Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant in Langkawi

Food has always been one of my weaknesses on my travels, and this time around, I will highlight the super-famous Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant in Langkawi. 

Overall, when I visit a place, I make it a point to explore the local food scene. These places are usually local-famous and, most of the time, recommended by locals whom I work with.

So, what is Nasi Campur? It is translated from Malay as mixed rice, where one takes a plate of white rice and adds it to various dishes to create your own tailored meal.

Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant in Langkawi

Over the years, I have heard a lot about this famous Malay mixed rice place in Langkawi, and every time I wanted to try it, I needed more time or convenience.

Kak Yan Malay mix rice is the most famous ‘Nasi Campur’ in all of Langkawi, and if you ask anyone on the island, they will quickly agree.

Kak Yan Nasi Campur is seen from the main Ulu Melaka road.

So, I keep asking myself what lures people to his unique Island Malay cuisine. You and I know that there are actually many other Malay stalls and restaurants from Kuah to Pantai Cenang.

I had to dig deeper and ask around to answer this question. Kak Yan used to operate in a different location and in a much smaller shop.

Kak Yan’s amazing cooking skills showed the locals how traditional and simple ‘Kampung-style’ dishes could go mainstream, and this was all done with passion.

She has been around for over 10 years and is located along the main road of Ulu Melaka and nowhere near Kuah or Pantai Cenang.

You will find the fried and grilled fish at one end of the spread.

What is the Best Dish at Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant?

To me, every dish looks good there. It’s just what each individual person likes. There are over 30 dishes in any sport, so each has strengths.

If you are a fish person, you would most likely choose the ‘Ikan Masak Gulai’, the ‘Kari Ikan’, or any of the many types of grilled fish with various sambal sauces.

And if you love meats, they have all kinds of everything, ranging from masak chilli paid, masak kurma, masak kicap, masak gulai, masak tempoyak, masak lemak, masak nenas, and the list goes on.

So, to list everything here would be a sin; therefore, it is highly recommended that you take this experience as your own. I have provided the information; the next step is up to you.

A view of the Malay dishes offered to customers.

The locals do not have any special or best dish at Kak Yan Restaurant, as they claim everything is perfect here.

They do have one special dish called ‘Kerabu Beronok’, which is very popular among the local Langkawi people and worth trying.

How Does the Ordering System Work Here?

Ok, this is different from your ordinary sit-and-dine restaurant where waiters come and take your order. Kak Yan is a self-serviced buffet-style local kampung restaurant.

The first thing to do is to take your plate and rice.

This means that when you walk in, you head straight to where the empty rice places are stacked. Take a plate, fill it with white rice, and then you start to walk around the main buffet table, taking what you want.

When you do this, there will be people before and after you; hence, you should spend only a short time at one spot pondering if you want that dish or not. Just move on and go around.

The general rule of mixed rice is not to take over four side dishes with your rice. Most people take two or three dishes with rice.

For outsiders like me, I make an exception and take six to seven dishes, all in tiny portions, to sample.

After loading up your dishes, you pay at the cashier counter.

When you are done, take your plate to the main counter where it says “Bayar Di Sini” or pay here. This is also where you order your drinks before paying for everything.

After that, you can look for a place to sit and then go to the drinks section to pick up your drink or drinks, and you are done.

What else does Kak Yan Sell? 

I almost forgot, but Kak Yan Restaurant is a local tourist industry, and because of this, there is a corner that sells cakes and bites.

However, if your mission is to taste authentic Langkawi Malay food, then you can just avoid this area. It is more for those with a sweet tooth or who just need to buy something to munch after their meal.

The sweet-tooth corner at the restaurant

Where is Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant? 

Kak Yan Restaurant is located along the Jalan Ulu Melaka Road between Kuah and Pantai Cenang.

From Kuah town, it will take about 35 minutes one way to get here, and from Pantai Cenang, it will take around 20 minutes one way.

Parking is available outside the restaurant area and at the side of the place. You may also park along the road shoulder for those coming in the opposite direction but do it carefully.

There is no parking charge, so it is acceptable regardless of whether you drive a car or ride a bike here.

Six types of Sambal chilli are being offered to customers.

When is the Best Time to Eat at Kak Yan Restaurant?

This is crucial as the place can get really crowded during peak hours. I have been here several times, and the best time to eat here is still just before lunch, around 11:00 AM.

If you come during the prime hour for some reason, you must bear with what is available regarding food.

If you need somewhere to sit, don’t worry. They have an extension area on the restaurant’s right, which offers more seating.

The beauty of coming here early is probably catching all the 40 plus Malay dishes being displayed right in front of your eyes. And trust me, this is something a foodie will remember for life.

Also, if you think you are a real travel foodie, think again. This is pure Northern Malay cuisine, a mixture of a little Siamese, East Coast, and Central-northern Malay styles.

So, if you know a lot about Malay food, think again. Even I do not dare state that I know my Malay food well enough. Truthfully, there is no Malay food expert blogger or influence out there. Everyone claims they are one, or most are just wannabes.

Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant

• Open Daily: 8.00 AM to 4.00 PM
• Contact number: 011-2718 7928
• Closes Every alternate Monday
• Payment: Cash only
• Price: Anywhere from RM5.00 to RM20.00 per plate

Google Maps shows the distance from Pantai Cenang to Kak Yan Restaurant.

How to Go to Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant in Langkawi? 

The only way to get here is by self-drive, self-ride, or taxi from wherever you are. The location is easily found on Google Maps or Waze; therefore, use that to get here.

If you use a hotel chauffeur’s services, you can also talk to them, as most locals in Langkawi know where this famous restaurant is.

Conclusion

Overall, the food here was entirely up to my expectations, and it was considered better than many other places I tried. I would give this place a 7 out of 10.

While I have been visiting Langkawi for some tourism work since the end of 2019, I have been exploring many local places for Malay food, and I will share them occasionally.

I usually stay at the Tanjung Rhu Resort in a beautiful and secluded part of Northern Langkawi.

When I arrive, I rent a simple car to move around Langkawi, as it is the best and most convenient way to explore the island. This is how I visit many of these local gems; I need to highlight them to everyone reading this.

Read my other review about the famous Nasi Daging Bakar at Padang Matsirat near the Langkawi Airport.

The main signboard can be seen by the road.

After over 35 years of travelling around Malaysia, I have now realised that I only go to do the things I want, so I enjoy my trips.

And since 2019, my objectives have highlighted some lesser-known or local-famous places to be shared online.

Kak Yan Nasi Campur Restaurant in Langkawi is the start of my little passion project to highlight these places.