In my previous work assignment at KK, I was fortunate enough to have awesome friends sending me to dinners every night. On one of the nights, Nelson, my biking buddy whom I never biked together with, brought me to one of the more popular Sang Yuk Mian places in town – Jia Xiang Sang Yuk Mian (家香生肉面)
Jia Xiang Sang Yuk Mian at Lintas, Kota Kinabalu
Jia Xiang is located at Lintas, some 10 minutes away from the heart of Kota Kinabalu. The restaurant is opened pretty much the whole day, with a host of rather efficient Philippine workers preparing the various dishes.
For those who aren’t familiar with Sang Yuk Mian, it is basically Sabah’s version of pork noodle. Sang Yuk directly translate to raw pork, as the slices of raw pork are cooked just before serving.
dry version of sang yuk mian, with mixed innards
Much like pork noodle in other places, there’s dry and soup versions, and both comes with soup that includes pork slices, liver, lard, pork ball, and other types of innards. The dry version also has some minced pork sprinkled on top of the noodle.
The noodle used here (at least at Jia Xiang) is a type that’s quite similar to Japanese soba and thus carry a better texture to it. The dark sauce also gave it a richer flavor.
soup version of sang yuk mian, I love the chilli sauce
Above all though, what I really enjoyed about sang yuk mian is the chili sauce that comes with the noodle soup, I find it very aromatic and packs a punch. In fact, I wish I can buy some of these chili sauce that’s so common in KK but seemingly unavailable in Klang Valley.
If you’re a fan of pork noodle, give this a try when you’re in KK, there aren’t many other better ways to spend RM 7.
I’d like to thank Nelson for introducing me to this place, he also took me to the pyramid chicken rice place, good times!
Address: Jia Xiang Sang Yuk Mian Lorong Lintas Plaza Kota Kinabalu, Sabah GPS:5.946552, 116.089308
Klang is of course, most famous as the epicenter of bak kut teh, but hidden in this town that is notorious for producing a large number of ah bengs & gangstas is also a one of a kind restaurant that serves very unique pork ribs rice.
The restaurant is Peng Heong Hakka Paikut (or pai kuat in Cantonese, which means pork ribs). I’ve actually covered this place back in the first year of this blog, but since then, the little shack has moved into a big corner restaurant, and the menu has expanded too. So I suppose it warrants a rewrite. 😀
Peng Heong Hakkai Paikut at Klang
The restaurant is situated just off Jalan Pasar, and unlike the old location, now there is ample parking. Furthermore, weather is not a factor anymore, the place is clean, well ventilated, and with good hygiene.
The menu is filled with picture and price for every dish, and ordering is done via wireless device from the server straight to the kitchen. If you think Klang is the backwater of Selangor, this might change your mind, might.
the all important pork ribs, succulent and full of flavor
The star here is obviously the pork ribs. Priced from RM 8 to RM 20, they are succulent, sweet, and absolutely delicious. The ribs are mostly de-boned too so there’s plenty of meat in this plate of goodness. The taste is a bit strong if you have it as is, but with rice, it’s heaven.
chai buih, rice with dark soya sauce, pork tripes soup, asam fish
Other than pork ribs, the chai buih is a must order. Take it as a Chinese version of kimchi, spicy, sour, and full of kick. Over here they have it proper, and anyone who loves chai buih shouldn’t ever miss this one.
The asam fish and pork tripe soup too are of pretty good quality around here, they make very good complimentary dishes and provides a good change of taste.
the drinks usually comes in big bottles to be shared, love the soya bean
Missing from the photos is the pork knuckle in vinegar that we tried on another visit. It has some of the fattest pork knuckle in arguably the most sourish vinegar “soup” that I’ve tried. I love it!
We usually spend about RM 14-20 per person per visit. Pretty reasonable pricing for what you get, so don’t just go to Klang for bak kut teh ya!
Address: Peng Heong Hakka Paikut Restaurant No 2, Lorong Gudang Nanas, Off Jalan Pasar, 41400 Klang Selangor GPS: 3.048, 101.4448 Tel: 019-260 0855, 012-236 9855
Claypot chicken rice is one of those Chinese food that is more popular in this region than most parts of China. With the preparation method that involves charcoal and claypot, it is also something that is usually consumed outside rather than home cooked. (though I’ve made similar style chicken rice at home)
A meal involving claypot chicken rice usually takes quite a bit longer than usual due to the time it takes to have the rice to cook, so it was fitting that we went to Huen Kee on a Friday 2-hour lunch break.
claypot chicken rice at Huen Kee, with charcoal on top!
Huen Kee has been in operation for well over a decade, and they have a little secret in cooking that I’ve seldom seen anywhere else – by utilizing charcoal from both bottom and top of the pot! This ensures a faster cooking time as well as a more even heat distribution on the rice, brilliant.
The chicken rice came with a separate serving of salted fish (if you asks for it), and has generation portion of chicken and Chinese sausage in the pretty strongly flavored rice that carries a hint of rice wine.
The aroma that exudes out from the pot as you mix the ingredients had me licking my lips before digging in, and the taste did not disappoint at all, it was one of the best claypot chicken rice I’ve had.
menu and price list at Huen Kee
Other than chicken rice, we had pork tripe soup (spicy and offer a good contrasting taste to chicken), their signature seafood tofu (above average, but I prefer the one at Peter’s curry fish head), and some oily vegetable (for color and .. vitamin)
The claypot chicken rice is priced from RM 9, RM 16, and RM 22 according to size, and they also sell waxed duck rice, chicken with rice wine soup, and even curry fish head too.
Address: Huen Kee claypot chicken rice 59, Ground Floor, Jalan Yew, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan 55100 GPS: 3.13392, 101.71664 Tel: 03-9200 1603
Kampung Cempaka isn’t a particularly popular place for anyone other than its residence to be at. It is one of the oldest Chinese “kampung” at PJ, and a place more known for it’s ah beng gangsters and confusing zigzagging roads.
Not coincidentally, it is also a place with hidden old school Chinese hawker foods that has so far been mostly withstood the foreign invasion (aka Myanmar workers acting as cooks)
pork tripe soup and mixed pork soup, kopitiam with no name
The only reason I am somewhat familiar with Kampung Cempaka was due to the fact that I stayed there for a few months with my aunt during my college days. That was in the late 90s when Dataran Prima and Aman Suria were literally jungles, the house we were in is actually now the roundabout.
On a recent trip to the area in search for the Kg. Cempaka prawn mee (sold out by the time we got there), we stumbled upon this little kopitiam at the corner without names and decided to give it a try.
coagulated pork blood, this is my calling *slurp*
Fortune favors the bold, as we stepped in, I saw this stall that sells pork tripe soup & mixed pork soup. Jackpot! So we ordered one of each.
The mixed pork soup (RM 5.50) came with plenty of goodies – pork ball, intestine, tripe, 3-layer meat, and of course, the all important coagulated pork blood in peppery soup topped with some scallion. It was delicious, I went again a week or so later.
sometimes we have cendawan tagging along
The pork trip soup (RM 7 or so) was slightly unconventional with the inclusion of sliced carrot. I liked the carrot that gives the soup a bit of a sweeter taste on top of the peppery flavor, but Haze doesn’t think it is very appropriate. There were pretty good amount of yummy pork tripes though.
We’ve been here twice, and I think I’m gonna explore a bit more at the other kopitiams within Kampung Cempaka soon.
Address: Jalan PJU 1/6,
Kampung Cempaka, Petaling Jaya
47301 Selangor GPS: 3.117350, 101.599009
Gong Xi Fa Cai and wish you have a happy and prosperous Rabbit year!
It’s been a tradition of sort for my family to come over to KL from Penang every year over CNY since 6-7 years ago. This is partly to avoid the crazy traffic in Penang (and the commute), plus I suspect, maybe giving mom a chance in having real Klang Bak Kut Teh at least once a year. 😀
Kedai Makanan Nan Sian, Klang
So on the third day of Chinese New Year we drove all the way to Klang in search for any bak kut teh restaurant that’s open for business.
After the Klang toll and turning back into Jalan Batu Tiga Lama, there was Kedai Makanan Nan Sian. Incidentally, we also came here some 6-7 years ago at about the same time for BKT, with my late dad then, as my mom recalled. It has been that long.
dry and soup bak kut teh, klang style
While we only had the soup BKT on the first visit, there’s dry bak kut teh to go along with the more traditional soup version this time around. For those who have been sleeping over the last 5 years or so, dry bak kut teh has since taken on major stride and available at many major BKT outlets these days.
The dry version is rumored to have made popular by Lai Choon Klang BKT, not far from Nan Sian.
two types of bak kut teh, with chinese tea, of course
The dry version over here is as good as any, with plenty of sliced okra, dried chili, and I suspect, a little bit of dried cuttle fish to add to the taste. It was flavorful and intense.
The soup version is proto typical Klang style, very herbal, thick, sticky, and with a big pork bone in the middle of the clay pot too. We had it with pork knuckle, 3-layer meat, pork tripe, intestine, a bit of mushroom, tofu, fu chok, and that slice of lettuce (mostly for decoration). If you like them old school Klang BKT, you can’t go wrong with this one.
