Craving for Sarawak food, but you live in Peninsular Malaysia? Worry no more because Lengis Restaurant has a wide selection of foods that will satisfy all of your cravings.
Sarawakian flavours in Selangor
People from the Land of the Hornbills who live in Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, are now spoiled for culinary options from Sarawak.
One of the eateries that offers a variety of Sarawak’s well-known delicacies is Lengis Restaurant, which is located in Tamarind Square in Cyberjaya, Selangor.
They serve a variety of cuisines, including Nasi Goreng Corned Beef, Mee Kolok, and Sarawak Laksa, which will undoubtedly satiate your craving for your favourite comfort meal.
When interviewed by our writer, the owner, Nurfetin Ariffin, said her passion to share her family’s favourite food with others inspired her to start a food and beverage business.
” My family’s favourite dish is Sarawak Laksa, which we usually prepare and serve to guests and family when they come to visit.
“It makes me happy to see people enjoying the meals I prepare. From then, I envisioned opening my own restaurant highlighting Sarawakian dishes so that everyone, especially those who were not raised in the Land of the Hornbills, could experience our delectable cuisine.
“I used to take orders from home before opening the restaurant, and, alhamdulillah, it received a favourable response.
“Due to the overwhelming feedback, I’ve decided to open my own restaurant on June 21 of this year,” said the 33-year-old entrepreneur.
The Kuchingite, who now lives in Selangor, explained that she chose the name Lengis because it embodies Sarawak’s identity and language, which is constantly used in everyday conversations. Lengis means done or totally finished.
Nurfetin, who is Malay, Chinese, and Javanese by descent, said that she is not yet prepared to devote all of her attention to advertising because she wants to ensure that all of her employees are completely trained and equipped for all tasks, including cooking, serving, and other duties.
Despite having only been open for five months, she now has a large following of both new and returning customers who frequently post favourable reviews of Lengis’ meals on social media.
“I remember how many of our patrons helped introduce Lengis to their families and relatives when we first opened for business.
“They also talk a lot about our meals on social media.
“Alhamdulillah, as a result of that (social media sharing), our restaurant has gone viral on X and other social media platforms.
“Three months into running our business, we started taking catering orders for birthday parties, weddings, and other events. Therefore, I am incredibly appreciative for the feedback I receive from my customers,” she said.
Speaking of difficulties, Nurfetin said that the most challenging is ensuring that all staff members are trained and comprehend her recipes, standard operating procedures, and other guidelines.
She will therefore be present at the restaurant at all times to train them in order to guarantee that her business operations run well.
Apart from everything that has already been mentioned, she said that she always makes sure her cooks cook from the heart as she believes that any meal prepared straight from the heart, insyaAllah, would always taste well.
“Everything on the menu is my own recipe. Therefore, it is my responsibility to train my employees and ensure that they understand and follow the work methods and recipes.
“For this reason, I will always encourage them to give it their all; we should prepare and serve meals the same way we would care for our own families.
“Therefore, they should put themselves in the shoes of customers, who, I believe, always want the best,” she said.
In terms of future goals, Nurfetin said she would like to expand her business and provide franchising opportunities, while in the short term, she would like to add menus from time to time (such as offering monthly or weekly special menus).
Meanwhile, one of their regular customers, Wesley Juntan, a Sarawakian influencer living in Selangor, revealed that the moment he tried Lengis’ dishes, he fell in love with them as they reminded him of his mother’s cooking.
The 36-year-old Sibu native said he found the restaurant, which is close to his residential area, while on a mission to find Sarawakian food in the past few months.
“Nasi Goreng Corned Beef was the first dish I tried at this restaurant because it is one of my favourite comfort foods.
“I was taken aback by the flavour, which reminded me strongly of my mother’s handmade food.
“Aside from that, the decorations, characterised by Sarawak motifs and background music featuring the sound of sape, really bring out the Borneo vibes,” he said.
Other perks he enjoyed at Lengis included the excellent service, the kind and accommodating staff, and, above all, the remarkably speedy preparation of the food!
His other favourite menu items include Sarawak Laksa and Mee Kolok, which he considers to be among the best in Peninsular Malaysia.
“The thick and flavourful laksa gravy reminds me of the gravy I used to get back home in Sarawak, and the sweet and tender beef in the Mee Kolok enhances the flavour of classic Kolok noodles.
“It’s quite difficult to find authentic, wonderful Sarawak food in this part of Malaysia, therefore I hope Lengis lasts forever. Furthermore, I hope that they maintain the food’s flavour and quality while also providing warm, attentive service to their patrons,” he said.
If you are planning a trip to Selangor or are in Cyberjaya or the nearby areas and are searching for an authentic taste of Sarawakian cuisine, come to Lengis, which is open from 11.45am to 10pm every day except Tuesday.
Their best-selling dishes include Mee Kolok Daging Spesial, Sarawak Laksa, Nasi Goreng Corned Beef, and Nasi Ayam Butter.
Lengis can be reached at 011-33015633 for inquiries or bookings. Follow _lengis on Instagram to find out about their weekly or monthly special menus.
