Dapor Cik Oli: a mum’s recipes, a daughter’s dream

Hafeeza Mustapha and her husband opened Dapor Cik Oli in 2023, inspired by recipes handed down from her late mother. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

PETALING JAYA: Forget the latest viral food craze – sometimes, the dishes that stay with us are the ones we grew up eating.

For Hafeeza Mustapha, those memories are filled with the flavours of her late mother’s cooking.

After moving from Johor to Kuala Lumpur in 2003, she found herself searching for meals that reminded her of home. But no matter where she looked, nothing tasted quite the same.

“This restaurant is an homage to my mother, who was a very good cook. She passed away and I really missed her food,” Hafeeza told FMT Lifestyle.

That longing led her to leave her career as a financial planner and open Dapor Cik Oli in Damansara Utama with her husband, Shukri Mahmod, in 2023.

Their tagline, “Sedap macam mummy masak” (“delicious like mum’s cooking”), reflects the philosophy behind the restaurant: preserving the comforting flavours of traditional Johorean home cooking.

From laksa Johor to nasi ambang, Dapor Cik Oli celebrates the comforting flavours of traditional Johorean cuisine. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Today, the eatery has become a favourite among Johoreans craving a taste of home. It has also welcomed guests such as Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and his family, as well as members of the Johor royal family.

For Hafeeza, the restaurant represents more than family recipes. “I believe the younger generation should educate their children to appreciate traditional food and preserve our heritage recipes,” she said.

One dish, in particular, carries special meaning – her late mother’s lontong kuah lodeh.

“The lodeh she made for Hari Raya was superb, but when I came to KL, I couldn’t find a similar taste. Before opening this restaurant, I found her recipe, which had luckily been kept by an aunt of mine,” she shared.

Today, it remains the restaurant’s bestselling dish.

“Johor people are very proud of their food, and my mother was very strict about the way she prepared her dishes,” Hafeeza added. “As her child, I try my best to replicate her standards here.”

The lontong kuah lodeh, based on Hafeeza’s mother’s recipe, remains Dapor Cik Oli’s bestselling dish. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

The lontong certainly lives up to its reputation. Unlike many coconut milk-based Malay dishes, its flavour is lighter yet deeply aromatic.

Let the nasi impit soak up the fragrant kuah lodeh and sambal before each bite – it makes all the difference!

Another must-try is the pisang goreng with sambal kicap, a Johorean favourite that’s elevated well beyond the roadside version.

The fritters are crisp without being greasy, while the thick, savoury sambal kicap perfectly complements the banana’s natural sweetness. It’s so popular that the restaurant now sells it frozen.

Those after something heartier should try the nasi ambang, a generous platter featuring mee goreng bodo, dried fish, serunding kelapa, sambal goreng Jawa, and the restaurant’s addictive ayam masak kicap.

Dapor Cik Oli’s crispy pisang goreng paired with thick sambal kicap has become one of its signature snacks. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

No visit would be complete without the laksa Johor. Made with ikan parang (wolf herring), authentic laksa Johor is unlike the curry or asam versions found elsewhere.

Instead, it is served with a rich, thick gravy that clings to every strand of noodle. Removing every fish bone is painstaking work, but Hafeeza says the effort pays off.

Topped with julienned cucumber, raw onions, beansprouts, minced pickled radish and fresh herbs, the dish is rich and satisfying without being overly fishy. For the full Johorean experience, eat it with your hands!

Additionally, the rojak tauhu and lempeng are both worthy additions to the spread.

From breakfast to dinner, Dapor Cik Oli serves a taste of Johor in the heart of Damansara Utama. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

With meals starting from RM9.90 and an all-day menu packed with Johor favourites, Dapor Cik Oli is proof that sometimes the best recipes are the ones passed down through generations.

Dapor Cik Oli
84, Jalan SS 21/62,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Business hours:

• 7am-6pm (Sundays to Thursdays)
• 7am-9pm (Fridays & Saturdays)

Follow Dapor Cik Oli on Instagram.