(This coffee shop stall has closed). Tiny stall selling traditional Hakka lei cha fun 擂茶饭 and yong tau foo 酿豆腐 in New Star coffee shop in Taman Sentosa may look ordinary.
Originally from Kulai, Johor this little stall which began business here in Taman Sentosa nearly twenty years ago, was so successful that it actually became the parent of the large and equally popular Tai Hong 大豐 Kopitiam in Taman Pelangi.
Tai Hong’s success is based just on doing the two signature Hakka staples of lei cha fun and yong tau foo very well. Customers come in constant streams to eat in and to take away lei cha fun and yong tau foo. It seems especially popular with ladies perhaps because of its purported slimming effects besides its deliciousness ;-D
Lei cha (meaning milled tea in Hakka dialect) is made by grinding and boiling a blend of green tea, herbs, seeds and vegetables to create a greenish, grainy, minty gruel or tea.
This thick greenish tea is poured over a bowl of steamed white or brown rice garnished with fried ground nuts, chopped long beans, vegetables, fried shallots and fried tofu. All the ingredients used in the tea and the rice were fresh and cooked just right to retain their freshness and nutritional goodness. Lei cha may not look very photogenic but it is loaded with vitamins and fibre. It is delicious too.
The lei cha is a healthy, hearty meal in itself but is frequently eaten together with a selection of yong tau foo.
Tai Hong’s yong tau foo is tender, fresh and mildly sweet and salty. It is so tasty, you can unknowingly eat up lots of pieces without realising it :-D
Lei cha fun and yong tau foo so tedious to make, so easy to enjoy at Tai Hong, the stall or the kopitiam. Try also other items in Tai Hong 大豐 Kopitiam's menu such as their famous laksa.
Restaurant name: Tai Hong 大豐 Kopitiam
Address: 42, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi
Hour: (closed on Thursday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 3 Jun 2012
My fav lei cha stall in JB!!!
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