Snacks & Kuih

How Many Calories in Kuih Jala (Roti Jala)?

Lacy net crepes served with chicken curry or sweet coconut kuah, a popular teatime snack and kenduri staple.

240kcal / 2 pieces with curry
Two pieces of kuih jala with chicken curry comes in at around 240 calories for a 170g serving. The lacy crepes themselves are only about 100 calories for the pair, but the coconut milk curry gravy adds roughly 110 calories on top. So it is honestly a pretty reasonable snack, as long as you are not drowning the thing in extra gravy.

Nutrition facts

Per 2 pieces with curry (170g)AmountPer 100g
Calories240 kcal141 kcal
Protein11 g6 g
Carbs20 g12 g
Fat11 g6 g

Where the calories come from

Roti jala (2 lacy crepes, ~70g cooked)70g
100 kcal
Chicken curry gravy (~80g, coconut milk-based)80g
110 kcal
Chicken pieces in curry (~20g)20g
30 kcal

The real talk

Honestly, kuih jala is one of the more diet-friendly traditional kuihs out there, bro. Two pieces with curry sits at roughly 240 calories, which is not bad at all for a proper snack. The crepes themselves are thin and airy, only about 100 calories for the pair. The real calories come from the curry gravy, around 110 calories for 80g of coconut milk-based curry, and the small bits of chicken tucked in. Worth flagging: these numbers are a ballpark estimate, because detailed lab data for kuih jala specifically is basically nonexistent. We cross-referenced the crepe batter (egg, flour, coconut milk, turmeric) and standard chicken curry macros to get here. Treat it as a reasonable guide, not gospel.

What actually swings the calories is how much gravy you pour over. Go light on the curry and you are closer to 180-190 calories. Go heavy with a generous ladle, maybe add a second dip, and you are pushing past 300 easily. Switching to sweet kuah (coconut milk dipping sauce) instead of curry drops you to about 200 calories since the sweet sauce is thinner and has less fat overall. Going from 2 pieces to 3 pieces adds roughly 50 calories from the extra crepe plus a bit more gravy. If you are at a kenduri and someone piles on three pieces with a big scoop of curry, you are probably looking at 320 calories. Still not a disaster, but it adds up if you eat four rounds because the food is just sitting there.

Kuih Jala (Roti Jala) variants, ranked by calories

VariantCaloriesNotes
2 pieces, sweet kuah (coconut milk dipping sauce)200 kcalLighter than curry; sweet coconut sauce has less protein, fewer calories overall
2 pieces with chicken curry240 kcalTypical hawker serving; curry adds coconut-milk fat and chicken protein
3 pieces with chicken curry320 kcalLarger serving common at kenduri or family meals; one extra crepe adds ~50 kcal

How to eat it lighter

Common questions

How many calories in Kuih Jala (Roti Jala)?
Two pieces of kuih jala with chicken curry is approximately 240 calories for a 170g serving. The crepes themselves contribute about 100 calories, with the coconut milk curry gravy adding another 110 calories. Switching to sweet kuah instead of curry brings it down to around 200 calories.
Is kuih jala fattening?
Not really, especially compared to other Malaysian kuihs. Two pieces with curry is 240 calories, which is a reasonable snack. The fat content comes mainly from the coconut milk in the curry gravy. Control the gravy portion, stick to two pieces, and you are totally fine lah, just watch the gravy.
What is the difference in calories between kuih jala with curry and with sweet kuah?
About 40 calories. Two pieces with sweet coconut dipping sauce is around 200 calories, while two pieces with chicken curry is around 240 calories. The curry is heavier because of the coconut milk base and the protein from the chicken pieces.

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See all Snacks & Kuih calories, ranked →

Calorie and macro figures are estimates for a typical hawker or kopitiam serving. Actual numbers vary by stall, recipe and portion size. Use them as a guide, not gospel.

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