KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Just when I think I have explored every corner of Pudu for its food gems, I unearth another hidden treasure.
Kedai Kopi Dan Makanan Pak Lock is not new. In fact, the family business which started back in the 1980s, operated by four brothers, is a legend in Pudu.
It’s only now that I discovered it via a friend who has been frequenting it almost every week.
Your order is pretty straightforward here, either go for the fine noodles or thick type. And of course, there’s also wantans.
Here’s the curveball though. Rather than the usual char siu topping, it’s the roast pork that shines here.
Can you see how fluffy and crispy the skin is for the roast pork?
The ‘char siu’ here may not be the star but it’s tender although a little leaner.
You get shattering crispy crackling on top of tender meat with a layer of fat. What’s also amazing is how light and fluffy the crackling is, making each bite so enjoyable.
The char siu is pretty decent too with a soft bite and it’s leaner too with less fat. This makes it great for those who are watching their waistlines. They also do poached chicken.
There seems to be less roast pork compared to char siu, hanging at the stall, so it’s best to get there early to score yourself the crispy roast pork.
Expect to fork out RM12 for a small portion of roast pork noodles. I had ordered a side dish of char siu to try and it’s RM10 for one person’s portion, which easily can feed two people.
I tried the thin noodles and the thick noodles. The thin ones were smooth and easy to slurp down. For the thicker type, there’s more bite to it, making it enjoyable too.
The ‘wantans’ are delicious with silky skins and minced pork filling served with a homestyle chicken broth.
The ‘wantans’ are just the right size to accompany your meal here (left). Each noodle order gets two ‘wantans’ served in a separate bowl (right).
Both types were good so I guess my future visits will see me flip flopping between the types of noodles, depending on my mood.
What’s also interesting is that previously they served the noodles on a plate. From videos I watched and tracking Instagram posts, it looks like late last year they switched to ceramic bowls.
This makes it easier to toss the noodles with the sauce. However, they tend to not flood the bowl with too much sauce so you really need to toss it well for the strands to be coated completely.
Maybe because of cost, they seem to have also stopped serving vegetables with the wantan mee.
What I really like is their pickled green chillies. These are crunchy with a slight saltiness from the soy sauce it is served with.
Choose between thin or thick noodles for your order (left). The roast meats are chopped as and when orders come in (right).
Place your orders by approaching the stall owners who are busy preparing the food.
I’ve always been a big fan of wantans. You get two wantans for the standard order but I can never resist adding more.
These five wantans were RM4.50 but each one was silky with a minced pork filling. The soup served with your dumplings is also different.
Instead, it tastes more homestyle with chicken broth and white radish to give it sweetness. Sometimes, you may even score a piece of the radish that is soft and melts in the mouth when you bite into it.
The shop is located at a corner lot. As there’s not much space inside the shop itself, tables and chairs are placed outside.
It’s pleasant to sit outside and watch people pass by or slurp down their noodles.
As the shop is a corner lot, there’s ample space at the sidewalk for tables and chairs to dine ‘al fresco’.
Parking around Pudu may be a pain but with a bit of patience, your efforts will be rewarded with good food to put you in a good mood the whole day.
Crunch. Slurp. Satisfaction in one bowl.
Kedai Kopi Dan Makanan Pak Lock, 2, Jalan Kancil, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. Open: 8.30am to 4pm or earlier depending on how fast they sell out. Days off not fixed. Tel:03-21446481.
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