Review: Good, hearty Breakfast @ Restoran Win Heng Seng - Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur

Kays & I were back in his hometown KL over the weekend for brother-in-law Yew & ST's wedding celebration. It was an extremely short trip so we've not been able to cover much grounds on the food front. I still have on my list Soo Kee KL Hokkien Mee & Beef Hor Fun, Klang Bak Kut Teh, SS2 Mi Goreng special!! Unfortunately these are all located very far from one another so I will probably take a few trips to fulfill them all.

One of the Woo-boys' comfort food is the Pork Ball Noodle Soup, and Yew brought us specially to Win Heng Seng coffeeshop @ Jalan Imbi which is one of the better known stalls in KL.

If you're staying in the KL city area, this place is just a short walk/ cab ride around the corner from Jalan Bukit Bintang. This coffee shop is located prominently at the corner of Jalan Imbi, next to an open air carpark in the day (that magically transforms to even more food stalls by night) so it's hard to miss.

Pork Ball Noodle Soup

The rice noodles (kway teow) was cooked al dente, topped with fresh chopped scallions, marinated minced pork, pork balls that somehow were never round. What made the most lasting impression were interestingly their dark, flavourful sausages. 

While their soup base didn't have as much oomph as our regular stall in Petaling Jaya, this is no doubt a favourite breakfast haunt for many locals.

It's usually packed so be prepared to wait a while for a table

this is the stall we bought from - just look out for this uncle and the stack of sausages at the side!

Do also try the Sio Bao and egg tarts at the little pastry stall around the corner, which seems to be another crowd puller in the morning.

Next trip in December, so I will attempt at fulfilling my list again!

7 out of 10
Restoran Win Heng Seng 永興成茶餐室
Jalan Imbi
Kuala Lumpur

Review: Ah Mak's Must Try List - Klang Style Bak Kut Teh

As most locals would know, there are 2 main types of Bak Kut Teh. The Singaporean style usually consists of a clear peppery broth with lots of garlic, while the other is touted as a Malaysian classic which has a thicker, herbal soup base served in a claypot. While I have my favourites for the former, Kays is a purist and insists that the Klang style claypot BKT is the real thing.

My most memorable BKT experience was indeed in KL Klang valley, where there were a row of shophouses all selling the delicious herbal variety. The stall we visited then served yam rice along with the BKT, which also had enoki mushrooms, fishballs and lots of veggies! I've not been able to find something that came close in Singapore, but we do have a couple of favourites whenever we needed to get our fix.

This weekend we had the craving again, and headed to Kays' favourite stall at Alexandra Village only to find out that the entire food centre has closed for renovations! Disappointed, we drove to the Jalan Bukit Merah ABC food centre around the corner to find some other food and surprise surprise, we chanced upon the said stall relocated here! It must be fate!

Leon Kee Pork Rib Soup was easy to miss because of the lack of photos on its signboard. We found them purely because its neighbour was also selling BKT (but the peppery kind) which caught my eye. Kays then very quickly recognised one lady next door at Leon Kee as a regular staff from the old location. Thrilled, we quickly ordered and took our seats, waiting eagerly for the food. Kays was elated because we stumbled upon this place and we lapped up the soup almost immediately.

Leon Kee BKT with fried fitters, kailan with stewed mushrooms

While Kays preferred the stronger herbal taste at this Bukit Merah stall and I agree the meat is more flavourful, I personally preferred the other Leong Kee, sounds similar but I don't think they are related, at Beach Road and Geylang, which has a richer, thicker soup and the tender meat comes right off the pork ribs. Will post more about this other Leong Kee when we next visit!

So there you have it, our 2 top choices for Klang style claypot BKT!
Ah Mak's Klang Bak Kut Teh Must Try List:

8 out of 10

1. Leon Kee Pork Rib Soup, Big Prawn Noodles

Blk 6, Jalan Bukit Merah

#01-03, ABC Market 

*Heard that their claypot prawn noodles are good too!

8 out of 10

2. Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh @ Beach Road

321 Beach Road
Kampong Glam Conservation Area

3. Leong Kee (Klang) Bak Kut Teh@ Geylang

251, Geylang Road (Beside Lor 11)

(they've moved from their previous location at Lor 21A)

Review: Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo Mee @ Chinatown

Kays & I made our bi-monthly pilgrimage to Chinatown to top up on cheap toiletries this morning and we'd planned to try out the "loh-mei" (braised meats) stall at the People's Park hawker centre but for the 2nd time it was closed when we got there! So, instead we headed over to a tried and tested stall - Koo Kee for their Yong Tau Foo noodles. There always seems to be a queue at this stall, which specialises in Hakka-style Yong Tau Foo. For $3.50, you get a bowl of piping hot soup of stuffed tofu accompanied by dry noodles drizzled in garlic and shallot oil and topped with minced chicken meat. Kays had the popular thin noodles while I had kway teow instead.

The soup was tasty yet light, with a hint of sweetness from the fresh fish meat. The sweet and chili dipping sauces added the right tinge of flavours to the stuffed tofu. All in all makes for a satisfying breakfast/ brunch experience! They have a couple of other branches, I think, one in Upper Thomson but this Chinatown stall is the original outlet.

 

7 out of 10 

Koo Kee Yong Tau Foo Mee 

32 New Market Road

#01-1114 People’s Park Centre