De Xing Lung

"Sorry Lah, I'm just not a fan of dried anchovies"

Always on the lookout for a bowl of love, Juju at Cafe Tuju recommended this restaurant in glowing tones of affection. Lashes of rain woke me from slumber and I threw on my rainjacket foolishly thinking it could repell the onslaught. Within ten seconds I was soaked to the bone, and all Grab Taxi's were busy, so I bit the bullet and walked the 700m with the knowledge the bowl of soup would at least warm me up.

Greeted with genuine smiles, I found a table outside as the indoor section was crammed with broth hunters. There was a tarpaulin over the alleyway so I was shielded from the rain. The lady motioned to a bowl and I just said "Yes". I trusted they would serve me what all the other customers came here to eat.

Minutes later a large bowl of what reminded me of Kuey Tiao in Penang, was placed before me. It smelled inviting and I ladled some broth into my mouth before attempting to trap some slippery noodles with my chopsticks. That proved difficult.

Positives first, the noodles were great. They had good texture and flavour. The broth was timid and pleasing but didn't really have much flavour one way or the other. A few fragments of chicken had sunk to the bottom of the bowl, and they tasted much like I'd expect boiled meat to taste. A handful of greens added some acid and tartness to the overall mouthfeel, but the undoing for me was the prevelence of dried anchovy. I know this is a local delicacy and they swoon over the little critters all over Malaysia, but my palate has yet to be adjusted to the stage where I lust over them rather than fear their very appearance

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.