Sunday, 17 June 2018

Restoran Leong Kee & Meng @ Tanjung Malim, Perak

Leong Kee, as it is known to the locals is a famous restaurant that is located in Hulu Bernam, Selangor just after the boundary from Tanjung Malim, Perak. Though it is across the Bernam River, to the locals, this is still considered part of Tanjung Malim though they differ administratively. Previously, they were based right beside the old market in Tanjung Malim and that is where I used to go as a little boy, come to think of it I've been their loyal customers for more than 30 years. Sometime in the early 1990's, they had to move to cater for KTM's double track project and were relocated in a different location just about a 100 meters from the present place. It is only now where they have a physical restaurant and yet the cooking is still done outside like the yesteryears.

In recent years, he had changed the name to Leong Kee & Ming to allow his son to become a partner in the business. The reason food is so good here (besides his cooking) is because they are all cooked using charcoal stoves. He only prepares a handful of dishes but these are highly sought after. There have been numerous write ups about this place in a number of Chinese newspapers including online media and his customers go as far as Singapore. His prices have also just been raised minimally over the 30 plus years that I have been eating here but the food quality has been ever consistent. All his dishes are RM 10.00 flat. There are no various portion sizes and this applies to all his dishes, just one standard size. Since I was here with the family today, I would be able to show you most of his key dishes, just a few to number but all extremely good. Do note that on weekends, he gets a lot of outstation crowd and hence I can take a while before getting your meals. So it is best to come here when time isn't a constraint. On weekdays, it doesn't take that long.

We prefer to sit outdoors usually. The service is generally good as he has his family to assist him. They attend to you swiftly but from around 9 pm onwards, the waiting time can be long for the dishes and so it is advisable to come here around 7+ or for supper at around 10+. He used to be open till 3 am those days but now, he keeps it till midnight. He too has aged and needs his time for rest.

Pepper Soup @ RM 10.00

This Pepper Soup is the second most sought after dish here. This Pepper Soup comes in two choices, with or without noodles. The noodles used is the usual Rice Vermicelli. This soup is filled with cabbage and pork slices and with a whole load of pepper that gets you sweating to all glory the moment you take the first sip. The Pepper he uses is not the common pepper but one that is purchased at those Chinese Medical Halls, and a very pricey one too. An excellent dish! Good also for a cold night and especially when one is having flu. One has got to try this at least once and you'd love it. Guaranteed satisfaction! I would rate this dish at 10/10 . Even the ones available in Damansara Hokkien Mee or Sentul Ah Yap does not come anywhere close to this. Those are like child's play when compared to this one at Leong Kee.

Moonlight Char Kuey Teow @ RM 10.00
This is by far the most sought after dish here. Usually by around 10 pm, the Kuey Teow is sold out. It comes with a raw egg on the top and has to be mixed thoroughly. Something that you would not be able to find elsewhere except for Kim Lian Kee in Petaling Street. Both of them invented this Moonlight Char Kuey Teow dish at around the same time. An absolutely delicious dish. The dish itself comes with lots of cabbage and pork and once mixed with the egg, gives such a creamy taste. I have seen many people, including those that I have brought, been put off by the sight of the raw egg but once they tasted the dish, they were hooked on to it. Even today, I still have cousins of mine who tried this in their chidhood, keep mentioning about this dish to me and how good it was. And that's like after 20 plus years. This itself should be an indicator as to how good this dish is. Though Kim Lian Kee has the same, I have tasted both and for me, Leong Kee is the winner. That previous does not come anywhere close to this latter preparation. Again I would rate this 10/10 .

Hokkien Mee @ RM 10.00
This Hokkien Char Mee is the third most famous dish here, also the best Hokkien Char Mee in town! Before I speak more about the dish, I would like to mention that he makes his own noodles and not one that is purchased from those factories. This is a tradition that he had learned from his late mother and now, even his son does it so well. The noodles itself are so soft, creamy and delicious. The preparation comes with generous amount of lard, pork slices, pork liver and some cabbage and together, they are just amazing. I have tried 8 of the top 10 Hokkien Char Mee places in Kuala Lumpur and for me, this tops them all! I would rate this at 10/10 again! Ask any TM person, even those who have left town for decades.... Where is the best Hokkien Mee and they would all unanimously mention Leong Kee. A taste that would forever linger in our mind.

Homemade Chili Paste With Belacan
This is another amazing preparation that is found here. He makes them on his own and this is a must have with the Hokkien Char Mee. I could personally finish three servings of this for my portion of Hokkien Char Mee as it is so good. Another item that must not be missed here. I would rate this preparation at 10/10 .

Cabbage Stir Fried With Dried Shrimps & Rice Wine
This is another highly sought after dish at this restaurant. It may seem like a simple cabbage dish but you have got to taste it in order to truly appreciate it. My rating for this is nothing less than 10/10. 

Despite having only a handful of dishes, they are all highly sought after. Cooking is still done using charcoal stoves and that surely adds to the taste. Whether you're going for the Loh Mee, Hokkien Mee, Moonlight Char Kuey Teow, Stir Fried Cabbage with Rice Wine & Dried Shrimps or Pepper Soup, they are all truly excellent and you'd definitely return a satisfied person. A highly recommended restaurant in Tanjung Malim. 

Address: Beside Jalan Kilang Papan off Jalan Besar Hulu Bernam,
                35900 Hulu Bernam, Selangor, Malaysia.

Business Hours: 1700 - 0000 Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays.

Telephone: +6012 518 0165

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