The end of the year is near and for some reason it seems to be the time that everyone is getting sick. I too managed to fall ill just in time for the festivities. When I’m feeling like this I find that nothing soothes like a bowl of piping hot soup full of beef, herbs, and flavour.
What draws me to this little stall is the crowd of people surrounding the uncle placing their orders, what seals the deal though is the smell of the deeply fragrant broth. The scent is slightly reminiscent of the popular perfumey phos of Vietnam. The sign on the stall states that it has been operating since 1956; with over 50 years of experience I know I’m in for a real treat.
When you place your order you first pick your noodle of choice kuey teow, bihun, or thick rice noodles, then you pick the parts you want added in, tripe, beef balls, intestines, or lean meat. As I’m not a fan of innards I go for the lean meat with a mix of kuey teow and bihun.
The bowl arrives piping hot and fragrant. Upon the first slurp I am rewarded with a delicious broth peppered with herbs that immediately clears my sinuses and warms my throat. While at first glance it looks like a simple broth, it actually has many layers of rich flavour. It is meaty and packs a zing with chopped coriander and pickled mustard cabbage added in. I find that the broth is even tastier as the day goes on as it has time to simmer for hours. It also doesn’t feel as though there is any MSG added as I didn’t feel like I was dying of thirst afterwards. Definitely a plus point!
"The lean beef is meltingly tender"
The lean beef here is sliced thin and is meltingly tender. A relief, as fighting with rubbery rough meat is the last thing I want to do while nursing myself back to health. The beef balls are springy indicating that they are made fresh, which is always a good thing. The beef doesn’t taste very ‘beefy’ which is a good thing for me, as I don’t quite enjoy meats with strong pungent flavours.
My one gripe here would be that the chilli sauce doesn’t quite pack a punch like others might. It seems quite muted and I feel the peppery burn more than getting the actual taste of the sauce. When added to the broth though it does spice it up and gives it an edge, maybe this is the way it’s meant to be enjoyed?
This simple bowlful of goodness is a delicious way to start the day or to have as a light lunchtime meal as well. The best part is that it’ll only set you back RM5.
More Photos To Drool On
Only RM5 a bowl...sluuurrp!
Hmmmmm, the brothers would not be very pleased being referred to as Uncle? Maybe it's because they are about my age too ? Anyway, great review of an old favorite of mine. I used to frequent this place at least once a week when I was working at Dayabumi some time ago. Their beef noodles are different from the Soong Kee Jalan Silang place which is just around the corner from here. The soup / broth here is just excellent and beats Soong Kee anytime IMHO.
by JonJanuary 02, 2011 2:19PM
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Foodster's Verdict
Lai Foong Beef Noodles
Taste
Address:
Lai Foong Restaurant
138, Jalan Tun HS Lee
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2072 8123
Open:
Open early in the morning till after lunch
Pros:
The beef is cooked beautifully
Cons:
The coffeeshop can be quite packed and the chilli sauce is not the best I've had
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Hmmmmm, the brothers would not be very pleased being referred to as Uncle? Maybe it's because they are about my age too ? Anyway, great review of an old favorite of mine. I used to frequent this place at least once a week when I was working at Dayabumi some time ago. Their beef noodles are different from the Soong Kee Jalan Silang place which is just around the corner from here. The soup / broth here is just excellent and beats Soong Kee anytime IMHO.
by Jon January 02, 2011 2:19PM
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