About 2 months ago, we spotted news of a popular Bali haunt opening up an outlet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Naughty Nuri’s in Ubud may appear humble and small, but the warung’s (street side food stall) repertoire is huge – mostly because of its signature finger licking good ribs and killer martinis. One would never imagine stumbling upon such a find on the Ubud outskirts!
This month, Naughty Nuri’s KL has officially opened for business and we hear that the owners have been quick on their feet too because another outlet will also open its doors very soon in Penang. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let us introduce you to the founder behind the first Naughty Nuri’s, Ibu Nuri herself. She was in town for a private preview party of Naughty Nuri’s KL last Friday (5th Dec) and we were lucky enough to gave been given the opportunity to speak to her. Needless to say, we were very much in awe.
Here’s what went down:
Hi Ibu Nuri, so good to finally meet you! Why don’t you take us down memory lane and let us in on the history of Naughty Nuri’s?
Hello! Sure, of course. We started in November 1996 and the “warung” came about because I love to cook. It’s a family business so it really essentially started from home cooking. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy. It took us 2 years to gain traction in the F&B industry. Also, in the beginning, I was cooking everything myself but now, we have help. The good thing is that because it’s a family business, we don’t have to train outsiders.
What made you decide on opening a Naughty Nuri’s outlet in Kuala Lumpur?
One of the reasons is because we do get a lot of Malaysian patrons at our restaurant in Ubud, Bali. We also previously had a Malaysian TV crew come over to interview us for a program. After that, Naughty Nuri’s Ubud saw an influx of people who came and said, “I saw you on Malaysian TV!” Also, Malaysia..especially Kuala Lumpur, is very cosmopolitan and yet it’s populated with various ethnics. The Malaysian culture of loving to eat, too, played a big part in encouraging us to open an outlet here. To us, the style of Naughty Nuri’s Ubud fits in very well in Kuala Lumpur. So, let’s make Kuala Lumpur naughty! 🙂
I’m guessing that because the original family members will not be at Naughty Nuri’s KL, you had to train some staff for this outlet?
Yes, we did. The training went on for about 2 weeks. Usually, the duration of the training really depends on the staff that are sent over. If they’re smart and quick, the training process is short but if not, it could go on for months! But for Naughty Nuri’s KL, the chef that was sent over to undergo training with us was fortunately a good cook as well. He learnt very quick and we tested his work every day, from 8 till 10. On top of that, he had to cook and eat his own creations for the entire duration, and we also put him through examinations. For 2 weeks he was doing that!
What was the end result though?
Very, very close to what you might get in Naughty Nuri’s Ubud. We’ve met him, we like him, and we trust him 99.9%!
Will the menu be exactly the same as Naughty Nuri’s in Ubud or will there be any dishes especially made for Malaysians?
Hmm, the signature food (ribs) has to be the same as Naughty Nuri’s in Ubud. This is because Naughty Nuri’s is not a franchise, it’s a licensed outlet. Oh, they also have to be just as naughty as the one in Ubud. That’s a very important requirement!
Will you come back often to check on Naughty Nuri’s KL, and if so, how often?
Ah, yes of course. We’re aiming to come back a couple of times a year to check on the business as well as quality control of Naughty Nuri’s signature food. We want to make sure that the Naughty Nuri’s KL is as close as possible to what you will find in Ubud. Like we’re bringing Naughty Nuri’s Ubud to KL, something like that 😉
Alright, thank you Ibu for the quick chat!
Thank you!
Naughty Nuri’s KL is now open for business and the outlet is located at Jalan 24/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Let’s not forget that a Naughty Nuri’s in Penang will also be opening its doors soon too so Penangites, take heed!
For more information, visit Naughty Nuri’s KL’s Facebook page.
