Last week, my friend Bryan brought me to his favourite steam fish head shop, Zhuang Yuan 壮源 Restaurant, in Senai, Johor.
When I realised that this shop specialises in steam Song fish head (carp) 蒸松鱼头, I immediately thought of the Chan Sow Lin Jalan Tiga steam Song fish head stall 陈秀莲蒸松鱼头 in Kuala Lumpur.
I worked in Kuala Lumpur for a few years and still travel there regularly for leisure. There are many really awesome eateries in KL and one which I always go back to is the legendary Chan Sow Lin steam Song fish head stall 陈秀莲蒸松鱼头.
It's not really a stall at all - more like a ramshackle shack under an untidy clump of trees in a messy backyard industrial area at the cowboy fringe of the great city. But, Chan Sow Lin steam Song fish head stall had over the decades achieved national fame and was even a tourist attraction for foodies from all over Malaysia and Singapore. Chan Sow Lin steam Song fish is on my list of top, top favourites. (Chan Sow Lin steam fish had moved to new premises in 2010 after the old Jalan Tiga area, where it was at, was redeveloped. I still feel a bit sad that I never took pictures of its old under-the-tree shop.)
Inside Zhuang Yuan (Senai) restaurant, there was this large framed poster telling the Chan Sow Lin steamed fish head story. I posted this picture in large size so that you can read their inspiring story. You can also click on the picture to view a KL blogger's post on the original Chan Sow Lin steam fish head stall.
We sat down and I let Byran make the orders as he was more familiar with this shop, it being his favourite.
We had a Song fish head steamed in fermented bean paste, steamed tofu and bitter gourd soup.
As we ate, I can't help but reminisce about the old Chan Sow Lin stall, retelling how wonderful their steamed Song fish head was. Inevitably, I was comparing this steamed Song fish with the mythical Chan Sow Lin fish head that lived on in my memory.
You know a Song fish head has aced the taste test when customers gleefully sucked the last shreds of gelatinous tissue out from in between the head bones.
The tofu brick was soft and the sauce was lightly flavoured, thus allowing us to savour the gentle taste of soy bean.
The bitter gourd soup was really a misnomer. If anything it should be called "sweet gourd" soup as the thin slices of crunchy gourd were sweet and refreshing. The pieces of pork innards were very well cleaned, and were tender and naturally sweet. The soup was tasty and I couldn't detect much, if any MSG at all.
Our lunch for two big guys, including rice and drinks came to RM45 (2012 price).
After our lunch, the boss of Zhuang Yuan graciously let me photograph them at work in the kitchen.
The fish head goes into the standing steamer.
These were other customers' orders which I will try at the next visit :)
The braised belly pork
Zhuang Yuan's signature Hakka deep fried pork.
Whenever I am in the Senai area, Zhuang Yuan will definitely be a good choice for lunch.
Address: 295, Jalan Utama 2, Taman Bintang Utama, Senai, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/kq0gj
GPS: 1.612288,103.656177
Tel: 016-712 0456
Hours: 11:00am to 3:00pm (Closed on Sunday)
Non Halal
Date visited: 19 Nov 2012
GPS location seems to be wrong... base on Google map, it should be 1.612589,103.656487
ReplyDeleteOK Thank you. I shall double check it as soon as possible.
DeleteYes, you are correct. I have adjusted. Thank you.
Deleteopen during the CNY period? Any knows
ReplyDeleteShould have included the phone contact
ReplyDelete