Ni hao everyone! Have you been missing our Food Journey series? Is that even a question when we know very sure you do! We are back and as usual, a little tad fluffier. Any ideas where we went for our journey? Clue: eat, shop and be merry. Are we thinking of the same place? I hate to jinx it but… Petaling Street! Butterkicap team had an ultimate blast taking a historical and culinary journey on the best foods to eat on Petaling Street. We bet on a bottom dollar you’ll enjoy reading our journey as much as we enjoy writing it for you.
What do we know about Petaling Street? The well-known shopping district is every bargain hunter’s paradise – hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of stuff at low prices. As locals, we think we have seen everything there is to Petaling Street already. A trip to the cultural spot is pretty pointless – there’s nothing there except to shop. For one thing, you’re not entirely wrong when that people go there to shop. Then again, change is inevitable with their development. Some things were abandoned, some were torn down, but some survived only waiting to be explored by you. If anything, you will learn things you never knew you never knew.
Merchants Lane
A short 5 minutes’ walk from Pasar Seni LRT will take you to a little hideaway of a former brothel. If anything, I definitely wouldn’t mind even a walk longer to get there. No signage, just a narrow teal door leading you up. The café is blessed with an old-world charm that Kuala Lumpur rarely portrays. Every corner is intricately crafted, a meeting point of local charm and today’s culture transverse. The food takes a contemporary touch on the heritage of Petaling Street, a beautifully presented Malaysian Oriental fusion of Malaysian Chinese and Peranakan influences. It boasts the textbook definition of comfort food.
Butterkicap tucked into our vegetarian-friendly “Kuli Eggs,” bearing a resemblance to Middle Eastern Shakshuka. However, the flavor is as different as it can be. The flavourful curry dahl with chickpeas sauce topped with perfectly baked eggs and melted cheese just blend so well together, with a good help of fluffy roti canai to give it a uniquely Malaysian taste. The Butter Chicken Pasta won our heart, or mine to the very least. The conventional spaghetti is thoroughly drenched with a generous, warm butter chicken sauce and chunks of tender chicken. Deliciousness is guaranteed. Since you’re already here, you can’t miss their signature Rose Honey Milk which lives up to its name. With warm milk, a blend of sweet honey and a rose scent, what can go wrong?
A little tip for you: there is plenty of natural lighting in the alluring rustic café so make sure to bring your camera or portable charger for you to take that perfect shot! In my case, I had at least 6 Instagram-able photos after almost 102874 shots (and most of you would understand by now how good of a result that is already!)
C: +603 2022 1736
W: https://www.facebook.com/merchantslane/
L: 1st Floor, 150, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
M: https://goo.gl/maps/1p5sGYt8DE62
O: 11.30 am – 10.00 pm (Monday to Friday), 9.30 am – 10.00 pm (Saturday to Sunday). Closed on Wednesdays
Chocha Foodstore
Just three steps away from Merchants Lane is another not so hidden gem that defines love at first sight. The two-story typical quaint Chinatown shop exterior showcases sentimental vibes. The raw, almost unvarnished authenticity of exposed bricks, authentic floor tiles pattern, rusty torn walls, and old bicycles are charming embellishments that take on a walk down the road. It merely makes you feel something.
Of course, what’s a good ambiance without an excellent food for a foodie like us! We ordered their best-selling Cincalok Fried Chicken and ooh la la! Crispy, succulent chicken polish with a refreshing salsa of pineapples and tomato chutneys and fragrant fermented shrimp sauce just deserves a special mention! I mean, fried chicken standalone is pure gold, but they managed to turn the dish into a 24K gold. Kudos to them. They offer a wide range of tea varieties, from the appearance of black, oolong to scented teas. To balance the fat we ate with no guilt earlier (maybe just a little), we drank a pot of their warm green tea blend, Asamiya Sencha. As a matter of fact, the tea seemed to wash away our guilt as well.
Best of all, Chocha Foodstore has exciting plans ahead. We especially can’t wait for their coffee bar, bike workshop, a small bookstore, and wine bar!
C: +603 2022 1100
W: https://www.facebook.com/chocha.foodstore/
L: 156, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
M: https://goo.gl/maps/jgCoUZJj6U22
O: 11.00 am – 11.00 pm daily. Closed on Mondays.
Happy Meal
Some loathe it, some love it. There’s no such thing as in between when it comes to durian. I am on the other end of the spectrum – I love, love, love it. If we’re on the same page, you should head to Happy Meal for a happy meal! Wait. I am not talking about the fast food chain, in case you’re mistaken. The decade old shop attracts crowds for their baked specialities, although it seemed like durian is everyone’s favorites. From egg tart, classic marble cake to creamy cheesecake, they cater to it all!
Crumbly tarts? checked. Crispy puffs? Checked. Moist butter cakes? Checked. Their durian tart is perfectly baked to perfection. The crispy crust is home to the oozing creamy custard filling with a thick layer of durian. Do eat it while it’s fresh and piping hot. Whereas if you like something cool, go with their cream puffs which tastes like durian ice cream. Also, if you want to avoid disappointment, place an order because they run out quick. Thank us later!
C: +603 2072 6080
L: 143, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
M: https://goo.gl/maps/jgCoUZJj6U22
O: 9.00 am – 7.00 pm daily. Closed on Sundays.
Petaling Street Flea Market
What’s a trip to Petaling Street without a trip to the market? It’s a heaven for street food enthusiasts like you and me. Imagine an aunty making fresh handmade chewy and springy muah chee coated with peanuts. If you are in the market, you don’t have to imagine anymore. Is mochi and muah chee any different? Surprisingly yes! It isn’t just pronunciation difference, but rather the types of glutinous rice flour used. If mochi uses short grain, muah chee uses long grain. Watching the aunty cut and rhythmically coat the chewy snack somehow captivates you. The aromatic pandan mochi is my favorite, but the others like the original and black sesame. Perhaps you can try their lychee, Ribena or mango and let us know how it is!
Almost 7/10 people I have asked around always have Apam Balik on their top 10 favorite Malaysian street snack. Please enlight me on what is so unique about it! I like it, but what makes you love it even more than I do? Is it the crispy sides? Or the soft, buttery and sweet filling? For all we know, grease stains and trail of crumbs cannot stop us from munching the little taste of heaven.
We were tempted to quench our thirst under the hot sweltering sun with a cup of the infamous air mata kucing and soya bean milk. To be honest, I wasn’t a big fan of soya milk because there was something about a can of soya milk which turns me off. However, a few years ago I came across a homemade soya bean, and we have been inseparable since then. The Tau Fu Fah is exceptionally different than any other – its silky smooth but at the same time firmer to the bite. On the other hand, air mata kucing is on the refreshing end with winter melon, rock sugar, dried longan and luo han guo. And no, there’s no cat harm in making the drink. People call it ‘cat’s eye water,” for one particular reason: the longan’s flesh resembles the eye of a cat. Finally, mystery solved!
C: +603 2032 5988
L: Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
O: 10.00 am – 9.30 pm daily.
Indeed, Petaling Street is a relic of Kuala Lumpur’s unspoken past. The grimy alleys and raucous street hawkers speak a thousand words the mouth can never explain. A trip there takes you down on a memory lane of your childhood.
Share and comment down below your fond memories of Petaling Street or any experiences. Of course, food recommendations are also very very very much welcome because we still have a lot to explore. If only our stomach has enough space to fill more food. Oh well, we’ll save it instead for our next journey. Until then, stay hungry, and we will see you in another food journeys!
