Sit cross-legged and enjoy old-school dining at this N Sembilan eatery

Rumah Putih Makan Berjambar, which serves traditional Negeri Sembilan dishes, is the brainchild of 59-year-old Asmah Osman. (Bernama pic)

SEREMBAN:

The Malay tradition of sitting cross-legged and sharing meals with family is becoming increasingly rare. Now, one restaurant here is evoking nostalgia by offering diners the chance to relive memories of kampung life in the good old days.

Operating from a traditional Malay kampung house, Rumah Putih Makan Berjambar serves traditional Negeri Sembilan dishes in communal trays (hidang dulang).

“This eatery was actually my late aunt’s house, which was left to her children,” proprietor Asmah Osman, 59, told Bernama. “However, since they live far away, the house was vacant for about 20 years.

“Rather than letting it go abandoned, especially since the structure is still sturdy, I obtained my cousins’ permission to turn the house into a homestay. However, due to certain factors, we ultimately decided to convert it into a restaurant instead.”

Asmah said she chose the “makan berjambar” concept because it is rarely embraced by food entrepreneurs.

“There are many restaurants that serve traditional village-style dishes, but none offer tray dining like we do,” she said, adding that table seating is available for those who prefer it.

Since opening on Aug 31, Asmah said the restaurant has received an overwhelmingly positive response from both locals and visitors.

“We initially operated only on weekends, but after receiving such encouraging support, we decided to open daily except on Fridays,” she said. The restaurant will also be open throughout Ramadan for customers to break their fast.

The restaurant operates from a traditional Malay kampung house that belonged to Asmah’s late aunt. (Bernama pic)

Rumah Putih Makan Berjambar offers more than 30 types of traditional dishes, including daging salai masak lemak cili api (smoked beef in spicy coconut gravy), daging jangek (beef skin), and tempoyak daun kayu (fermented durian with mixed wild leaves), all prepared by her third son, Muhamad Nur Fikry Sidek.

Asked about her future plans, the mother of four said she hopes to expand the “makan berjambar” concept to other districts.

Meanwhile, customer Hanida Harun, 45, described her experience of cross-legged dining and shared-tray meals as unique and refreshing.

“We love traditional village-style food, so travelling from Kuala Lumpur was well worth it to enjoy a meal in a setting that feels just like a kampung,” she said.

She also complimented the wide variety of dishes, and added that she was captivated by the restaurant’s classic decor.

Rumah Putih Makan Berjambar
Lot 1762-B, Batu 4 1/2,
Jalan Tok Dagang, Kampung Paroi,
70400 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Business hours: 11am-4pm daily (closed on Fridays)

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Sit cross-legged and enjoy old-school dining at this N Sembilan eatery

Evoking nostalgia, Rumah Putih Makan Berjambar serves traditional dishes of the state in a cosy kampung house.