Siu Yoke @ Hai Lam Chicken Rice, Jalan Nyonya, Pudu, KL

When it comes to roast pork (Siu Yoke in Chinese), everyone has their own opinion on what's the best. For me, my ultimate Siu Yoke has to have ultra crispy skin topping tender melt in the mouth meat. Recently we found one great contender for the ultimate Siu Yoke which fit all the categories perfectly. Only problem is, it also has layers of fats which makes it an extremely sinful bite each time you indulge in it.

Located in a tiny corner shophouse in Pudu, just off Changkat Thambi Dollah, this place is suspended in a "twilight zone" from noon onwards with people queueing near the stall or just sitting around the tables waiting for the siu yoke to be ready. People only get animated when the owner walks in from the back with slabs of siu yoke. Once he gets to his stall, he starts chopping furiously to fill up the accumulated orders.

If you love Siu Yoke, do try this stall as theirs is really unique - it has crispy skin on top and bottom, giving you double the crackle. Don't count the layers of fat in between as once you pop in it the mouth, you don't taste it as the fat melts straight away. Premium siu yoke like this does not come cheap so be prepared to pay slightly higher prices than normal here - around RM12 to RM15 for an order to be shared among two people.

It's interesting to note how they make the siu yoke - instead of a high powered oven, they use just any oil drum filled with charcoal. The slabs of siu yoke is hooked on the side of the drum with metal hooks and roasted for almost three hours. Once it's ready, they'll open the oil drum and remove the slabs, brush it a bit if there are slightly blackish parts and it's ready to be chopped and served.

Note also the owner of the stall is a proud recipient of a medal from the King, Jasa Pingat Kebangsaan (JPK) and has received lots of recognition from the MCA party with pictures of him with the policitians on his wall of fame. I'm not too sure if he is in involved in any other charities but he gets my vote for contributing to the community with his excellent Siu Yoke.

Hai Lam Chicken Rice
(Located inside Restaurant Wong Kee)

30 Jalan Nyonya, Off Jalan Pudu
Kuala Lumpur

Tel No: 03 - 2145 2512

(Opens from 11.30 am onwards till 2.30 pm. The Siu Yoke is ready by 12.30 to 12.45 so do come early to book a table and place your order before it finishes. The shop is closed on Sundays. Note the signboard is not very evident so look for the Hai Lam Chicken Rice sign inside the stall which is more evident. Their stall is the only one in the restaurant.)

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