Mention
that three little words to any pork-loving Klangite and they will jump
into a long debate about the best Bak Kut Teh in Klang. Bak Kut Teh may
seem like a simple dish with only pork and herbs, but it comes in many
forms. It could be strong and intense, or light and soupy; it could come
in a humble bowl with only pork, or it could come in a claypot of
goodies.
For a typical Klangite, the herbal pork dish that is
affectionately eaten for breakfast with Chinese tea brought from home is
not just food. It is a ritual, a tradition of sorts.
No matter
what your personal preference is, you are bound to find your favorite in
this land of Bak Kut Teh. Below are 10 must-tries Bak Kut Teh in
Klang. (The restaurants are listed in no
particular order.)
*Some of the establishments below are not halal.
1. Restoran Mo Sang Kor @ Taman Berkeley This
restaurant is famous for two things; its potent broth and its
stinginess in providing extra broth. But, there is a good reason why the
chef at Mo Sang Kor Bak Kut Teh is very careful when it comes to orders
for more soup: they never dilute their broth with water. The broth here
is so thick and slimy that it is a dark brown colour close to black. At
first taste, your palette is hit by the fragrance of pork, followed by
the pleasant smell of herbs. The taste lingers at the back of your
throat, making you want more. The juicy pork that is infused with the
broth simply melts in your mouth. If you are looking for unadulterated,
authentic Bak Kut Teh, you cannot go wrong with Mo Sang Kor Bak Kut Teh.
2. Ah Her Bak Kut Teh @ Pandamaran This
is not a place for those who like to drench their rice in soup. It is,
however, a place for those who like their Bak Kut Teh strong and
intense. You don’t get a lot of broth at Ah Her Bak Kut Teh; requests
for broth refills are typically only reserved for those who order extra
helping of rice. The broth is thick and concentrated with the beautiful
marriage of pork and herbs. As for the tender pork, it is bursting with
herbal sweetness. The chef could easily add more water to please his
customers and sell more bowls of Bak Kut Teh, but he choses not to
compromise the quality of his famed broth. So savour every single last
drop of that delicious soup in your bowl, because that’s all you get. Ah
Her Bak Kut Teh is only available for dinner from 5.30pm onwards.
3. Lai Hing Restaurant @ Pandamaran Lai
Hing Bak Kut Teh has a list of media features under its belt and
definitely deserves a spot on OpenRice too. The broth is creamy, thick
and bursting with herbal flavors; the pork is so tender it is falling
off the bones. With every bite of meat, the fragrance of the pork bathed
with herbal aroma gently dissolves in your mouth. Be careful, for Lai
Hing Bak Kut Teh can be addictive, it keeps getting better and better
with every bite. This is as authentic as original Bak Kut Teh can get.
Lai Hing Bak Kut Teh has over 25 years of history and 4 other branches
around Klang. Be sure to arrive as early as you can, as the first
servings are the tastiest. They run out by 12pm, so don’t sleep in.
4. Kedai Makanan Seng Huat (Under The Bridge) @ Jalan Besar Under
The Bridge Bak Kut Teh is one of the first to come to mind when the
question of best Bak Kut Teh arises. This restaurant dates back to 1979,
but the recipe has over 70 years of history. Not only is it popular
among the locals, people from all over KL flock here to get their Bak
Kut Teh fix too. It is popular among people who prefer a lighter Bak Kut
Teh broth compared to the strong herbal kind. The smell of herbs is
elegant, pleasant and not too overpowering. Watch the chef at work and
you will see care put into every bowl as he sieves each bowl of soup to
remove bits of the magical ingredients that make the soup so delicious.
Under The Bridge Bak Kut Teh is open for both breakfast and dinner.
5. Restaurant Kee Heong @ Taman Eng Ann Restaurant
Kee Heong has been operating for over 30 years and has become a
childhood memory for many adults who live in the area. While the Taman
Eng Ann outlet is the headquarters, Restaurant Kee Heong can also be
found in Bayu Perdana, SS2 and even all the way in Genting Highlands.
Restaurant Kee Heong is loved for the aromatic herbal fragrance in its
Bak Kut Teh broth. There is a light natural herbal sweetness to the
taste. The pork is tender and fragrant; its aroma fills your mouth with
every bite. While the smell of the herbs is evident, it is balanced and
not too overpowering. This is one scrumptious Bak Kut Teh broth that you
can’t stop slurping, the perfect companion for Chinese crullers.
6. Restoran Chow Kiat @ Jalan Kapar There
is a debate revolving around Restoran Chow Kiat: is their Bak Kut Teh
better during breakfast or dinner? As it turns out, different
proprietors operate Restoran Chow Kiat’s morning and evening shift.
While this old school establishment is one of the go-to-place for a
porky dinner, it is packed in the mornings as well. The two mornings and
evening operators seemed to have agreed to serve delicious bowls of
traditional Bak Kut Teh that is well worth your money. You won’t find
any of the fancy additions like mushrooms, cabbage, or bean curd here.
However, what you can expect from both shifts is good ol’ pure Bak Kut
Teh with sweet-smelling herbal soup of perfect consistency that will
satisfy your tummy.
7. Teluk Pulai (Pottery) Ba Kut Teh @ Taman Intan Did
you know that Claypot Bak Kut Teh is not traditional but a rather
recent invention? The Claypot Bak Kut Teh trend was said to be started
by Teluk Pulai (Clay Pot) Bak Kut Teh over 30 years ago. Today, business
is booming with long lines for an empty table. It’s no wonder as its
Claypot Bak Kut Teh is one of the best in town. The herbal pork broth is
simmered for two hours and poured into a combination of fresh green
cabbage, bean curd skin, tao pok and mushrooms. The Bak Kut Teh broth
here is of a soupy rendition, one that is clear, hearty, and soothing.
They say chicken soup is good for the soul. Well, the Teluk Pulai (Clay
Pot) Bak Kut Teh could have the same effect too.
8. Yap Beng Restaurant @ Lorong Nipah, Pandamaran Full
house at 1pm was a clear sign that Yap Beng Bak Kut Teh has good food
in store, and it did not disappoint. The claypot Bak Kut Teh here has
the perfect balance of flavours and aroma. The broth is on the soupy
side with a hint of saltiness. Yap Beng Bak Kut Teh’s pride is the
much-celebrated dry Bak Kut Teh that is savoury and sweet with just the
right hint of spiciness. The dry Bak Kut Teh is so popular that regulars
would order boxes of it to be frozen and flown to Thailand and
Indonesia. The sweetness of the dry Bak Kut Teh pairs well with the
saltiness of the Bak Kut Teh broth, making it a perfect hearty
combination for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come on a Saturday or
Sunday and you can even try their sweet and sour black vinegar pork
trotters.
9. Restoran Weng Heong @ Taman Intan Restoran
Weng Heong or “Forever Fragrant” is aptly named as that best describes
its Claypot Bak Kut Teh. Stir the piping hot soup in the claypot and you
will begin to taste a combination of flavours: beancurd, pork,
mushroom. The soup is light yet hearty, with a very faint hint of herbs
in the background. Restoran Weng Heong’s signature dish is the very
interesting Sea Cucumber Bak Kut Teh. Thanks to the gelatin found in sea
cucumber, the broth transforms from watery to slimy. The combination of
herbs and distinct smell of the sea cucumber provides a very peculiar
bitter aftertaste. While the soup is perplexing, the sea cucumber is
deliciously springy and chewy. However, be warned that the sea cucumber
alternative is on the premium end with a price tag of RM50.
10. Fei Kay Bah Kut Teh @ Persiaran Pegaga, Taman Bayu Perdana Fey
Kay Bak Kut Teh is a heartwarming story of siblinghood. “Fey Kay”,
which actually means airplane, is adopted from the elder brother’s
moniker. While the elder brother has his own store of the same name, his
siblings operate this Taman Bayu Perdana branch. In the morning, his
little brother runs the shop. In the afternoon, his second brother takes
over. As heartwarming as the family ties is their Claypot Bak Kut Teh.
The broth is on the salty side and has a thick, sticky consistency that
is lip smacking good. However, the shop’s specialty is the dry Bak Kut
Teh. Bak Kut Teh broth is rendered and added with dry soy sauce, lady
fingers, dry chilies and cuttlefish. Fek Kay Bak Kut Teh claims that
they were the first to add cuttlefish in the dry version after finding
that salted fish made the dish too salty.
Source From : Open Rice |