Restoran Sin Han Seong 新汉商酒楼@ Ayer Tawar, Perak

This impromptu road trip to Ayer Tawar and Sitiawan was a consequence of the making of the unique savoury Foochew Mooncakes video that I shared in our chat group. As a kindred spirits, Jenn, Tee and I share the common love for food (we started our friendship in a food review after all) and as a Foochew himself, Tee volunteered to be the driver and tour guide to bring the ladies for the Foochew Mooncakes hunting at Ayer Tawar.

 

We departed at the ungodly hour of 5am on a weekday and arrived at Sitiawan for breakfast (will blog about this later) before we started our “borong-the-whole-sitiawan” mission. ٩(^‿^)۶

Our shopping haul by the end of the trip. Mission failed because we only managed to borong half of the Sitiawan + Ayer Tawar. (≧▽≦)

 

After several stops for shopping and snacking, our last destination before going back to KL was had lunch at Restoran Sin Han Seong, Ayer Tawar, an old restaurant which serves traditional Foochew cuisine. 

Stepping into Sin Han Seong evoked a strong sense of nostalgia. Faded walls, old furniture and ageing staff staying with the establishment are images of resilience and have survived the test of time. 

That was a really classic example of “Lau Zi Hau” (literally translated to old trademark brand) — signature dishes unchanged since decades back, maintaining the no-menu policy (at least we weren’t given any :P)  and a no-frills, subdued set up. Sin Han Seong was also one of the famous places in Ayer Tawar back in those days for wedding banquets.

Like most of those popular establishments, Sin Han Seong is known for its trademark Foochew dishes which are particularly nicely done and embedded in the minds of followers and those locals who work outstation. They will come back repeatedly for the same and comforting nostalgic childhood taste.

 

Our lunch begun with it’s iconic chilled beer bottle barley drink. (^·^)

 

Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet & Pork Ribs

The deep fried to crisp fish fillet and pork ribs were smothered in the comfort flavour of thick sweet and sour sauce. The sauce got some extra sidekicks of sliced onion, cucumber and an element of surprise – deep fried potato wedges which I enjoyed immensely.

 

Foochew Mixed Vegetables Stir Fry 福州大碗炒

According to the staff, there were eight ingredients in this dish but actually there were more than that. We found brown cuttlefish, cauliflower, wood ear fungus, canned mushroom, capsicum, bean curd sheet, glass noodles, cabbage, tiny prawns, shallot, pork slivers and carrot, cooked in a mix of dark sauce and fish sauce. 

 

Oyster Omelet

Although this wasn’t the crispy oyster omelet that I would have hope, it still a decent version with pleasant eggy aroma and generous amount of tiny oysters.

 

Bean Curd Soup

I’m not a fan of thick starchy soup and this version was rather bland tasting to my liking. 

 

Verdict: Total bill was RM60+ with three plates of rice and a bottle of barley drink, a very economical priced lunch that only can be found at small town like this.

As a “younger” person, for sure, I do like new eateries with the super chic design but I also do appreciate old school restaurants that deliver the sense of nostalgia, of what your grandparents would have liked, a slice of history and tradition that cannot be replicated or replaced. But sadly to say that old and traditional flavours like these may no longer exist in the future because the next generation of the restaurant owner have no intention of taking over the restaurant, so there is a possibility that it will eventually close down. 🙁

 

Restoran Sin Han Seong 新汉商酒楼

142, Main Road, Ayer Tawar, 32400 Perak.

Tel: +605-672 6544

Operating hours: 11.00am to 7.00pm, daily

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