Ol’ Skool Makan #22: Nasi Padang Abang Mike -- A Sg Way Claim To Fame

 

I love a good plate of nasi padang. Plenty of lauk to choose from, bold flavours all around, and that deeply satisfying feeling of “okay, I may need to loosen my belt” at the end. But let’s be honest -- most of us usually get our fix from the nicely decorated, air-conditioned outlets scattered around the Klang Valley. You know the type. Comfortable. Predictable. Instagram-friendly.

So my interest was properly piqued when I stumbled upon a video about this ol’ skool nasi padang joint in Sg Way that’s been dishing out seriously good food for over two decades. Yes, Sg Way. And in case you didn’t know, Sungai Way is named after the river that winds through the area. It began life as a Chinese New Village under the Briggs Plan in 1949, grew alongside Petaling Jaya, and evolved from tin-mining land into a buzzing suburb with factories, Bandar Sunway, and later a rebrand to Seri Setia in the early ’90s.

Naturally, makan places thrived -- and Nasi Padang Abang Mike became a firm favourite among factory workers and nearby residents. In one video, Abang Mike mentioned that business slowed a little after big-name factories like Western Digital shut down. Still, when we dropped by one late morning, the queue told a very different story. People were enthusiastically scooping from about 25 freshly cooked dishes, clearly on a mission.


What stood out was the crowd -- properly multi-racial. Malays, Chinese, Indians, and even tables of Indonesians attacking their plates with great enthusiasm. That, to me, is always a solid authenticity check. The way Abang Mike chatted with dine-in and tapau customers also made it obvious -- these weren’t tourists. These were his people. Regulars.

We went with rendang daging, ubi masak lemak, tempe, sambal and dendeng, and it was a very satisfying spread. The rendang had a proper kick, the beef melt-in-the-mouth tender. Honestly, that alone was worth the price of admission. Other fan favourites here include begedil, sayur kapau and ayam bakar.


Located near the Masjid Biru Sg Way, space is tight -- and no, you don’t come here for aesthetics. Parking can also be a bit of a sport, so patience helps.

Is it the best nasi padang in the Klang Valley, as some have claimed? Maybe, maybe not. But it’s easy to see why it’s endured for so long. Authentic flavours, reasonable prices (RM21 for two meals and two drinks), and a loyal following have turned Abang Mike into a local legend. And honestly, that title feels well deserved.


About Ol' Skool Makan

Ol' Skool Makan is my little tribute to Malaysia’s timeless eateries -- the ones that fed us before hashtags, food apps, and fancy plating. It’s about real food, real people, and memories that still smell like sambal and kopi-O.


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Dapatkan buku 'Kisah Hidup & Budaya Pop Anak Gen-X' di SINI

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