A couple of weeks ago, my friend took me to a restaurant that gave me a real nolstagic jostling. Smack on the busy street of old pudu is a restaurant that stood for more than 70 years on its original structure and I think that is rare in KL.
Restoran Sek Yuen. Built in old Straits Chinese Bauhaus-influenced style in a rather open plan (reminds me of buildings in my early childhood), the restaurant has ample air circulation which is more adapted to our hot and humid weather than today's cramped side shops over-flowing with hot stalls so common in PJ and Bangsar. The parking however is restricted to the back lane which is quite dodgy if you have a big car though...
the facade
entrance
cavernous structure of the interior, much like a pavillion
really old furniture with formeca-lined table top straight from the 60s! The worn patch is a testament to its years of repeated wiping and frictions...
liked that the owners took the pain to keep black and white photographs of the culinary processes in the kitchen on the walls
old-fashioned banquet plates made from aluminium - so 70s
standard condiments offered for the meals to come
a simple rustic chicken herbal soup (Yook Chook)
rice is served individually in tiffin-like containers. Refreshing but tad too much for small picky eaters like me...
my standard benchmark for Chinese restaurants: sweet and sour pork. Though a very common fair and rather simple, to get a perfect "Koo Low Yook" is an art and not many restaurants can pass the test of a crispy skin and soft easy center and a sweet and sour sauce that is well balanced. This one got a 6 out of 10 approval from me (considered a good dish)...
their signature dish - Pei Pa Ngap (Spiced Roast Duck). Rustic and hearty with sour plum sauce.
a simple sauteed "Thong Hor" vege - kind of like a very tender Aster or Chrysanthemum plant that is comestible. Nice in soup and stir fries.
The Maitre-D is a very nice lady by the name "Choo Chay" meaning Sister Choo. Just don't call her lady boss or she will have a word or two with you...Price is reasonable for KL and definitely worth checking out for their other old-world rustic dishes lost in today's nouvelle Chinese cuisine and fusion cuisine.
