Lau Ya Keng Foodcourt 阳春台茶室 — Restaurant in Borneo

Kueh Chap is one of the Sarawakian delicacies I was told that I must try here @ LYK, before I die... 😂😂😅

I came to LYK twice this weekend---with two wholly different experiences.

Even though there were Kolo Mee, Fish Ball Noodles, Sarawak Laksa and Tomato Hor Fun (Tomato Broad Rice Noodles) available, I came, and only had the Kueh Chap the first time, and Kueh Chap again and Tomato Hor Fun the second time I visited.

My first experience:

It was about Thursday 3PM, but there were at least 30 customers all having dark soy braised pork and offal dishes of different variations offered by the same vendor. I ordered the mixed Kueh Chap @ RM 15, but was told that it is on the expensive side given the amount served, and that tourists willingly pay the higher price without question.

Overall, it's a good, decent Kueh Chap served in a small claypot (which I believe is for presentation only). It came with slices of Hun Kueh (meaning broad white rice noodles), lean pork, minced pork, pork ribs, pork rind, pig's intestines, pig's liver and more in a dark soy savoury broth, all cooked to perfection. ⭐⭐⭐

Was it good? Yes. Was it mind-blowing? No.

The lady who attended to my order was courteous, and patient with my 20/20 questions.

My second experience:

It's Sabbath today! So, what better way to celebrate it with pork! 😂😂😂

It's about 3PM (again) when I arrived @LYK. This time, the entire place was packed to the brim, Chinese people mainly, and once again, nearly everyone was having dark soy braised pork and offal, and at least 20 people were ahead in queue.

Rather than queuing, I found a seat and ordered Tomato Hor Fun (Tomato Broad Rice Noodles) (RM 10). Although it arrived piping hot (which I liked), it had only 1 tiny prawn, and a few small slices of chicken and fish cake swimming in a dirty reddish gravy. I found the use and taste of tomato ketchup in this dish odd, and hard to enjoy. I know it's wasteful, but l left 3/4 untouched...⭐ Not gonna waste my calories on this.

The second experience with the braised pork and offal stall was a gazillion times better than the first. This time, at RM 18, the food was served separately, not in a claypot. Separated into separate dishes, the Kueh Chap meal still tasted great, but for some reason, I felt more satisfied and wanted more this round. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unfortunately, the side order of Loh Bak (Minced Pork Sausage) was disappointing. I only had a bite, and left it alone. Minus points!

If I pass by this vendor again, and if I am hungry at the time, I'll probably hit the dark soy braised pork and offal stall again for more. 😁 Worth...

One of the earliest foodcourt in town; before when the word was in vogue. Leased by the temple across the road by proxy of the Teochew Association. This foodcourt serves as a theater to the temple opposite it. It's open throughout the year except when the space is used by the temple for its worship & diety's birthday. It operates almost 24 hours by its various vendors at different times. The Teochew Bak Muay (porridge) starts around midnight with its prep work, and starts selling around 1am. until everything is sold, which is around 9 am. The drinks stall begins around 6 am. with 2 rotation of personnels, and ends around 9:30 pm. The Bak-E'nee/Pork Satay (meatball & Yong Tauhu) stall picks up where the Bak Muay ends - from around 10 am. to around 4 pm. This stall closes on Friday following its long-observed tradition of Christians abstaining from meat on that day. The Kolo Mee by the 3 sisters starts at 6 to around 4 pm. or when it's sold out. The Kueh Chap (mixed offals) stall starts from 7 am to around 11 am., and again from around 5 pm. until late evening. Also different personnel from the same family. Porridge is served with braised duck in the evening. The Laksa stall is a new unknown entity despite its banner advertising it to the contrary. Long before there was a lone stall in front of the Bak Muay selling Laksa, which was only so-so; he has long retired. Lastly, there's a Zhi-Char stall near the stage that only operates in the evening, with sharp cleaver, who's made a killing during the go-go days of the 80s. If you don't patronize his stall, you'd better not sit...

The kolok mee vendor straight away offering us their variety of noodles. Regrettably, as someone that "must try kolok mee" everywhere, I accepted.

I got me a kolok special. My partner got kolok + wantan. Total of RM24 was a bit too much for me as you can see, the "special" is also the same as other shops everywhere(??). And only one little prawn in each bowl? 😅 so nothing different kan? Then why the price is significantly higher than other places? Approximately RM12 per bowl is overpriced. I didn't know initially that it cost RM24 for two bowls of kolok "special", as the vendor speak Chinese to my partner (I'm a banana).

I know, RM24 is not that much and prices everywhere also naik kan.. but for a "not really special" bowl of kolok mee, pleaselah, RM12 per bowl is still too much. I know that there is even better kolok special somewhere that cost below RM10. Anyway, this is my 2 cents, you can try it for yourself.

Edit 2023: So I went here again, purposely ordering kolok special this time. Everything the same, the price, the kolok presentation also the same, but--- I don't know if it's just me, or the noodle really getting more quantity. Taste wise, very nice kolok mee. You...