Laos Thai 5 To 9 in Segambut, KL
Having an enjoyable lunch with just a few ringgits in your pocket is nearly impossible in an urban city like Kuala Lumpur. By that, we don’t mean grabbing a slice of chiffon cake or bottle of yoghurt drink from a nearby convenience store – we’re talking about a hearty meal that can properly satisfy the tummy.
But you’ll be surprised to know that there are still meals that you can get for just RM5 in KL – enter Laos Thai 5 To 9. Located in Segambut, this restaurant serves Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice for only RM5 a plate.
Constantly on the lookout for tasty budget eats, we visited this restaurant to bring you our review:
A Thai restaurant with a standalone chicken rice stall
Upon our arrival, around 20 minutes before noon, the staff at Laos Thai 5 To 9 were busy prepping their restaurant for the lunch crowd. Bowls of garnishes were getting arranged on a chequered-clothed table, while batches of steamed whole chicken were carried in on trays from the kitchen to the serving station, ready to be hung on hooks.
Started during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, this Thai restaurant evolved from an online food delivery business to a physical establishment.
While all the delicious Thai dishes and desserts are churned out from a main kitchen at the back of the restaurant, the customer-favourite Thai-style chicken rice is served from a prominent standalone stall up front.
The sight of the chicken glistening under the golden lights of the stall is truly captivating, easily drawing any passers-by in.
Turmeric-steamed chicken that is glazed with chicken oil
At 12pm on the dot, orders started coming in.
The staff sprung into action like a well-oiled machine: setting out plates, scooping steamy hot rice, and chopping the chicken. It was at that very moment we thought of Cinderella and her magical transformation at midnight – except this restaurant’s ‘RM5 Chicken Rice’ charm happens at noon.
Each plate of Thai-style Hainanese Chicken Rice (RM5) comes with a generous amount of fragrant rice and succulent slices of chicken breast, with cucumber slices and Thai chilli served on the side.
The chicken is glazed with flavourful chicken oil, each slice of meat boasting an enticing yellow glow thanks to a classic Thai technique of steaming chicken with turmeric. The meat also gets topped with fried garlic, Thai soya sauce, and coriander for extra crunch and flavour.
Meat lovers can opt to get a whole chicken leg with their chicken rice for only RM12.90 during the same promotion period – from 12pm until sold out, which is typically at 2pm.
Here’s our verdict
We made sure to get all the components of the dish in a spoonful, and were instantly carried away by the incredibly aromatic fragrant rice. Bursting with garlic, ginger, and chicken fat flavours, the rice was delightfully moist yet by no means clumpy or mushy. Each individual grain of rice was still fluffy and held its structural integrity well in our mouth.
Likewise, the chicken breast was tender without losing its satisfying fibrous texture. The cucumber and coriander added a nice crunch to the dish, offering a refreshing balance in each bite.
The Thai chilli shouldn’t be slept on. Unlike the chilli found at most Chinese chicken rice stalls, this Thai version carried stronger notes of ginger and lemongrass, resulting in a tangier and spicier flavour profile.
After demolishing the dish, we concluded that nothing on the plate was an afterthought. Each component of the dish played a role in forming an almost-perfect plate of Thai-style chicken rice.
Affordable Thai-style chicken rice in KL
Hainanese chicken rice is nothing new to us – not when chicken rice shops are aplenty in Malaysia.
While it is a common dish that’s well-loved by us locals, the version at Laos Thai 5 To 9 stands out not only because of its unique Thai twists, but also the knockdown price and uncompromised tastiness – all of which we took great pleasure in during our visit.
Address: 69, Jalan Segambut Pusat, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am-10m (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 016-264 9199 | Laos Thai 5 to 9’s Instagram
For more cheap eats in KL, check out this ramen shop in Taman Bukit Desa that serves RM8 ramen bowls and this roadside stall in Sri Petaling that’s popular for their affordable RM10 omurice.
Photography by xinyeegoh.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia