Hussain Nasi Kandar drive-thru outlet in Penang
Drive-thru restaurants aren’t a new concept to Malaysians. It’s how many of us are staying safe during this COVID-19 pandemic while getting our fix of burgers and fizzy drinks from our fave fast-food joints. But it’s safe to say that a drive-thru nasi kandar restaurant is something we haven’t seen before in Malaysia, even though these restaurants are aplenty around us.
Hopping on the bandwagon of drive-thru services as cinemas in Malaysia did, Hussain Nasi Kandar, a well-known nasi kandar restaurant found in Kedah and Penang, is opening a new outlet in Sungai Dua that will have drive-thru services. This means that Penangites can get their nasi biryani and murtabak fix from their cars to keep safe at this time.
Nasi kandar restaurant with a drive-thru lane
Image credit: Alma La Ni
According to Hasani Group’s website – who operates several business divisions such as money changers, hotels, and Hussain Nasi Kandar restaurants – this new outlet in Penang has a tentative opening date of 5th November 2020. It’ll be sharing walls with a new 24-hour Caltex petrol station that is opening up in Sungai Dua.
Locals in the area, such as Twitter user @XXXbyefelicia, have already been spotting it while driving through the town and sharing photos of it online. While nasi kandar restaurants are a dime a dozen in Malaysia, this new outlet has been turning heads online with its unique feature that’s hard to find at other nasi kandar restaurants: a drive-thru lane.
Image credit: Iqhwan Zulkefli
As it’s a pretty new concept to nasi kandar restaurants, Hussain Nasi Kandar shared 3D animated designs of their new outlet prior to its opening on their Facebook page so customers will know how it’ll look like in the flesh.
Image credit: Hussain Drive Thru Nasi Kandar
Much like drive-thru fast-food joints we often hunt down in Malaysia for supper, this new outlet will have a drive-thru system made up of 3 zones to order, pay, and pick up your food, with helpful posters along the walls for you to make speedy decisions.
Image credit: Hussain Drive Thru Nasi Kandar
Hussain Nasi Kandar’s menu
The chain’s classic food available at its conventional outlets
Image adapted from: Hussain Nasi Kandar, Hussain Nasi Kandar, Hussain Nasi Kandar, and Hussain Nasi Kandar
Here, you can expect to order up plates of Nasi Biryani Ayam Kampung (RM13.90) and Roti Nan Cheese Ayam Tandoori (RM10.40) like you would at their 7 other branches scattered across Penang and Kedah – but all from the comfort of your car.
Drive-thru opening date yet to be announced
As shared on Facebook by the interior design studio behind the restaurant, Cozi Design, constructions and renovations for this new outlet have taken “longer than usual” due to COVID-19.
Recent photos shared by netizens on 2nd November also show the restaurant still yet to open to customers for dine-ins or drive-thru services.
Image credit: SaBrina MohdNoor
The Smart Local Malaysia reached out to the restaurant, who let us know that they are not currently operating as of yet, and are still in the process of hiring workers for the outlet. But as most Hussain Nasi Kandar outlets in Malaysia operate 18 hours a day, this outlet will presumably operate on the same schedule next to the 24-hour Caltex for those lazy days when you don’t want to get out of your pyjamas to grab mamak food.
New drive-thru Hussain Nasi Kandar outlet in Penang
We have the convenience of food delivery services to keep us fed and safe while we’re weathering out the pandemic. But for those in Penang, the next time you’re out or planning to pump petrol for your car, consider dropping by this new outlet in Sungai Dua with its unique drive-thru concept for your mamak pick-me-up once it opens.
Its innovative concept is certainly welcomed at this time as we’re trying to keep ourselves safe from COVID-19.
Check out other new openings in Malaysia:
- New glow-in-the-dark cafe in Ipoh
- New nature-themed cafe in JB housed in a glass dome
- New restaurant and bar in PJ that has futuristic vibes
Cover image adapted from: SaBrina MohdNoor & Iqhwan Zulkefli