Melayu Champor, Padang Jawa: Fusion Pasta at a Roadside Warung

From the roadside, Melayu Champor in Kampung Padang Jawa, Shah Alam looks no different from any ordinary kampung warung. It operates out of the Warung Nasi Lemak Mak Yang premises on Jalan Mat Raji, and that's the name to search for if you're using Waze. But the menu inside is far from ordinary: Western fusion dishes meet Malay tastes, with a pasta list that had just been expanded when we came.

The dish that stole our attention most was the spicy carbonara chicken karaage. The sauce is buttermilk-based, thick and creamy, then spiced up with ghost pepper. On top sits a big piece of crispy chicken karaage, so every mouthful is rich, spicy and crunchy all at once.

For those who grew up on spaghetti bolognese, the meatball pasta here is worth a try. The tomato sauce is tangy and rich, and the meatballs are filling. Seafood lovers have two options: seafood aglio olio for those who don't like spice, or the sweet and spicy seafood arrabbiata.

Beyond the pasta menu, we also tried the chicken karaage burger. The bun is big, but what surprised us more was how thick the chicken is, to the point that it's hard to bite through in one go. The warung's menu also has other Western dishes like fish and chips and chicken chop.

At the time of filming, Melayu Champor was open daily except Sunday from 5pm to 12 midnight. Its hours have changed before, and the warung has even offered a breakfast menu, so check their social media (@melayuchamporhq) before setting off. For Western food at warung prices, it's well worth a stop.