Ah Pei Char Siu @ Times Kopitiam & Cafe, Damansara Jaya
This was our breakfast on last Sunday.
I shared the social media post of this Bo Lei Char Siu (literally translated as glass Char Siu)forced to Wonton Mee to hubby but didn’t pay attention to its location. So, I was totally blank when hubby suggested to try out the Kopitiam at Damansara Jaya that I mentioned, until he showed me the post that I shared to him. 。・°°・(＞▽＜)・°°・。
Nestled in Times Kopotiam & Cafe at Damansara Jaya (behind Atria Shopping Centre), Ah Pei Char Siu is helmed by founder of Chan Meng Kee, a renowned Char Siu Wonton Mee restaurant in SS2 but forced to relinquish the restaurant to new owner due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In May last year, he made a comeback and opened two stalls under his own name – Ah Pei Char Siu and Ah Pei Curry Noodle, which are the most sought-after vendors in the Kopitiam.
Char Siu Wonton Mee (Small – RM10.00)
Springy noodle was tossed in dark savoury soy sauce concoction, it had that distinctive pork lard aroma with several crunchy fried pork lard, however the overall flavour wasn’t particularly outstanding. Oh ya, there were some blanched vegetable hide underneath the noodles. 😛
Gleaming in a deep mahogany colour, the rather pork belly was literally melt-in-your-mouth and the lean part was utterly soft tender. The Char Siu was slightly charred on the edges, well caramelized with the right degree of sweetness.
Curry Laksa (Small – RM10.00)
We weren’t asked for our choice of noodle and it came with Wonton Mee. There were Char Siu, fried Wonton, pork skin, bean curd puffs and bean sprouts, served in a creamy thick curry broth, heavily infused with coconut milk. With just the right level of spiciness (so I didn’t add any Sambal + lime that served along), the broth was rather fragrant from the variety of spices. A bowl of competent curry noodle, in my opion.
Verdict: I can’t say I like the Wonton Mee here, but the Char Siu was impressive provided that you like the sweet caramelized version of Bo Li Char Siu like me. The Curry Noodles is well worth checking out too. I read good reviews of the dumpling, next round maybe?
Restoran Times Kopitiam & Cafe
42, Jalan SS22/25 Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Operating hours: 7.30am to 3.00pm, closed every second Friday of the month.
Just last Saturday only my two brothers were talking about this stall. Brother number 1 said Chan Meng Kee char siew don’t tastes as good anymore and brother number 2 said the business was sold and now made a come back at Damansara Jaya. Maybe one day I should detour and check it out hah…hah…
Yes, PH, the Chan Meng Kee which he sold off don’t taste as good. We didn’t know then when we last visited and I told my family how come I don’t see the owner (coz he’s always at the counter). The food was quite terrible actually. Went home and googled and only then found out about the news that he sold off his restaurant. Guess he didn’t “sell” all his trade secrets…lol!
PH, so both of your brothers have yet try this stall?
Ah, you went to try Ah Pei’s char siew wantan mee who is actually the former Chan Meng Kee (which I’ve been eating the past 10 years). Was aware that he closed his shop, more like sold off his shop (and name) to a new owner (reason given was Covid-19 but rumours said he was heavily in gambling debt!) and moved here. Now opens a stall (two stalls actually instead of his own restaurant) and wanted to visit but the last time we were there, we couldn’t even find a seat and then the boss said he ran out of char siew and the next batch will only be out in 2 hours. Not sure if their wantan mee/char siew still tastes the same but from your photos, the mee looks different (maybe a different supplier). Char siew still looks as good and caramelised as before. He wanted to emulate the legendary Meng Kee’s char siew but falls a little short. Unfortunately, the legendary Meng Kee in Uncle Meng is no more (retired).
Kris, good place for Char Siew and Curry Mee, but the sauce for the Wonton Mee didn’t impress me, maybe this is just my personal preference. I always believe “never try never know”, try it out yourself and let me know your verdict.
oOO this looks good, I wanna go one of these days!
KY, don’t go too late to avoid the Char Siew sold out. 🙂