By Anne Das
Dapur Pak Engku is a family-run Malay restaurant near the Meru roundabout built around a simple idea. Cook the food the way families cook at home, serve it for sharing, and keep it affordable for everyone. Everything else is secondary.
Opened about four months ago, Dapur Pak Engku is owned and run by YM Raja Shamil and his family. The intention was to serve good kampung food, priced for everyday dining for the whole family. Food that brings back memories of family kitchens, familiar flavours, and everyone reaching in for their favourites.
Raja Shamil, a former banker and avid golfer, opened Dapur Pak Engku to put his family’s cooking on the table. The food is prepared the way it is cooked at home and served with sharing in mind.
“These are the dishes we cook at home,” said Raja Shamil. “I wanted a place where families can come together, order for the table, and enjoy kampung food the way it is usually eaten. Everything we serve here is cooked with love, the same way we would for our own family.”
That philosophy shapes how the menu is structured. For families and groups, Dapur Pak Engku offers three RM49 Signature Talam Sets meant for sharing. Set A features masak lemak daging salai, Set B comes with asam pedas ikan, while Set C offers kari ikan special.
Each set includes ayam goreng, kerabu daging salai, ulam-ulaman, ikan masin and sambal belacan, served with four portions of white rice and complimentary drinks for the table.
For those dining on their own, Dapur Pak Engku also offers Single Sets priced between RM12 and RM15, giving diners a complete kampung-style meal without needing to order a platter. These can be enjoyed on their own or added to with side dishes for sharing.
Standout add-ons include Sambal Udang and Ikan Siakap Goreng Kicap, both Pak Engku signature dishes. Ikan Siakap Goreng Kicap is priced between RM45 and RM60, depending on size, while Sambal Udang is priced at RM15 and comes with generous, large prawns, typically five to six per serving.
Among the dishes diners often return for is the Sambal Udang, made with fresh prawns cooked slowly in a rich sambal that delivers depth and heat without overpowering the dish. It is bold, comforting, and best enjoyed as part of a shared meal.
The Salai Daging is another highlight. A Negeri Sembilan specialty, smoked beef slices are cooked slowly in a creamy coconut gravy, with the smokiness of the meat balanced by the richness of the sauce.
For those who enjoy sour and spicy flavours, the Johor-style Asam Pedas Fish follows the traditional Johor approach, with a rich, robust gravy infused with daun kesum, bunga kantan, lemongrass, ginger, galangal and turmeric. There is also a Northern Kedah-style fish curry on the menu, lighter in texture with a thin, flavourful gravy that soaks easily into rice, finished with a gentle tang from asam jawa.
The dining space is relaxed and unfussy, with both indoor and outdoor seating suited to families and group meals. The restaurant is clean and comfortable, service is attentive, and there is ample parking, making it easy for families and groups to gather for a proper meal without fuss.
“All our dishes are cooked fresh daily,” said Raja Shamil. “If demand is high, some items may sell out, so calling ahead to book is the best way to avoid disappointment.”
Dapur Pak Engku keeps its focus on what matters. Honest kampung food, served for sharing and priced for everyday dining.
📌 Advance booking is recommended. All dishes are cooked fresh daily and some items may sell out.
For more details and enquiries:
📍 Dapur Pak Engku, 12 Jalan Meru Bestari A12, Meru, Ipoh
🕛 Tues–Sun, 12pm–9pm (Closed Mon)
📞 016-427 1969
📌 Advance booking recommended
🍽️ Indoor & outdoor seating | 🚗 Ample parking | ✅Certified Halal
