept secret' restaurants.

Hope you had a pleasant read.

All pictures were taken with Samsung SGH-D600 phone

Comments

[nooredayu]

HAI,MR.SAIFUL...
I AYU,JUST WAN'T TO ASK U ABOUT THE RESTAURANT.CAN I HAVE THE PHONE&ADDRESS FOR THIS RESTAURANT,ACTUALLY I'M ONE OF OPERATOR AT MANAGEMENT QUALI FOOD COURT GIANT KELANA JAYA,I INTERSTED WITH THE RESTAURANT MENU AND HOPE U CAN GIVE THE DETAIL'S.TQ.

[Myles]

cool :)