Since moving back to Melaka, I’ve noticed something unexpected. Ayam gepuk shops are multiplying faster than bubble tea outlets in 2018. At first, I assumed the ayam gepuk boom in Cyberjaya and Selangor made sense. The Indonesian community is much larger there after all. But when the same phenomenon started popping up in Melaka (in my hood, no less!), I had questions. Deep, existential, sambal-related questions.
Because tell me why one row of shops can have 2 to 3 gepuk places operating side by side? What secret spicy underground economy is happening here?
What exactly is ayam gepuk?
For those who are unfamiliar, ayam gepuk is essentially crispy fried chicken that’s smashed and drenched in a fiery sambal. The sambal is the star of the show—raw, spicy, punchy, and guaranteed to make you sweat like you’re being interrogated.
Most shops offer spiciness levels from only bumbu kacang (no sambal at all) to pedas gila, and as someone who values my tongue, my dignity, and my ability to breathe, I stick to biasa. I’m here for flavour, not spiritual warfare.
Is ayam gepuk becoming Malaysia’s next iconic dish?
Here’s where it gets spicy (pun intended).
Nasi lemak didn’t become a national symbol overnight. It started as a simple breakfast and then evolved into a cultural staple, the one dish Malaysians can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or emotional support.
Now let’s look at the facts:
- It’s cheap.
- It’s fast.
- It’s fried chicken + sambal (a formula Malaysians simply cannot resist).
- It’s viral-friendly (thanks to dramatic “pedas gila level” reactions on TikTok).
- It’s everywhere now, even in states without huge Indonesian communities.
Dare I say that I can find ayam gepuk easier than I can get a nasi lemak.
So will it dethrone nasi lemak then? I’m afraid nasi lemak‘s reign is eternal.
But is ayam gepuk positioning itself as Malaysia’s next everyday comfort meal? Honestly, yes. We are witnessing the beginning of the Ayam Gepuk Renaissance, and Melaka has clearly joined the movement.
Why Malaysians are OBSESSED
If you zoom out, it makes sense because we love:
- spicy food that tests our limits.
- fried chicken that cracks loudly when you bite it.
- something cheap, dramatic, and delicious.
Ayam gepuk is practically engineered for Malaysian hearts (and stomachs). Big thanks to our Indonesian neighbours for this delicious dish! 🙂
So, should you try it?
Absolutely! Just maybe start with biasa, unless you want to meet your ancestors.
Whether or not ayam gepuk becomes the next nasi lemak, one thing’s clear: this dish is no longer a niche Indonesian delight. It’s officially part of Malaysia’s ever-growing, ever-spicier food landscape.