Restoran Star Hadramout, authentic Yemeni cuisine served by Yemeni people | I am a stranger to Yemeni food. I have eaten some with my friends, but I really don’t know which is which. With the Arabic name that I just know how to pronounce but don’t know the meaning, a trip to Star Hadramout means an adventure.
So when Restoran Star Hadramout invited JDT Blogger to their restaurant, I jumped at the opportunity. Ready to explore Yemeni cuisine and hospitality? Let’s take a glimpse into their culture through Restoran Star Hadramout.
Restoran Star Hadramout
This restaurant is located in the heart of Johor Bahru, on Jalan Tebrau. Despite constructions happening around the area for the new railway line, Restoran Star Hadramout shines with its enormous and bright signboard. It is easy to access because it’s directly connected to the Tebrau highway and there’s plenty of parking lots in front and around the building.
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| Restoran Star Hadramout is so easy to spot on from the roadside. |
The first thing I noticed is there are a lot of men in white t-shirts. I assumed they’re Star Hadramout staff members and I was correct. One of them even helped me by signaling as I was parking my car.
Muluwah at Restoran Star Hadramout
When I arrived, my friends were already there and behold the array of plates and trays already arranged on our table. Just take a look at this muluwah the size of a galaxy. And it only costs RM7.
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| Muluwah, Arab flatbread. |
Muluwah is a Yemeni flatbread baked in a traditional tannur. There are sesame seeds on top. In Restoran Start Hadramout, they came in three sizes, S, M and L. I’d say the muluwah is as versatile as rice in Malaysia, as you can eat it with many dishes.
Appetizers at Restoran Star Hadramout
We were recommended to eat it with this appetizers platter which consists of Tabbouleh, Hummus, Muttabal, Baba Ghanouj and Fattoush. A big plate costs RM40 while a small one, RM29.
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| Mixed appetizers at Restoran Star Hadramout. |
While there are varieties of recipes for these appetizers, here are some descriptions of them. A traditional taboulleh salad recipe consists of parsley, mint, bulgur wheat, finely chopped vegetables and a zesty dressing. Hummus is a delicious spread or dip made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and spices.
Muttabal is made with Eggplant, sesame paste (tahini), garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. In some cases, thick yogurt is also added. Baba ganoush is similar to hummus, but it calls for grilled or roasted eggplant instead of chickpeas. What is the difference between Baba Ganoush and Muttabal? Baba Ganoush is a purely vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly dish that is also low in carbs. It has an earthy, smoky, silky and slightly tangy flavour. Muttabal is a richer, creamier dip, with a texture somewhere in between a hummus and a Baba Ganoush.
On the other hand, fattoush is a salad that typically includes lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and fried pieces of flatbread. This version of fattoush in Star Hadramout includes feta cheese, which instantly makes it my favourite among them. I took a stick full of the vegetables including the feta cheese, rolled them in the muluwah and dipped it into the baba ganoush. Perfect!
Arab Rice with Chicken and Lamb at Restoran Star Hadramout
Have you ever eaten chicken and lamb so tender you felt like peeking through heaven's door? I hope this is something I can find in heaven one day. Three different types of Arab rice with lamb meat, lamb shank and half chicken in one tray is the star of the dinner, I would say.
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| Arab rice with lamb and chicken, Restoran Star Hadramout. |
When I am coming back to Restoran Star Hadramout with my friends one day, this will be my first recommendation from the menu. Firstly because rice is a Malaysian thing. Secondly because having lamb and chicken in one tray makes it an inclusive menu - those who don't eat lamb (which I say must be people who are losing the points of so many beautiful things in life, just saying) can have the chicken.
Also, the sauce and soup that came with them are the perfect combination. I love how the mint leaves sprinkled on top of the soup complimented the taste of those spices of the rice. All of this goodness for just RM80 only. You can have all lamb for RM120, and chicken only for RM59.
Mix Grill at Restoran Star Hadramout
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| Mix Grill, Restoran Star Hadramout. |
This mixed grill consists of half grilled-chicken, chicken kebab and shish touk, served with bread, french fries and garlic sauce. Have I told you how much I love garlic sauce? BIG YES! The garlic sauce makes every hard thing in this world bearable. (Ok, I admit that is hyperbolic.) But it is really good, and it is a secret recipe, according to Mr Najib Ali, the restaurant’s boss.
There is something hiding underneath all those meat and fries, and that is the bread. If you want to see what it looks like, you’ve got to visit my YouTube to find out. I'll link it below near the end of this article.
What Else in Restoran Star Hadramout?
Fahsa Lamb is like a comfort soup on a rainy day. Coincidentally it was raining when we visited, so it was perfect with the weather. It is a tomato-based soup with shredded lamb in it.
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| Fahsa lamb, Restoran Star Hadramout. |
If you are a fan of the Indian Massala tea like me, Adani Tea is a must-try at Restoran Star Hadramout. Served hot in a cup and teapot, it’s a thick tea with spices. I could taste ginger in it.
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| Adani tea. |
Special Mix Juice, though the name is simple, is loved by all of us, JDT Blogger gang. Despite the name, it is actually a smoothie, drizzled with chocolate syrup. So good! I could taste milk, banana and strawberry, but not sure what the rest are.
There are also a variety of baklava, kunafa and dates that you can see displayed at the counter.
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| Baklava and kunafa. |
Here is the list of what we eat that day and the price:
Rice, Family Set
Mixed RM120
Lamb only RM80
Chicken only RM59
Appetizers
Small RM29
Big RM40
Flatbread
Small RM3
Medium RM5
Large RM7
Mixed Grill (M) RM50
Fahsa Lamb RM22
Special Fruit Juice RM35
Adani Tea
Cup RM5
Pot RM15
We were extra lucky that day to witness a family celebrating the mother's birthday. Yemeni-style birthday is an experience of another level. With the bustling music, fiery food, and joyful dancing and whistling, it is so rare to see. They are really not playing with the fire. It is real and big and hot. Watch it in this video:
Restoran Star Hadramout is definitely a place that I would recommend to friends who are looking for Yemeni and Arab food in Johor Bahru town. Good food, good vibe, good price.
For reservation and enquiries, you can reach Restoran Star Hadramout via phone +60 11-1185 4766 or email starofhadramout@gmail.com. Follow Restoran Star Hadramout on Facebook for updates.