Kuala Lumpur treats

We recently made a trip to this bustling capital of Malaysia. With its ever changing landscape and the famous Twin Towers reigning over the city, this place has wonderful eating places scattered all over. Walking through the lanes, you will find yourself sitting in alleys enjoying a plate of fried noodles or walking into nice restaurants surrounded by mouthwatering dishes, the choice is yours. Visit KL for a goody foody time...

The chinatown in KL has evolve as fast as you can ever imagine, the place has turned into a tourist magnet with stalls after stalls peddling copy designer goods from bags to shoes to T-shirts and more. Among all these hulla-bulla, you will find good food and one of the stall is the

• Wanton noodle shop on Jalan Petaling, its nestled behind the row of stalls selling the fake goods. This shop has been here for as long as I can remember and the noodles are cooked to perfection. Order the original and you will get a good topping of shredded chicken, char siew and vegetables bath in a little black soya sauce together with sliced mushrooms. This is accompanied by a small bowl of broth with a few wantons in it. Have these with the pickled shredded green chili for a more rounded taste. Go early or be prepared to wait during lunch hour.


• Another stall in Chinatown not to be missed is the roast duck stall, eptly named "Sze Ngan Chai" which is "Four-eyed kid" in cantonese. The roast duck is marinated using salt and other spices giving it a very unique taste as compared with other roast duck stalls around. The meat is very tender & juicy, it falls off the bone with just a light tuck and the skin gives a wonderful aroma with a hint of charcoal. Its a must try if you are a roast duck fan! The minimum order is half a duck. Make sure you're there early or you will be disappointed....


• If you crave for fried black noodles ala "Hak Min", the one located along Jalan Tan Cheng Lock is reputed to be one of the best. Eating here is a test of guts as you will be dining among the roaches and occassionally rats running along the sidewalls. This stall is easily spotted with its trademark charcoal fire and a bright hanging lightbulb. If you are standing outside the chinatown Macdonald's, its diagonally across just after the traffic light junction. Open only in the evening till the early hours of the morning, this stall uses charcoal for frying the noodles. The noodles, with a choice of yellow, vermicelli or flat rice noodles are fried with a generous amount of sliced pork, liver and vegetables in dark soya sauce. The end result is a wonderful smelling plate of black noodles wafting with the aroma of dark sauce together with the smell of slightly burnt noodles from the charcoal fire, is definately a treat. This is further enhanced with the sambal chili and a good lashing of small pieces of fried lard if your health permits. Oooopps....

Moving away from chinatown, they are several places where good food lurks and our next agenda is the

• Hakka Yong Tau Foo located at Lorong Peel, close proximity to Jusco Maluri. Tuck away in a run-down shop, this place is where good food awaits as you make your choice of fishballs, lady fingers, brinjal, tofu, pigs skin, dried tofu (tau pok), beancurd skin, meatballs amd many more... All these are coated with a layer of fish paste mixed with minced pork and a type of dried fish which is finely chopped. They are then either fried or cooked in a broth and served with steam rice. As you bite into each piece, you will get to taste the filling which is beyond description as there are so many flavours bursting in your mouth. Eat it with the accompanying sauces and you will go away a happy man! Try their assam fish too. It's definately better than the overhype ampang yong tau foo...!


• Well if you are someone who enjoys HK style cafe then Kim Gary is the place. The food is reminiscent of HK cafes which features baked rice, noodles and a good selection of sandwiches, drinks and desserts. This place is tops among the many HK style cafes that have sprouted with outlets all over KL. For a quieter setting, visit the outlet at Avenue K shopping centre where the food is also more consistent. Go for a good "Ying Yang", which is a mix of milk coffee and tea, and take a bite of the thick toast with peanut butter and condensed milk... What's more?


• Having breakfast at the Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang is a good start to the day. Located near the spanking Pasar Rakyat, the stalls are all scattered around the market ground with umbrellas and canvas sheets shielding you from the sun and rain. Find a place, order your food and wait. The porridge here is wonderful and is served with slice pork, pigs tongue, deep-fried intestines and more topped with a good sprinkling of spring onions. The crunchy intestines coupled with the porridge is something of a marriage on the palette and taste really good. End your meal with a good glass of strong locally brewed iced or hot coffee...