Warung Kak Yah & PakDin: Keramat’s hidden gem for fluffy roti sarang burung & aromatic nasi dagang
Though I usually skip breakfast, it’s actually the meal I look forward to most. Maybe because I have it so rarely, it feels like a special occasion — almost like how other folks would treat a fancy dinner. After a weekend spent doom-scrolling on my phone, I stumbled upon my next breakfast destination: Warung Kak Yah & PakDin, a hidden roadside gem in Taman Keramat, Ampang.
I woke up at 7am (a rare occurrence) but didn’t make it there until 11am, thanks to getting lost twice (a not-so-rare occurrence). After what felt like an endless journey down the SUKE highway — aka the road to hell — finally spotting the humble stall felt like finding an oasis in the Sahara.
Warung Kak Yah & PakDin wasn’t too crowded when I arrived, but the heat and humidity hit me hard — I was sweating buckets in no time. The first thing that caught my eye was the local staff expertly flipping roti canai, followed by a tempting spread of nasi lemak and nasi dagang side dishes, all set up in the classic warung buffet style. There were also packs of colourful kueh, perfect for a quick takeaway.
Once I sat down, my orders for roti and drinks were taken right away, but if you’re after nasi lemak or nasi dagang, you’ll need to head up to the front. The service was quick, and within minutes, my dining companion and I were ready to dive in.
What I tried at Warung Kak Yah & PakDin
Fun fact: I discovered this spot thanks to a viral clip of their Roti Sarang Burung Daging/Roti Sarang Burung Special (RM8), so of course, I had to try it. I was worried the portion might’ve been exaggerated for the camera but to my relief, it was perfectly sized for the price. A low bar, I know, but many vendors don’t even meet that these days!
The dish featured 2 sunny-side-up eggs nestled in crispy roti, drenched in minced meat gravy, and topped with black pepper and chopped celery leaves. It also came with a side of dhal and sambal for dipping.
My first impression? Huge. Even the eggs seemed to be A- or B-sized, which you rarely see at KL stalls nowadays. The beef gravy was nicely runny, simply seasoned with oyster sauce and black pepper. It could be a bit salty on its own, but overall, I enjoyed the flavour.
As for the roti itself, cutting into it was pure joy — it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just as I’d hoped. Paired with the beef and eggs, it was the perfect harmony of flavours that had me excited from the first bite.
The dhal and sambal leaned sweet, but I was surprised by how well-seasoned they were. I usually skip dhal because it’s too plain for my taste, but this one was enjoyable. The sambal had a subtle heat — not much, but noticeable compared to the milder dhal.
In the end, I ditched the dips entirely because the Roti Sarang Burung Daging was already perfect on its own!
Extremely pleased, I turned to my partner’s breakfast choice: Nasi Dagang Ikan (RM9). It came with aromatic rice, fish curry, acar sayur, and sambal belacan.
The rice was fluffy and well-cooked, possibly mixed with a bit of nasi pulut, or sticky rice. I would’ve liked more fenugreek seeds, though! The fish curry, while slightly watery, was well-seasoned with a hint of sweetness I enjoy in nasi dagang. The mackerel tuna (tongkol) was perfect — no annoying little bones to deal with.
The crunchy, sour acar timun (pickled cucumber) added a refreshing burst to my palate, while the sambal belacan, though watery, wasn’t spicy at all. But maybe that’s just my high spice tolerance — my partner found it too much to handle (a word of caution for those with sensitive tongues!).
Final thoughts
I’m genuinely thrilled that Warung Kak Yah & PakDin finally broke my recent streak of visiting mediocre food places — it’s a solid 10/10!
The Roti Sarang Burung Daging was everything I could want in a roti canai dish: layers of fluffy, crispy roti, minced beef cooked in a savoury gravy, and perfectly runny egg yolks that spilt into thick, golden streams. It was a beautiful mess of flavours and textures, hitting all the right notes.
As for the Nasi Dagang Ikan, while I’ve had better versions elsewhere, it was still quite good! The aromatic rice and flavorful curry made for a satisfying meal. Honestly, if I lived nearby, I could easily see myself coming back again and again.
Expected damage: RM8 – RM9 per pax
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