I used to frequent this unassuming neighborhood kopitiam when I first moved to the area 10 years ago with its array of noteworthy char kuay teow, nasi lemak and claypot rice on offer. Unfortunately stalls changed hands and foreign workers started dominating the establishment. The food lost its allure; my visits slowly trickled to a stop.
Until one day I decided to revisit my old haunt out of sheer convenience and need for a quick lunch. The usual operators were going about their business but I noticed this stall with a signage of a Hanbok clad girl! I stared with disbelief and peered at the menu. My perennial favourites like bibimbap, soon dubu jigae, bulgogi, panjeon, japchae, deokbokki and other exotic sounding dishes were available and very reasonably priced too. Nothing above RM10, I’ve stumbled on Korean manna in suburbia!
The polite yet friendly Korean lady owner stirred me from my stupor by recommending her signature dishes. I opted for the beef bulgogi and it arrived within 10 minutes, bubbling hot in a stoneware pot complete with a bowl of sticky rice and kimchi side dish. I noticed she had a foreign worker under her supervision to help with the cooking and serving.
"Bubbling hot in a stoneware pot "
The flavor was comparable to those served in restaurants, with ample beef, mushrooms, mung bean noodles and chives. Maybe it’s due to its humble surroundings, her food tasted more towards honest to goodness homecooking. Unlike other similar eateries having the gall to serve local rice, she did not skimp on the sticky rice – one full bowl, so much I had to share it with my partner. The rice went really well with the sweet beef infused broth. However, the biggest surprise is the kimchi. Koreans revere kimchi with national pride and hers certainly packed a punch. I dare say THE BEST kimchi I’ve ever tasted in KL thus far! It was spicy yet garlicky with the right balance of pickled vege, peppers and crunch. So addictive, I wiped it clean and even contemplated asking for seconds... Until I found out she sells her homemade pickle by the kilo.
So gratifying was that meal that I returned to sample her other dishes. Her sundubu jigae (tofu in spicy kimchi soup) was a hit; the broth may not look as fiery but it sure made up with the piquant spicy onslaught on my tongue. Her bibimbap is perfect for the health conscious and vegetarians, loaded with all sorts of vege, a nice runny egg and kochujang chili paste to marry all the ingredients. I also noticed others feasting on her panjeon (Korean pancake) with gusto. Recently the owner added daily lunch specials for only RM8. What a steal!
As I write this, there’s a sense of reluctance in revealing this hidden gem yet a greater obligation to spread the word. I would hate myself if it were to face the same fate of other vanished eats which once graced this kopitiam. As long as it’s tops on my tastebuds and low on my pocket, this stall would be my solace for a quick Korean fix.
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