Located along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman here, the restaurant is well-known for its famous biryani made from a treasured family recipe.
The 40-year-old eatery is cosy, comfortable and currently manned by its second-generation owner, Rokiah Beeve Abdul Hameed.
“The recipe belonged to my mother, Zeenathunnisa. Before I took over, she trained me on how to cook it right every day for six months,” the 46-year-old told FMT Lifestyle with a chuckle.
The restaurant, she added, was started by her father, Abdul Hameed Mohideen Batcha, on her sixth birthday in 1984. She even lived on the first floor of the shophouse that the restaurant occupies until she was 13, making the place special to her.
Although her parents have since passed away, Rokiah shared that the restaurant is a way to keep their legacy alive. And she still uses the very counter that belonged to her father when he did business here.
In its early days, she recalled, the restaurant was well-known for its signature murtabak and honey chicken, as well as chicken masala and fried chicken, in addition to biryani.
After taking over in 2020, Rokiah has expanded the menu to include banana leaf rice, fried noodles and fried rice, among others.
Seeing their regular customers enjoy their food after all these years means a lot to Rokiah. “Some have said that they used to come by with their mothers and now, they are bringing their daughters,” she said with a smile.
The biryani, made with a blend of 12 spices, certainly lives up to its reputation – fragrant, fluffy and flavourful.
Pair the rice with a variety of splendid chicken or mutton dishes such as the pleasantly sweet honey chicken, or the aromatic masala chicken or mutton. The eatery’s juicy fried chicken is yet another winner.
Additionally, they serve Thalassery or Malabar biryani on Wednesday; Hyderabad biryani on Thursday; ghee rice with kurma on Friday and a special chef’s biryani on Saturday and Sunday. These are available from 11am to about 1.30pm.
The banana leaf rice is another tasty offering on the menu. Available from 11am to 3pm from Monday to Thursday, the dish comes with three types of curries and vegetables such as spinach, cucumber, cabbage and crunchy fried bitter gourd.
Enjoy the rice with scrumptious sides – chicken 65, mutton or chicken kurma – and you might be tempted to take a long nap afterwards.
The murtabak, which has a crispy exterior that encases a generous portion of minced meat filling, is another highlight here.
Served with kurma and onion pickles, you can choose either chicken, mutton or beef as your filling. The meat is fried with onions, eggs, and a blend of 27 spices, making the flatbread absolutely flavourful and delicious.
The mango juice, made with fresh mangoes, is thick, creamy and naturally sweet. Other thirst quenchers include orange, lychee or watermelon juice. Or for something hot, how about a frothy cup of teh tarik or creamy Bru coffee made with fresh cow’s milk?
Overall, one would certainly leave Insaf Signature full, satisfied and happy – and this is exactly what Rokiah hopes for.
“For customers who walk in stressed with plenty on their mind, I hope they’ll leave feeling much better after enjoying good food in a relaxing environment.”
Insaf Signature (previously known as Insaf Lama)
116, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
50100 Kuala Lumpur
For the location, click here.
Business hours: 8.30am-8.30pm daily