Salivating for a nice succulent chunk of ribs, all meaty and savoury with juices dribbling down your chin? Well sometimes the best place to have something like this are the tried and tested places. This shop under Happy Mansion is a local favourite and it's easy to see why...
So what makes lip-smacking good ribs? Actually I think it’s a personal thing but I believe the general criteria are as follows - tender meat that falls off the bone, juicy meat surrounding the rib to ensure we can suck and chew the rib to our hearts content, a decent size to ensure there’s enough to go around (ribs are best shared right?!) and killer marinade or sauce that enhances the flavour of the ribs. Whatever it is, ribs are a carnivore’s delight and brings out the caveman in us. Think of ripping meat off the bone with our bare teeth and sucking out the meat/juices til it’s bone dry! And forget cutleries, ribs are best enjoyed with your fingers so leave your table manners at home. Bring on the ribs!
Talking about ribs, there’s this super packed to the brim shop in a residential flat area that serves pretty good Western food and nasi lemak. Weird combo but it works for the die-hard fans who cannot get enough of the non-halal grub that it churns out on a daily basis. It’s located smack in old PJ - the humble flats of Happy Mansion. There are other cafes, kopitiams and restaurants in the vicinity but this shop remains the most popular and well known by far. The overcrowded carpark lays testimony to the shop’s fame and remains a source of displeasure for the residents who prefer some peace and quiet. Their consolation is that good food is merely a lift ride to the ground floor!
Come around 7.30pm and expect to wait for a table due to limited space, with makeshift tables spilling out onto the corridor and tarmac. Our group of 4 came after 8 and we managed to grab one right in the heat of the action – fronting the cash register! We could see the busy kitchen at work, the buzzing nasi lemak counter and the listed specials on board.
Only one bowl of homemade wild mushroom soup was left so we snapped it up. It tastes great with the fresh fungi combining well with the creaminess of milk. It’s definitely homemade with shrooms aplenty and the consistency is just right, not too starchy or runny. The garlic bread was mediocre, I could do better at home.
"The rib really rocks!"
The steak made the grand entrance and arrived sizzling in the platter along with shrimps, bacon and an egg cracked on the side – nice touch! The fries came separate with an extra bowl of steak sauce along with the side salad in thousand island. The portion was humungous! Definitely value for money and made for sharing. Though we specifically ordered it ‘medium’, the steak was a tad dried out. I like my steak charred on the outside and juicy with some blood oozing out; hence my hunka meat was a bit of a let down. To be fair, the rest did not disappoint - the nicely charred yet moist bacon and the fresh grilled prawns. Even the steak sauce was obligingly topped up FOC.
Hark, the pork ribs finally arrived! Bear in mind, it’s only one rib but the portion again would make Fred Flintstone proud. Amazed by the size, mom even asked the waiter if the rib was sourced locally. Waiter responded in the affirmative so methinks they have a special supplier of epic porcine proportions.
So cut a meaty portion, add a bit of the grilled pineapple and slather with the sauce. Mmmm, one taste and we were in heaven. It’s so juicy and goes soooo well with the pineapple and sauce which has a hint of red wine and pineapple sweetness. The mash potato is scrumptious too. Even the rib was chewed and sucked to the bone. My faith is restored. This signature dish always comes out perfect each and every time I order it. The rib really rocks, compliments to the chef!
So on to their next specialty – the Chinese nasi lemak. I chose beef rendang and spicy sambal minced pork to add with the coconut rice, on top of the regular accompaniments of sambal ikan bilis, boiled egg and cucumber pieces. My favourite was the sambal minced pork served with a limau wedge. Squeezing the juice on top really enhances the flavour giving it a tangy zing on top of the spiciness. The last time I went, the rice ran out at 8.30pm! So be there early if you wanna sample this yummy non-halal version.
So these 3 main courses were enough to stuff our table of 4. Forget franchise food chains, I say when it comes to ribs especially of the porky variety, stick to the mom and pop shops that locals rave about. Most often the case, it’s definitely something worth sniffing out!
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