Wong Kee is the uncrowned “siew-yoke king” of KL

[Pixs copyright Ewe Paik Leong]

Framed yellowed news clippings on the wall stare at me. The time “12.30pm” is prominently displayed on a yellow sign-board. I give my order to the Indonesian waitress. She goes to another table to take its order, then to a third table and to a fourth and to a fifth. She does not jot down the orders. Another Indonesian lass is doing the same. There’re about 30 tables in the coffee shop, which occupies a corner shop-lot. Many of the tables overspill on the side pavement with a canopy roof. Fans whirl overhead and the air is hot and stuffy.

I'm sitting in Pudu's Wong Kee, the uncrowned “siew-yoke king” of Kuala Lumpur.

Although I am here at 12.30 pm sharp, I wait for half-an-hour before my order arrives. The siew yoke (roast pork) has a crispy skin and the flesh is soft. I guess Wong Kee places orders for a special cut from its butcher. The char siew is not outstanding. A bald woman (serious!) with a pouch bag at her waist is the mobile cashier. She charges me RM27.50 for the two plates as shown in the right picture. Though the toilet is shabby, it is clean but there is no toilet paper.

Address:
30 Jalan Nyonya
Off Jalan Pudu
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2145 2512
Business hours: 12:30pm to 4:30pm daily.
Closed on Sundays.

Getting there: Drive from the city centre along Jalan Pudu. Turn left at the traffic light junction near the Caltex station. You are now in Jalan Brunei Selatan, chocked with small Chinese printing shops. Start looking for a parking space as Jalan Nyonya lies perpendicular to Jalan Brunei Selatan at its end. No luck? Proceed to the end of the one-way road, turn right to Jalan Nyonya, and turn left to Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah. Make a double U-turn to get to Shaw Parade. You can park there and walk to Wong Kee.

/end