I first visited Ah Teng when I just started Johor Kaki blog and soon after he started his Hainanese beef noodle stall in Shang Ji kopitiam in Jalan Lumba Kuda.
Ah Teng was as friendly and cheerful as ever.
Kelvin learning the ropes under the watchful tutelage of Ah Teng
Today, Ah Teng was joined by his son, Kelvin.
Like the last time, I had Ah Teng's RM7 dry beef kway teow.
Ah Teng who started selling beef noodles forty years ago, told me that he was constantly modifying his beef kway teow dish based on customer feedback. I noticed that the kiam chye topping I enjoyed at the last visit was now gone.
Ah Teng's syrupy gravy was more delicious than ever. Ah Teng told me that his gravy was brewed for many hours with old hens, large beef bones and bits of beef.
The gravy was a smooth, delicious blend of robust beefy flavour with savoury sweet and salty notes.
The tasty herbal soup was also beefy with hints of flavour that reminded me of that ubiquitous old British Marmite beef essence spread that I had as a boy, years ago.
Look at the generous amount of beef parts in the soup :)
I really enjoyed this tender, chewy piece of sinewy, marbled beef.
I just love these pieces of tender, jelly like yet savoury beefy tendons. It's got just the right texture, bounce and taste - awesome.
Super tender and smokey textured, naturally sweet beef tripe. Ah Teng told me that beef tripe needs constant watching during the tedious braising process to get just the right texture.
Ah Teng's chili sauce deserves a mention. Tangy, hot, and grainy from the bits of fresh ground chili. Goes very well with the beef parts without overwhelming the beefy flavours.
Picture suitably cropped for General Audiences :)
I noticed these curious looking pieces and asked Ah Teng what were these? They were beef penis 牛鞭. Ah Teng prepares two of these everyday. Ah Teng said each piece is about 3 feet long?!! "Does anyone asked for these?!" I asked incredulously. Ah Teng replied matter-of-factly with a cheeky grin and twinkle in his eye, "Sold out every day" and regular customers often called in early to reserve.
Actually, the same applies to the other less esoteric beef parts as well - Ah Teng sold out of everything, everyday by 2:00pm.
Address: 141 & 142, Jalan Lumba Kuda, Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru
Map: http://g.co/maps/qysgr
GPS: 1.461162, 103.767403
Hours:
No pork, no lard
Date visited: 7 Sep 2012
omg look at all the beef parts.... mouthwatering! Hard to get such prices at SG
ReplyDeleteYes, its a full meal.
DeleteNo where near as good as the original Cathay beef noodles., in fact its different altogether. so sad that its no more:( hope u can find a similar tasting one in ur sojourns.
ReplyDeleteYes, I heard a lot about the legendary Ah Deng whom even the beef noodle sellers all the way in Kluang talked about (found out during my beef noodle hunts there). Unfortunately for me, Ah Deng retired before I had a chance to taste his beef noodles.
DeleteYes, I was about to comment that the man in the photograph is not the Ah Teng that I know, who has been selling beef noodle for the past 40 years. According to what I have heard, the man in your photo used to own a restaurant called Jaws, along JB's Lido Beach, which was quite famous many years ago. Not sure if he sold beef noodles then. The Ah Teng I know had moved to KL to stay with another son, after the son who was going to take over his business had died in a tragic incident. That was more than a year ago.
DeleteYes, City Mouse. The current beef kway teow man is Ah Teng. Previously, Ah Deng was at this same kopitiam before he retired to KL and live with his son. Yes, the death of another son who works at the stall was a sad incident.
DeleteOriginal ah teng had wanted to retire for a while d... then his son came back to take over... my family n friends rejoiced! Then few months later he went to mojo in permas for drinks... next table was fighting amongst themselves...pushing n shoving...then accidentally one of them fell towards ah tengs son...who fell n hit his head... or so I've heard. :(
DeleteHi, I have just found Peggy Loh's blog on Johor, which has quite a comprehensive writeup about the Ah Teng that you have featured in your post, including his past endeavours. Probably worth a read: http://ppunlimited.blogspot.com/2012/03/beefy-goodness.html
DeleteThanks, City Mouse. I have included a link to Peggy Loh's article in my post.
Deleteactually not as tasty as you comment sad....
ReplyDeleteThe Seremban beef noodles has kiam chye also... I love that!
ReplyDeleteYes, the kiam chye does give it a nice touch.
DeleteReally miss the cathay beef noodles. Hope he and his family are doing well.
ReplyDeleteI heard from his relative that Ah Deng is retired and living in KL. Wish him and family the best too.
DeleteMoved.....to corner coffee shop near holiday plaza next to Caltex petrol kiosk on slope.....John Lim
ReplyDeleteI visited Tin Tin today. They are still at Jalan Lumba Kuda.
DeleteI used to since eat Ah Deng beef noodle since childhood to my teenage years. Really the best beef noodle ever. When his son died because of the accident, I remember Ah Deng still cook for a few weeks after that accident. And I am lucky to manage to eat the last of it. Really miss it, have been trying around to find the same taste around JB but sadly, the Ah Deng beef noodle taste is forever lost
ReplyDeleteSo sad.. Uncle Deng's beef noodles was the best. And I cant find anything taste the same. I had the beef noodles since young, 30 years ago. This is the only thing i missed in JB.
ReplyDelete