When you talk about street food, you’re sure to talk about Malaysia and their many delicious treats. Malaysia is indeed a treasure trove of streetside culinary delights, and every town would have its own specialties. But the Royal Town of Klang seems to be the choice location for true foodie adventures.
Klang, a town in Selangor, is not only home to some of the most beautiful temples and vibrant shopping streets, but also popular for its mouthwatering local food. Whether you’re craving for hot and steamy claypot herbal bak kut teh, or a hearty bowl of fried porridge, Klang has it all.
We take a look at 5 delicacies that are uniquely Klang:
Herbal Bak Kut Teh
Seductively dark and aromatic, Klang’s herbal bak kut teh is indeed one-of-a-kind. A decidedly Hokkien version of the old traditional pork bone broth, it is simmered for long hours with a blend of herbs and spices to lend delicate flavours to every mouthful.
Klang’s herbal bak kut teh is quite unlike the ones commonly found in Singapore, which is the white, peppery, Teochew version. This one is robust in terms of taste, but not overpoweringly herbal, so you don’t have to worry about it tasting like Chinese medicine.
It is also chock full of ingredients. Thick cuts of tender pork ribs are the star, accompanied by other sides, like beancurd skin, beancurd puff, and enoki mushrooms, cooked in the savoury herbal broth.
Dry Bak Kut Teh
‘Pork bone soup’ without soup? Yes! Dry Bak Kut Teh is a delicious umami bomb that’s born in Klang. Dry Bak Kut Teh usually comes with a lot of meat in a claypot. Pork ribs strips and chunks of pork belly are stir-fried in a herb-infused gravy, along with some dried cuttlefish and pieces of plantains (like brinjal or okra) that can soak up the goodness of the gravy.
The key to dry bak kut teh lies in its gravy. It is almost like a ‘Kung Pao’ sauce but decidedly cuts back on the dried chilli and chilli oil. Dried cuttlefish, with a whole lot of umami, is the hidden star of this dish, adding wonderful layers of flavour to it.
Fried Mee Sua
In need of some carbs to accompany good bak kut teh? Fried mee sua is a popular choice to go with the above, as well as many other street foods. Not so common here in Singapore (where we mostly get fried bee hoon or noodles), fried wheat vermicelli is great for soaking up the essence of the dishes (soup or gravy), and provides ample bite. Good fried mee sua should be springy yet light.
Insiders’ tips: Top the fried mee sua with crispy pork lard whenever it’s available. You know you’d want to!
Fried Porridge
First, they have a ‘soup’ dish that is dry. And now, congee is being fried?
Yes. And once you’ve had Klang fried porridge, plain porridge just won’t do anymore.
Rice porridge is slowly simmered in a broth, before being scooped out and fried in a wok to give you that wok hei flavour that’s truly unbeatable. The porridge itself is already full of umami, coming from the dried cuttlefish and other fragrant ingredients that give it its flavours.
Klang fried porridge, while good in itself, is usually fried and served with other ingredients in various combinations, from sliced fish to fresh seafood, and slices of pork or chewy innards and offals. It’s definitely comfort food elevated.
Vinegar Pork Trotter & Braised Pork Trotter
Here are two dishes that are similar but different, and also contestable as to whether they are considered street food. But many popular home-style family restaurants in Klang definitely have them on the menu.
Pork trotters are notoriously difficult to prepare, but if they are well-cooked, they are a heavenly treat. Braised pork trotters are stewed for hours in a pot of braise sauce, until the meat is fully infused and becomes fork-tender. Vinegar pork trotter is prepared in a similar way, except that the braising sauce contains a large volume of piquant vinegar.
These pork trotter dishes are loved by diners, both for the meat and the gravy that’s perfect with rice or other carbs.
Deliciousness of Klang found in Singapore
Has the list of foods above got you salivating? Don’t you want to make a trip to Klang soon? Well, here’s the good news. All the wonderful dishes mentioned here are now available in Singapore, at Feng Xiang!
Get a homely taste of Malaysia here on our sunny island, right at a Feng Xiang near you. All the dishes are prepared according to heritage recipes passed down through generations. You can easily and conveniently indulge in dry bak kut teh and herbal bak kut teh Singapore; six varieties of your new comfort food, fried porridge; and flavourful braised or vinegar pork trotters. Yes, fried mee sua is available as well.
Find Feng Xiang at these locations:
- Fernvale Hawker Centre & CC (nearest MRT station: Sengkang)
- Food Republic @ BreadTalk iHQ (nearest MRT station: Tai Seng)
- Food Republic @ VivoCity (nearest MRT station: HarbourFront)
- Food Republic @ Parkway Parade (nearest MRT station: Dakota)
- Kopitiam @ AMK Hub (nearest MRT station: Ang Mo Kio)
- Kopitiam Food Hall @ JEM (nearest MRT station: Jurong East)
- Kopitiam @ Northpoint City (nearest MRT station: Yishun)
- Lau Pa Sat (nearest MRT station: Downtown)
- Senja Hawker Centre (nearest MRT station: Bukit Panjang)
Alternatively, you may also order for delivery through the popular food delivery apps.