shin kee beef noodles - KL, malaysia

Rammed to the rafters with locals every single day, accidental lunch-time spot for intrepid backpackers who dare to enter such shabby joints, purveyor of delicious soups for decades, Shin Kee truly is one of KL's gems. 

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I'll admit, my first few visits to KL twenty years ago, I walked past, considered trying it, but inevitably ended up at a roti canai shop down the road convinced that i'd get food poisoning. However, with the advent of the internet and reviews easily accessible to allay fears, I decided to give it a go some years ago, and it has truly become a staple on my KL calendar.

Don't come here expecting friendly service, chances are you'll be met by a sour man hurrying you along to an empty seat when it becomes available. Ignore him, order your soup (or dry style with soup on the side), and wait to be lavished with affection from the bowl and not the bringer. 

With a couple of spoons of their homemade chilli sauce, this already delicious soup is transformed into divine architecture. Fatty, deep broth, good noodles, ground beef, beef balls and slices all compete for your attention with every dip of the spoon. 

The dry version was a delight, though definitely heavier on the funk-factor with more fermented fish added. However, it balanced out well after sipping some of that divine broth.

Forget the exterior, forget the rude service, forget the sight of a confused tourist and trust your instincts. This is some extremely tasty beef noodle soup in the heart of Chinatown.

​These recommendations are just personal opinions based on my palate, things change, chefs get fired or replaced, places open-close, relocate, so take it all with a pinch of MSG  and discover your own gems too. But please do try a few of these, they have been researched exhaustively.