22/07/2024
Moving the entire Penang Nyonya House to Setapak seems like a feat only Uncle Chang could accomplish. The name LAMA, meaning eternal, perfectly captures the unique charm of this antique house and Nyonya restaurant. Uncle Chang, with a background in construction, took just six months, armed only with a pen and a hand-drawn sketch, to create this dazzling Baba Nyonya House. The ground floor houses a quaint Nyonya restaurant, where the antique furniture and decor create a nostalgic atmosphere, complemented by the soothing aroma of Agarwood incense.
The Nyonya cuisine here leans towards northern Malaysian flavors, with balanced taste profiles and rich aromas, perfectly blending sweet, sour, salty, and spicy elements. Personally, I particularly love their Nyonya Pie Tee, with its juicy and flavorful filling; Kailan Stirred with Salted Fish, which is crispy and delicious, with the salted fish adding a delightful accent; Ayam Kapitan, a rich and non-greasy curry chicken with tender meat; and Fish Assam Pedas, a spicy dish made with stingray, featuring firm meat that easily absorbs the flavors. Overall, the food is delectable, with each dish hitting the right notes.
The first floor of LAMA features a private long-table dining room (Tuk Panjang) and a treasure hall, filled with valuable antiques collected by Uncle Chang over his lifetime. Uncle Chang is passionate about Chinese antiques, ceramics, artifacts, paintings, and calligraphy. The family has a long-standing love for antiques, with the father favoring Chinese antiques and the two daughters having a deep affection for Nyonya artifacts and culture. Combining of an antique house with Nyonya cuisine cleverly breathes new life into these antiques, allowing people to reminisce about the past while admiring these treasures, and even bringing home a cherished piece if they find one to their liking.