Imbi Market (official name: Bukit Bintang Wet Market) is one of our favourite breakfast spot in KL. Situated just a stone’s throw away from Bukit Bintang, Imbi Market is a hawker fare paradise. Visitors to KL should make it a point to have breakfast here, instead of patronizing stalls at Jalan Alor and paying cut throat prices.

The place was notoriously packed and chaotic but I find it vibrant and charming. People from all walks of life do their marketing here.

What do I normally buy here? Corns from Cameron Highland and Buah Pulasan, a tropical fruit that looks something like rambutan and lychee.

Walking further inside, one will be greeted by this interesting scene: crowd and a myriad of food stalls.

#1 Ah Weng Kor Hainanese Tea. The owner, “hoi lam zai” which literally means little hainanese became our best friends. Sometimes, he will brew up a special cup just for us when he feels like it or when he won some $$ from the share market.

Glorious Hainanese coffee (RM1.60) with thick frothy foam that sits on top of the coffee. It is said that Hainanese coffee is actually cham with more tea than coffee as a composition. The coffee is aromatic and thick enough to keep me awake for a few hours.

kaya and butter toasts, half boiled eggs

For the toast, one can opt for the flat bread or the round bun and have the kaya and butter served separately. However, I like mine all nicely slathered with butter and kaya before they served it to you. The ultra thin toast that was slightly browned just hit the spot. It was so light and crispy that the crumbs kept falling from my mouth.

toasted bun

The round bun too, was great. The exterior was crispy while the inside was all soft and fluffy. They are really generous with the fillings, as you can see from the thick slabs of butter.

#2 Chee Cheong Fun. I felt like proclaiming that this stall sells the best chee cheong fun in town eventhough the boss is quite a cocky person. Understandable though, as his chee cheong fun normally finishes by 11 am. My favourite yong tofu picks can be seen on the bottom left of this picture – crispy beancurd skin filled with a generous amount of minced pork. Addictive stuff!

To maintain its freshness, most of the yong tau foo is made fresh on the spot!

I love my CCF drenched with sweet sauce, chilli sauce and curry sauce with a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds.

#3 Another stall not to be missed is the Sisters’ Crispy Popiah (RM1.80). The popiah stall can be spotted in major shopping malls and there’s even a Sisters’ Cafe in Menara Hap Seng. However, the original stall remains in Imbi Market where you can get the same stuff at a fraction of the price.

The popiah (RM 4, 2 rolls) is really good, and the quality is consistent because we come here often enough to justify that. Apart from the usual ingredients like shredded yambean, carrots, cucumber, egg and ground peanuts, some crispy bits are added in for some good crunch.

#4 Sang Kee Pork Intestines Porridge is another popular stall here.

For RM 4.50, you get a huge bowl of tummy warming and velvety pork intestines porridge. The pork intestines were cleaned thoroughly before deep frying, so there were no hints of weird offal smell.

#5 Sometimes I find myself craving for this particular version of wantan mee (RM 4.5) here. Tossed nicely in a thicker and darker than usual sauce, every strand of the noodles is coated throughly. They are particularly generous with the cha siu and slice chicken too.

#6 Hainanes Assam Laksa (RM 5), available only in the weekends. I don’t exactly know what is hainanese assam laksa but it tasted good – perfect harmony of sweet, spicy, sour and savoury.

#7 Ginger and Wine Mee Sua (RM 7)

A hearty and nourishing bowl of mee sua, Hakka style. Looks something like confinement food to me too but I love it nonetheless. Ginger helps in preventing the wind from getting into body and using rice wine gives it an authentic kick. Eggs and pork intestines can also be found in this treasure bowl.

#8 Egg Tarts from this bakery next to Ah Weng Kor. Fresh from the oven, these egg tarts were still warm before we shoved them into our mouths. Flaky, crispy, and light pastry enclosing a velvety smooth wobbly egg custard. How could we resist these evil little morsels?My only gripe is they are only selling it in limited quantities. I’ve already missed it for a few times.

If the aforementioned food is not enough to comfort your stomach, feel free to take way some apam balik and nyonya kuehs. This shall conclude my almost complete guide to the Imbi Market.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Focusing on non halal local hawker fare, it is not difficult to guess that the newly opened E.A.T Food Village at Publika shopping gallery became my favourite lunching place. It brings together some of the best hawker food vendors from Klang Valley and North Peninsular Malaysia under one (air-conditioned) roof.

The decor reminds diner of yesteryear; with shop facades that look as though time freezes at 1950′s, Chinese calligraphy, poems, paintings and lingering Chinese oldies.

If you are craving for Penang style curry noodles with creamy soup base and chili paste served aside, there’s Lorong Seratus Tahun.

One can also head over to Sentul Ah Yap’s stall and  order a plate of hokkien noodles (RM 7.90) that packed plenty of wok hei. Patrons are given a “Beeping UFO” that goes beep as when the noodles is ready.

Loke Yun Chicken Rice from Ampang would be perfect when you want something substantial for lunch or dinner.

Give yourself a fiery challenge by having Kin Kin Chili Pan Mee (RM 7.50). I will pay RM 2 extra anytime as portions are bigger and there is no need to queue and hoard for a table as compared to the Chow Kit outlet.

BM Yam Rice is one of my favourite stall at E.A.T food village. Set meals are available from RM 8.90.

Your choice of mains (braised pork, assorted pork soup, lo bak, ginger wine chicken, etc) comes together with yam rice, soup and braised egg+tofu. That was quite a heavy meal for many.

I never fail to have the lo bak (RM 2.50 each) whenever I’m here. It was nice and crispy on the outside, and the minced meat filling was really flavorful and juicy.

For a springy affair, there’s Hong Kee wantan mee that hails from Cheras.

Wash it all down with a cup of bubble milk tea, from Chatime. Bliss!

E.A.T. Food Village,
Publika Shopping Gallery,
Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.
Opens daily from 10am to 9pm.

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Aik Yuen needs no further introduction as most KL folks would have known or heard about this place that serves great Hokkien noodles. Located off Jalan Pahang and behind Tawakal Hospital, this little eating establishment is spotted with good crowd since opening till late.

Apart from the main shop lot, the tables overflowed to the pavement, stretching to the next few shophouses on both sides. Hokkien mee (RM 6.50) and fried fish cakes are the pièce de résistance here, as we spotted them in almost every table. The Hokkien mee does live up to its name, full of “wok hei” and came with a generous amounts of fried pork lard. It is also the dry and sweeter type of Hokkien noodles, which I really enjoyed.

The “Chao Pek Ger” (Stir Fried Rice Cake, RM 6.5) was chewy in texture and it never leaves a strong “floury” taste in my mouth. So I’m rating this higher than Ming Hoe, Jalan Ipoh.

Our order of Wat Dan Hor (RM 6.5) was a total let down though! It was just…bland and forgettable. How could someone who made good Hokkien noodles can’t do wat dan hor well?

The fish cake being the crowd’s favourite, was well-seasoned and have firm, bouncy texture.

Our Deep Fried Calamari was nothing to shout about; the batter was too thick with uneven seasoning. The first piece I took tasted really good with some curry powder seasoning but the next piece was as tasteless as plain water.

The Stir Fry Lala was decent; the spicy and sour sauce was quite appetizing.

I really enjoyed the Caramelise Siew Yoke (RM 10) because it reminds me of how my mum would “treat” those leftover siew yoke from our usual offering rituals. Stir fry the pork pieces of dashes of dark soy sauce, sugar and cili padi and voila! A major facelift to our usual siew yoke.

Overall, dishes are a hit or miss so it is advisable to stick to their “core” signature dishes such as hokkien noodles and fish cakes.

Restoran Aik Yuen
Behind Tawakal Hospital
Jalan Sarikei, Off Jalan Pahang Barat
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

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It is a hell messy burger, the patty drowned in margarine and topped with cheese, fried egg and big glops of mayo and chili sauce. Available only at Om Burger, Ampang Jaya.

Strategically located in front of 7-11 Lorong Kolam Air Lama 1, Om Burger is a long standing and popular local eatery. Open from 8pm till late, the daily crowds and queues are testament to their popularity.

We ordered up our burger ayam special (RM4) and watched for a few moments as Pakcik began to prepare the burgers. He placed the patties on the grill together with a dollop of margarine. From time to time, Pakcik would use a spatula to press the patty down to give it some crisps.

He would then crack an egg on the hot grill and spread it wide and thin. When the egg has vulcanised into a semi-solid state, he moved the patty to the center of the egg and proceeded to fold the egg around the patty.

The burger was then loosely assembled in the following order: bun -> patty with egg fold -> cheese -> tomato -> cabbage -> generous squeeze of mayo, chilli sauce and some sprinkles of pepper.

My burger ayam special was took for a 30 minutes spin before I reached home. Ken commented that it should taste even better because the bun has soaked up all the juicy bits (and oil bits!) of the meat patty. Errrrrrr……..

The burger was mind blowing! So tasty and flavorful but it was a challenging to manage the stack of bun, patty, egg and other goodies. Who cares? Because I was dressed in my most comfy pair of pajamas, holding the burger with both my hands, putting both my legs up on the coffee table, enjoying my favourite TV show while taking a BIG bite of m OM BURGER!

*Warning! Do not attempt this at home. This might wreak havoc on a marriage/relationship.

Burger OM
Lorong Kolam Air Lama 1
Ampang, KL
(in front of 7-11)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Sometimes you just need someone who knows his way around good food in Klang Valley.  It was by chance that our stomachs were still rumbling after an event at G Hotel ,so Ken took us all (C&C, Ivy, Mei Yee and Ah Bok) to this no name tandoori chicken place. Some refers it to Uncle Aru’s though.

Finding Uncle Aru’s stall is no easy feat but if you get all the landmarks right – opposite Ampang Point and within a hawker center next to Galeri Guitar; it will be a very rewarding find.

Before I delve into the bounty of Uncle Aru’s, let me be very clear on one point: it’s going to be interminable wait, even on a weekday. The wafting smells of the naans and tandoori chicken are absolute torture. So please be patient because it’s worth sticking around.

Butter Naan (RM 2.00). The warm, tasty pillow of flat bread was scorched perfectly to make it soft and crispy at the same time. The naans are all freshly made and cooked upon your order in the clay oven (tandoor).

The Garlic Naan (RM 2.50) was equally good – crispy on edges, pillowy soft and the middle, garlicky and flavorful. Remember not to kiss after, but it is totally worth the sacrifices!

Good food makes me happy!

Just take a look at Ah Bok’s contented face!

The tandoori chicken, true to its fame was incredibly tender, juicy and well flavoured. Forget about those dried, charred tandoori chicken in some rip off mamaks. Those of you who have never sampled the wares of this finger licking good version are indeed missing out a lot!

Uncle Aru’s Naan and Tandoori stall
Address Opposite Ampang Point, Kuala Lumpur. At Jalan Ampang (from KL) and turn right at the traffic lights (opposite De Palma Hotel), follow the curve of the road back towards Jalan Ampang, Uncle Arumugam will be the end stall.
Tel: 012-354 5624
Open daily from 6.30pm till 1am.

GPS coordinates: 3.157067, 101.750141 (+3° 9′ 25.44″, +101° 45′ 0.51″)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Contrary to popular belief, we don’t usually carry our DSLR around. So whenever we stumble upon some real good food, we will take pictures of the meals with our humble iPhones. These pictures have been sitting in our archive folders for quite some time and sometimes they make us melancholy for a time when we were hungry. So we are now sharing these low quality pictures by starting the Grub of The Week series.

#1 is this kick ass loh mee from Pusat Gerai Makanan Adik Beradik. Drenched in a dark, thick, gooey and starchy broth; the loh mee (RM 5.50) was laden with various ingredients such as minced pork, pig’s intestines, pork’s ball and zhu yao zha (lards)! Best eaten with a dash of vinegar.

Kedai Makanan Adik Beradik Chua
15-1 Tengkat Tong Shin,
Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur 50200.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Cheap eats are fewer and farther in between these days, but we have found a few that will keep you and your wallet stuffed full. Kedai Makanan Ming Hoe, which we affectionately refer as “Jalan Ipoh hokkien mee”, is one of it.

This unassuming looking restaurant is usually crowded until closing time. Many has complained of long waiting time, so get there as early as 6pm or as late as 10pm. We’ve been coming back to this restaurant for a few times and recently came back again for dinner. The food was great, as usual and reasonably priced. These are some of the “must order” dishes.

Signatare Tofu (RM 10). The tofu was nicely breaded on the outside and had bouncy, solid feel when we took a bite. It was a surprise in every bite as we found our teeth sink into a combination of fish paste, shrimp paste and tofu. Highly recommended!

Siong Tong Lala (Clams in Superior Soup, RM 15) was spotted in almost every table. It was definitely the best siong tong lala that we have ever had. It makes Lala Chong or Lau Heung‘s version pale in comparison. The secret lies in the fresh clams with sweet, rich and briny flavours. The superior soup was really addictive, with a nice kick thanks to the addition of chili padi, shredded ginger and a generous dose of Chinese wine.

Ming Hoe also draws the crowd with their famous Hokkien Mihun (RM 6) but we always asked for Hokkien Mihun Mee. It’s a personal favourite; don’t ask me why Full of “wok hei” and with a generous amounts of fried pork lard, it was utterly delicious.

This is “Chao Pek Ger” (Stir Fried Rice Cake, RM 6). The texture is very much similiar to Shanghainese Nian Gao and Korean’s tteokboki but the cooking method is almost akin to the hokkien style of stir frying. It was nice at the first bite, but after a few bites, you get a little sick of the taste. Will recommend this for sharing.

Ming Hoe serves no frills, cheap, damn good food that we kept going back for. It was quite an experience to sit outside and watch the owner cooking up a storm with high flames.
View Larger Map
Kedai Makanan Ming Hoe
Jalan Ipoh, 51200 Kuala Lumpur.
(between HSBC and Indian Temple along Jalan Ipoh)
Tel: 03-40443669
Open from 6pm till late, closed on Monday.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Seri Kembangan, to most KL city folks, is well off the beaten track. However, SK was our favourite playground during our teen years. For those who are new here, we used to reside in SK when we first started this blog, hence the numerous reviews on eateries around SK. This little Chinese village is jam packed with loads of good food and Kien Kee Sup Pedas Ayam Kampung located behind the Post Office in Jalan Besar Seri Kembangan is one of them.

So naturally Kien Kee became a default place for lunch when we were around SK to run some errands one weekend. Kien Kee is situated at an almost hawker center like area with small “make shift” office lots and a centre courtyard. It can get pretty warm towards noon at the non air conditioned area, due to the zinc roof top. Fortunately for us, we managed to secure table at the air conditioned area pretty quickly.

The signature spicy soup, also known as lat thong (辣汤) in Chinese was first served. The clear soup is laden with various porcine goodness such as pork meat, stomach, intestine and liver. Do not be deceived by the clear looking soup as the soup is full of crushed peppercorns that gave it a distinctive spicy taste.

The soup was good but not as good as before because the flavour of the soup was lack of that spicy kick.

We also tried their “Fa Tiu” claypot chicken (花雕鸡). The tender chicken pieces are coated with thick, dark caramelised soy sauce which goes really well with a bowl of white rice. The addition of hua diao, a type of rice wine originated from Shao Xing, China gave it a nice whiff.

steamed tofu

and some greens for a balanced meal

The total bill came out to RM 65 for the four of us.  It was pretty reasonable though not entirely cheap. The spicy soup was pretty decent but the piece de resistance is the hua diao chicken. The hole in the wall ambiance added to the whole dining experience as well.

View Larger Map
Restoran Kien Kee
D-1, Jalan 10/3
43300 Seri Kembangan
Tel: 012-350 9900
Opens 9am to 3pm, 6pm to 9pm, close on Monday
N 3 1.332 E 101 42.29099

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Ah Heng Food Corner is a hidden gem tucked away at a quiet alley off Jalan Tiong Nam.

Serving honest, home cooked specialties such pepper pig stomach soup, mui choy with three layer pork, pork trotters in dark vinegar sauce, braised pork intestines and chicken in rice wine, Ah Heng Food Corner became one of our favourite dining spot for simple dinner.

Despite it’s location, the food stall was jam-packed and buzzing with activity as customers arrived in a steady stream when night falls. Patrons can opt to dine at the al fresco stall area or move into the corner coffee shop which is also run by the same owner.

We placed our order at the stall front before settling down into our seats.

Our food arrived soon after and we quickly dig in after the obligatory photo taking.

Deep fried to perfection, the fish cake was fresh and springy to every bite. However RM7 for such a small slab of fishcake was a steep price to pay.

braised soy sauce eggs (滷蛋)

An offal lover would love the braised pig intestines to death! The intestines were all well cleaned, no residue of any sort and not even a hint of unpleasant smell. It also absorbs all the rich flavor of the thick, dark sauce. SO delicious!

Mui Choy with Three Layer Pork (RM 5). Taste the intense flavour and the fats of the pork and leave your guilt at home.

Chicken in Rice Wine (RM 9.50). It was so good – hearty, rich and flavoursome, with enough rice wine for that kick.

Pepper Pig Stomach Soup (RM 6). The pig stomach slices were not chewy at all, and we absolutely adore the hot, peppery soup. Hence a meal at Ah Heng often turns out to be a sweaty affair

Blanched Vegetables (RM 7)

To get here, drive past Jalan Raja Laut. Turn into the junction directly opposite Bangunan PAS. It’s within walking distance from the famous Tao Xiang Fish Head Noodles too.

Ah Heng Food Corner
Jalan Tiong Nam
50350 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9569393
Opens frm 5pm till late

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*photos taken with iPhone 3GS

I have to admit that even though I’m working in the city centre, the Chow Kit area with the most diverse selection of food is still an unexplored territory for me. It wasn’t until KampungBoy’s family brought us to this fish head noodles place called Tao Xiang at Jalan Tiong Nam.

Tao Xiang serves no frills Chinese fare such as bakuteh, stewed pork trotters and fish head noodles under the zinc roof. So it is almost impossible to stay cool while slurping the noodles with gusto and gulping the every single drop of the leftover soup. Does it deter patrons from keep coming back? Apparently not! The eatery is buzzing with activities always and if you are lucky, you might secure a table right away. If not, be prepared to wait a bit during lunch hour.

We placed our order according to the number of pax. The fish head noodles are served in claypots of different sizes according to your order. It stands out with its generous amount of various ingredients such as fried fish slices, tofu, salted vegetables, cabbages, yam slices, fish balls, bean curd sheets and even lalas. I also like how they use thick vermicelli instead of mee hoon that has the tendency to absorb broth really fast.

The soup base was excellent and complex; the refreshingly tangy taste came from the tomatoes and salted vegetables while the fish slices and lalas gave it a mild sweet taste. And the evaporated milk added a delicious rich and creamy flavor to the soup.

Our total bill came to RM 6 per pax (inclusive of Chinese Tea). While it is not the most comfortable place to dine in (don’t say I didn’t warn you!), the food is absolutely delicious for very reasonable prices.

No. 2, Jalan Tiong Nam,
50350 Kuala Lumpur.
H/P: 019-3661540
If you are travelling along Jalan Raja Laut, drive pass Sime Darby and turn left after residence Hotel. Go straight and Tao Xiang is on your left.

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Nestled in a row of shop lot off Jalan TAR, Restoran Kin Kin itself is an eating establishment that takes pride in their killer chili pan mee. So much pride that I’ve heard so many horror stories of the grumpy owner and intolerable services.

To avoid getting shouted at, we went there on a quiet Sunday morning. I suppose the lady owner was in a jovial mood that day. She smiled while taking our orders. Service was a bit slow but it is bearable.

Our pan mee (RM5.50) arrived shortly after. The accompanying ingredients are pretty standard: fried anchovies (ikan bilis), minced pork, crispy fried shallot and egg poached to perfection. It is also served with a small bowl of soup and sayur manis to curb the spiciness.

What is chili pan mee without the piece de resistance – dry chili flakes! Add one or two table spoon of those fiery, aromatic chili flakes into your bowl, poke the runny egg yoke and give everything a good stir!

The outcome? A good bowl of chili pan mee that leaves you yearning for more because…at RM5.50, the portion is really small.

Restoran Kin Kin is located on the backstreet off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. Take a left turn at Pizza Hut followed by a right. The bright yellow signboard is hard to be missed. Oh or you can go to the opposite Restoran Super Kitchen, with bright yellow signboard too. The chili pan mee tastes the same and they price it at RM5.50 too.

Restoran Kin Kin
40 Ground Floor,
Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman 1,
Off Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman,
Chow Kit, KL.

Monday to Friday
730 am to 900pm
Saturday & Sunday
730am to 430pm

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Imbi market, situated a mere stone’s throw from Bukit Bintang, is a gourmet’s paradise. Me and my colleagues often find ourselves here on a Friday morning that it almost become a ritual, all for the love of a cup of thick and frothy Hainanese coffee. We even have the tea stall owner aka 海南仔 hai nan zai’s number. He will reserve a long stretch of table with a “VIP” seating sign placed on top after we ring and inform him that we are coming.

Glorious Hainanese coffee (RM1.60) with thick frothy foam that sits on top of the coffee. It is said that Hainanese coffee is actually cham with more tea than coffee as a composition. The coffee is aromatic and thick enough to keep me awake for a few hours.

For the toast, one can opt for the flat bread or the round bun and have the kaya and butter served separately. However, I like mine all nicely slathered with butter and kaya before they served it to you. The ultra thin toast that was slightly browned just hit the spot. It was so light and crispy that the crumbs kept falling from my mouth. I am a messy eater, heh!

The round bun too, was great. The exterior was crispy while the inside was all soft and fluffy. They are really generous with the fillings, as you can see from the thick slabs of butter.

Another stall not to be missed is the Sisters’ Crispy Popiah (RM1.80). The popiah stall can be spotted in major shopping malls and there’s even a Sisters’ Cafe in Menara Hap Seng. However, the original stall remains in Imbi Market.

The popiah is really good, and the quality is consistent because we come here often enough to justify that. Apart from the usual ingredients like shredded yambean, carrots, cucumber, egg and ground peanuts, some crispy bits are added in for some good crunch.

The chee cheong fun stall located next to Sisters’ has got some really nice fried fu zuk (bean curd) filled with minced pork. I always ask for 混酱 (mixed sauce – curry, sweet sauce, soy sauce) for my chee cheong fun and they always turn out good! My colleagues love the wantan noodles here too. At only RM4.00, the portion was generous with shredded chicken, char siew and wantans. Of course, there are various other stalls selling porridge, char kuey teow, chinese crullers, pastries, nasi lemak, etc under the (zinc) roof. I’m sure it’s enough to tempt you to make a trip here this weekend!

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

I’m going to blog about one of my favourite wantan mee stall at Restoran Okay, SS2. The appealing nature of the noodles is its crunchy and springy texture. As we stood by and observed, the noodles were blanched for a while and plunged into cold water to ensure a firm and springy texture.

The noodles were tossed and mixed with the soy sauce gravy which is slightly different from the ones sold elsewhere. The gravy was darker and a bit starchy but it was delicious, nonetheless.

The wantans were slightly bigger and they never skimp on the meat fillings. We also like the huge siu kow filled with minced prawn and water chestnuts that gave some really crunchy and springy bite to it.

I will not proclaim it as the best wantan noodles ever, but it is decent enough to warrant multiple visits after you have tried it.

Hoong Kee wantan noodles stall is opened from 11am till 6-7pm. We also frequent the Fatty Duck stall which is open at night.

Restoran Okay
Jalan SS2/10, Petaling Jaya
(same row as KAYU)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

Ban Lee is one of the few old school bakuteh establishments in KL  that still uses charcoal fire to heat up the claypot. It is also one of our favourite haunt for bakuteh because it is open throughout the day, albeit run by different bosses (I think).

Afternoon Session:

The bakuteh here is of the dark broth variation and is full of herbal aroma and flavor. There is also this bitter after taste that we absolutely adore while some find it too strong for their liking.

We always have an additional order of tau fu bok (bean curd) to go with the soup.

To complete the bakuteh experience, we must have some you char kuay (Chinese deep fried cruller) to be dipped into the broth and eaten.

Evening Session:

A new friend that we have just met told us about his favorite bakuteh in KL and insisted on taking us for dinner here. Other than the dark broth variation, one of the specialty of the evening session is the one with “white broth”. Made from lightly blanched pork bones that have been boiled for several hours, the “limited edition” white broth yields a sweeter taste with light hint of herbal aroma.

We had the special “yat chi kuat” in dark broth. It was HUGE but we polished it off easily. The meat was falling-off-the-bone-tender and the gelatinous strip of skin has minimal fat.

additional order of tau fu bok again.

All in all, Ban Lee serves pretty decent bakuteh and is one of those better one outside Klang. Whenever we felt like having some comfort food without venturing out from our comfort zone, Ban Lee is the place that comes into our mind instantly.

Kedai Makanan Ban Lee 万利肉骨茶餐室
222, Jalan Ipoh,
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
(next to Hotel Dynasty)

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG

With the famed Mo Sang Kor Bakuteh, Pao Xiang Bakuteh and Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih all located within the same row of shop lots, Taman Berkeley of Klang is probably a good place to do a mini food crawl.

However with only so much space left to relish our food, we opted for Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih since Mo Sang Kor has a branch outlet in Lot 10 Hutong while Pao Xiang already has a presence in One Utama and Pavilion.

Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House is apparently a very popular restaurant. Rave reviews were all over the internet when I tried goggling. Apart from that, most of the tables were occupied by the time we got there. So we queued up, placed our order at the stall and prayed, hoping that we won’t have to wait too long for our food.

The mee hoon kuih is prepared on the spot. The workers will flatten the dough with their palm and pinch it into some dough pieces with irregular shapes. The dough pieces is then cooked in the boiling broth and served together with vegetables, deep fried anchovies, pork slices and poached egg (additional order).

The mee hoon kuih/cooked dough were so smooth and silky that one will experience difficulties to told them with chopsticks. I love the optimum bite and chewy texture that it gave too. The broth has a mildly sweet flavor, from the slow boiling of anchovies and pork bones. Our only gripe was the lack of those finely chopped chili dippings that we usually see at any other pan mee places.

Priced at RM3.50 (without egg), the mee hoon kuih offers a good value for money. Other than Baby Seafood, Restoran Boston and Teck Huat Bakuteh (coming up), Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House is one of the eateries that can motivate us to travel the great distance to Klang.

Fatty Mee Hoon Kuih House
19 Lebuh Bangau, Taman Berkeley, Klang.
Opening hours: 10:00am – 11:00pm daily.

KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL/KAMPUNGBOYCITYGAL - A MALAYSIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BLOG