Chor RZ (Restoran & Katering) - Jalan Bani, Shah Alam

(For those who prefer watching over reading, sit back, relax, and click play on the video above).

Gone are the days of dining in high-end or luxury restaurants for us. We've had more than our fair share of those experiences. Now, it’s about rediscovering traditional eateries that celebrate the essence of Malaysian food pride.

Chor RZ (Restoran & Katering) was actually a recommendation from one of my clients, and to my surprise, I had no idea it even existed - just a five-minute drive from Nava’s Zen.

From the entrance, the setup immediately transports you to a traditional ambiance. The Malay décor is delightful, with dulang (traditional Malay serving trays) adorning the walls and colorful sarongs as tablecloths. 

The dining process is straightforward and organized. Write down your order, hand it over, and your food is freshly prepared and served. A little heads-up: if you order the sets for four or six people, the food is served in a dulang, giving you an authentic experience. Otherwise, for individual orders, it’s served on plates. The menu is flexible, allowing you to mix and match from the options provided.

For my meal, I opted for gulai tempoyak (fermented durian gravy) with fried fish, while my husband chose fried ikan bawal (pomfret) with fish curry. Both meals came with ulam (raw salad) and sambal belacan (spicy shrimp paste).

 

Hub wasn’t too impressed with the over-fried fish (IKAN GORENG ASAM RECIPE) but found the fish curry delightful. The sambal belacan, paired with the ulam, was an absolute winner in his books. As for me, I loved the crispy, crunchy fried fish and thoroughly enjoyed the flavorful gulai tempoyak. I have to agree with my husband - the sambal belacan truly stole the show (SAMBAL BELACAN RECIPE). 

The sirap, part of the set meal, wasn’t overly sweet, and is seemingly a common chilled drink for such Malay meals.

Being a fan of authentic Malay meals, this was a satisfying and fulfilling Zen Dining experience. At just RM32.00 for the both of us, Chor RZ offered a hearty and affordable meal.

 

As always, it’s these humble Malay eateries that exemplify the best of Malaysian Zen Dining  - traditional, where traditions are still upheld, and authentic food is served with a smile

 

Would I return? Why not?

(Ms. Nava, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava’s Zen at 58. She has 22 years of experience as a former lecturer, including with Curtin University’s Degree Twinning Program. Ms. Nava is also a passionate foodie who loves discovering eateries. For Ms. Nava, food brings people together, and sharing her Zen dining experiences celebrates this connection with others).