Hokkien Noodles @ Setapak Teochew Restaurant, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur

the yummiest ever Hokkien noodles

Nowadays, searching for the best ever Hokkien fried noodles is kinda like looking for a needle in the haystack ......or maybe the holy grail! My uncle has a theory that those fellas who used to wok up an aromatic charcoal black noodles with loadsa flavour have retired from active wok duty, hence the ones we now get just don't make the cut. He does have a point as I have blurry visions and memories of superbly great Hokkien noodles at the old D&C bank's corner in the city centre long long ago when I was a wee little one. Literally the heart of the city - the buses will gather across the road, adding a little "extra" into the already black-soot-like noodles, whenever they zoomed past. We used to chuckle, "that's why it's so tasty.....the secret ingredient is from the bus."


fried beehoon, signboard, fishcake and signs on the table

When asked what's the secret to great tasting Hokkien noodles, people often say, "it's the fried lard bits" but there's actually more to that. While fried lard bits add a certain charm (and sinful crunch) to the silky black strands, it's actually the braising or "gau in Cantonese" part that seperates a great tasting Hokkien noodles from the sea of mediocre ones. An aromatic stock is a must - flavoured with a pinch of the dried flat fish (chor hau yee) grinded into a powder, which the noodles are boiled in until the sauce thickens.

flaky biscuits, 100 year old sign

At this 100 year old restaurant more renowned for their flaky Teochew mooncakes and wedding biscuits, a must in any well deserving Chinese traditional wedding - it's a surprise to find they make one of the best ever Hokkien noodles (RM6 for a single portion). Their secret weapon - their own handmade noodles. Flatter than the yellow round noodles (tai lok mee) we usually find at other stalls, this one boasts of very little or no alkaline water, hence they taste is so much better and less artificial. Braised until the sauce just coats and hugs each strand of the noodles like a silky black dress, it comes without any fried lard fritters but is redolent with the scent of lard, since it is fried with the sinful oil. Owning up to its Teochew roots, you will find a fishball under the mountain of strands.

take me home noodles for 1kg for RM3.50

Another crowd favourite is the white fried beehoon, a pale looking noodle unanointed with dark soy sauce. I've eaten this before and liked it but this time round, it was a tad too oily. Nevertheless, it was still very aromatic and laden with ingredients (dried prawns, sliced fishcakes, shallots). I liked how they added a green chilli to the mix, which renders a teeny weeny tingle to your tongue from the spiciness. They also serve fishcake - deep fried with a crispy skin - utter yumminess!

On the biscuit level, we gave one a try. While it had a light flaky pastry that was fresh, I didn't quite like the sparse and not aromatic tau sar (mung bean) filling. They also have other traditional biscuits like the rice crackers, another must for Hokkien weddings. One thing that baffles me though, how a Teochew place is serving Hokkien styled wedding biscuits and noodles!! Oh well, guess there could be some intermarriage somewhere, hence the cross of cuisines somewhere. Lucky us, as it meant we get to enjoy these wonderful noodles.

Setapak Teochew Restaurant
283 & 285

Jalan Pahang

Setapak

Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-4023 8706

(Non Halal. Open from 7.30am to 4pm. Closed on Sundays. They also have a branch in Kepong. The place is on Jalan Pahang, further down from Tawakal Hospital but on the opposite side of the road. You can't miss the place, as it faces the main road. More detailed pictures in the Flickr set.)

*Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here is entirely based on my personal tastebuds and may vary for others. This review is time sensitive; changes may occur to the place later on that can affect this opinion. The reviewer also declares that she has not received any monetary or non-monetary compensation from this place for writing the review.

Tagged with: Hokkien Noodles