KOTA SAMARAHAN: A viral Indonesian street food sensation, “Chikuro,” alongside homemade grilled bakso, has emerged as one of the standout culinary attractions at the Karnival Jom Heboh Segulai Sejalai 2026, captivating crowds gathered at the Majlis Perbandaran Kota Samarahan (MPKS) grounds.
Entrepreneur Narfisyah Hussen, 45, made the long journey from Sibu specifically to introduce these unique culinary offerings to visitors attending the popular three-day mega carnival.
“Chikuro is currently a massive trending phenomenon in Indonesia, and I felt inspired to give people in Sarawak the chance to taste it for themselves without having to travel across the border,” Narfisyah said when met at her bustling food stall.
She explained that her business idea sparked while scrolling through social media, where the food trend caught her attention and prompted her to recreate the dish from scratch.
“I noticed the hype on TikTok and decided to test out the recipe myself.
“Unlike a traditional corndog which relies on a thick flour-based batter, Chikuro features 100 per cent pure seasoned chicken meat on the inside, coated lightly with breadcrumbs on the outside before being deep-fried to perfection,” she detailed.
To elevate the experience, the elongated chicken rolls are stuffed with generous fillings, with customers able to choose from rich flavour options such as barbecue, garlic cream, and melted cheese sauces.
Beyond the popular chicken roll, Narfisyah also showcased her signature grilled bakso, featuring homemade beef meatballs grilled over an open flame and finished with a custom-crafted sauce.
“Traditionally, bakso is served in a warm broth, but I wanted to create something distinctive by making my own homemade glaze and grilling the meatballs instead.
“I developed a Thai-inspired sauce that balances sweet, spicy and tangy flavours,” she noted, adding that the entire concept was born from her own culinary experimentation.
Narfisyah priced her menu accessibly for carnival-goers, offering Chicken Chikuro at RM16 and Beef Chikuro at RM18.
Her grilled bakso was sold at RM6 for a single stick containing three meatballs, RM12 for two sticks, and RM18 for three sticks.
Having previously participated in regional events such as the festival in Padawan, Narfisyah highlighted that positive customer reception and high demand for pure meat options encouraged her to continue traveling across the state.
“Alhamdulillah, the response here in Samarahan has been warm and welcoming, with visitors expressing appreciation for full-meat offerings that deliver both quality and value for money,” she shared.
To cater to local palates, Narfisyah gradually fine-tuned her online-learned recipes through trial and error, adjusting the seasoning levels to match Sarawakian taste preferences.
As a seasoned event vendor, she emphasised her commitment to participating in major carnivals whenever opportunities arise, bringing rare and trending street food directly to local communities.
