Neighbourhood Noshin: Klang

Klang holds a treasure trove of dining options and we reveal some of them here. 

Restoran Teluk Pulai Bak Kut Teh
ADDRESS 27H, Jalan Teluk Pulai, 41100 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 012-3018 838 (NG) OPEN 7AM–3PM daily (Closed first tuesday of the month) CUISINE TYPE Local PRICE RANGE RM15–40
A trip to Klang would not be complete without bak kut teh, and Teluk Pulai is one of the best places to enjoy this delicacy. The soup here is light and more herbal compared to other places where the dish tends to be prepared with more soy sauce. The pork meat is tender and has just the right infusion of flavours. Try the dry bak kut teh, where the pork is cooked with soy sauce, lady's fingers, dried chillies and cuttle fish. With a pleasant tinge of spiciness, the dry version is tasty and adds variety to a soupy meal.

Restoran Boston Baru 
ADDRESS 1E, Jalan Kapar, 41400 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 016-2683 104 OPEN 7PM–1:30AM daily CUISINE TYPE Chinese PRICE RANGE RM15–40
Having been at the same spot for more than 20 years, this unassuming restaurant with a coffee shop facade contains great eats at reasonable prices. Two of the must-tries are the Nestum hekor (mantis prawn) and wine lala (clams). Klang folks are willing to wait more than an hour just to enjoy these two dishes. The Nestum hekor is wonderfully aromatic and has the right amount of sweetness. The smell alone is good enough to make you salivate. The wine lala is boiled with Chinese wine, ginger and fried garlic. The clincher is the soup, which is flavoursome and warms you up instantly. Be prepared to wait at least half an hour for these two dishes. 

Restoran Hainan Curry Rice
ADDRESS 26, Lorong Batu Nilam 3C, Bandar Bukit Tinggi, 41200 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 03-3324 6371 OPEN 7:30AM–9PM daily (Closed first and third tuesday of the month) CUISINE TYPE Chinese PRICE RANGE Less than RM15
The traditional Hainanese recipes at this quaint restaurant originated from China and have been passed down for generations. You must try the Hainan Curry, which is herby rather than spicy. The curry is served as "a swimming pool," as a generous serving over steamed white rice. Order a variety of Hainanese specialities to complement the curry, such as the braised pork belly, char siew, tauhu and egg as well as mutton or chicken curry. Also available are east-meets-west dishes such as the Hainan chicken or pork chop. Don’t leave without ordering the absolutely scrumptious Durian Pancakes, freshly made with D24 durians and hard to find elsewhere. The best thing about this restaurant is that prices are really low and you can get a variety of excellent food for less than RM10 per person.

Porno Chicken (unofficial name)
ADDRESS 53, Jalan Selampit 24, Taman Klang Jaya, 41200 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 012-2500 766 OPEN 7:30pm–11:30PM CUISINE TYPE Local PRICE RANGE Less than RM15
Porno Chicken is a small, modest corner stall that sells finger-licking-good fried chicken, nothing raunchy. Klang folks started calling it Porno Chicken because of the pornographic VCD stall that used to be beside it. The chicken is so popular there's a queue snap it up right as it comes out of the wok. Flavourful and nicely marinated, Porno Chicken gives KFC a run for its money. 

Restoran Shanmuga
ADDRESS Lot 4858, Jalan Angsa, Taman Berkeley, 41150 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 03-3343 0500 OPEN 4AM–4PM daily CUISINE TYPE Local PRICE RANGE Less than RM15
Klang fried chicken aficionados are split into two camps–the ones who prefer Porno Chicken, and the ones who prefer Shanmuga. Shanmuga serves your regular mamak fare but the fried chicken is to die for. It is extremely delicious and one piece is never enough. Try their nasi lemak, served with killer sambal! This unassuming eatery in the heart of Klang town is located beside the more eye-catching and bustling Berkeley Corner mamak but despite being rather inconspicuous, the food is truly enjoyable. 

Hou Moon Restaurant
ADDRESS 34 & 36, Jalan Hip Hing, Off Jalan Goh Hock Huat, 41400 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 03-3343 0467 OPEN 9:30AM–3:30PM, 5:30pm–9:30pm daily, closed on thursdays CUISINE TYPE Chinese PRICE RANGE RM15–40 (per dish)
The ginger steamed fish is the most popular dish here. The ginger kick makes the overall taste really piquant. Other must-try dishes include roast pork, fried brinjal with French beans and the kam heong fried fish. Packed to the brim during peak hours, the staff have to run around to accommodate customers. Health-conscious foodies should take note that they do not scrimp on using oil in their dishes. 

Nyonya Kitchen And Caterers
ADDRESS 220–222, Jalan Batu Unjur 7, Taman Bayu Perdana, 41200 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL 03-3324 1151 / 1190 OPEN 11:30AM–10PM CUISINE TYPE Local PRICE RANGE RM15–40
This comfortably furnished restaurant serves authentic Nyonya dishes which are healthy and big on taste. Choose from a variety of traditional Nyonya fare such as ikan garam assam, sambal petai udang and ayam pong-tay. Try the ayam pandan, the restaurant’s all-time best-seller consisting of screwpine-leaf-wrapped chicken cutlets fried till golden brown. The good thing about this restaurant is that the dishes are neither too oily nor too salty. The ambience is Nyonya, with traditional paintings and antique windows adorning the walls. 

Cendol Klang
ADDRESS 78, Jalan Nanas, 41400 Klang, Selangor TRAIN N/A TEL N/A OPEN 11AM–7:30PM CUISINE TYPE Local PRICE RANGE Less than RM15
This popular cendol eatery started off 37 years ago on a bicycle. The owner, who has since passed away, eventually bought a shoplot where his mobile stall had operated. This shop is synonymous with good, old-fashioned Klang cendol. For only RM1.40, you get a lovely bowl of crushed ice with fleshy cendol, rich coconut milk, thick gula Melaka and delightful kidney beans. You can also choose to have your bowl with pulut (glutinous rice) or ice-cream. Definitely a treat on sweltering days. 

Text and photo Leong Su Ling

Article taken from KLue magazine July 2009, issue 129.