Chwee kueh 水粿 is a traditional Teochew comfort food commonly found in Johor, and also Singapore.
To me chwee kueh is the traditional classic working man's humble energy food from leaner, harder times. Plain carbo (steamed rice flour milled from broken rice chips) made palatable with savouriness from finely diced preserved radish (chai po) stewed in oil (traditionally lard). Nothing fanciful nor pretentious, but authentic and very charming in my opinion.
At 20 sens a piece, this delicious pile of chwee kueh costs RM2 (2013 price).
Today, the humble chwee kueh remains an affordable, popular breakfast choice that goes very well with an old style cuppa kopi.
Mr Lim and his wife have been selling chwee kueh in Loeng Hou kopitiam along Jalan Maharani in Muar for over 40 years. This type of traditional chwee kuih stall where the stall holders make everything themselves is getting scarce in Johor.
Mr Lim's chwee kueh stall has no name but it has become so famous that
Loeng Hou kopitiam is also named Chew Kueh Kopitiam 😄
Mr. Lim's chwee kueh had just the right texture - it was neither too soft (meaning, not enough rice flour) nor too stiff (meaning, tapioca flour added). The chai po was crunchy and was the old school salty and savoury type.
Mr. Lim keeps the finely diced and fried preserved radish simmering in oil over a small gas stove.
The heap of steamed rice cakes in small aluminium moulds.
Every morning between 6:00am and 11:00am steady streams of customers come in to Loeng Hou (Chew Kueh Kopitiam) for Mr. Lim's chwee kueh.
Rating: 2-Star out of 3.
Restaurant name: No name chwee kueh stall inside Loeng Hou kopitiam (also known as Chew Kueh Kopitiam 水粿茶餐室)
Mr. Lim's chwee kueh had just the right texture - it was neither too soft (meaning, not enough rice flour) nor too stiff (meaning, tapioca flour added). The chai po was crunchy and was the old school salty and savoury type.
Mr. Lim keeps the finely diced and fried preserved radish simmering in oil over a small gas stove.
The heap of steamed rice cakes in small aluminium moulds.
Every morning between 6:00am and 11:00am steady streams of customers come in to Loeng Hou (Chew Kueh Kopitiam) for Mr. Lim's chwee kueh.
Rating: 2-Star out of 3.
Restaurant name: No name chwee kueh stall inside Loeng Hou kopitiam (also known as Chew Kueh Kopitiam 水粿茶餐室)
Address: At the junction of Jalan Maharani and Jalan
Batayan (opposite the wet market along Jalan Maharani and the 7-11 shop
along Jalan Batayan)
GPS: 2.050979,102.570966
Hours: 6:00am till sold out (usually by 11:00am)
Non Halal
GPS: 2.050979,102.570966
Hours: 6:00am till sold out (usually by 11:00am)
Non Halal
Date visited: 17 Mar 2013 | Updated 28 Oct 2021
Chwee kueh 水粿 originates from Choashan 潮汕 in Guangdong province in China.
I remembered Sherie and you mentioned before that Malaysia or is it KL does not have chwee kueh? I am surprised it is found in JB. What is the difference between the Singapore's chwee kueh?
ReplyDeleteThere are but less common nowadays. This is only second one that I have stumbled upon. The chwee kueh are quite similar in Singapore and Johor.
ReplyDeleteThere's one behind Standard Charted Bank opposite Pelangi Plaza. The back alley. The Chwee Kueh is the first stall you will see. You previously did a write up on the curry laksa there. The business has been passed down by father to son if not mistaken. We have been buying from them for more than 10 years. I normally order "extra black" (more dark soy) for a more caramalized flavor!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, Nicole, thank you. I remember now. The stall was not opened yet when I was there. Shall go there again to try it. Thanks for the reminder :)
DeleteI think you miss another chwee kueh stall in Muar at Jalan Yahya.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.muar.net/2012/06/muar-chinese-food-chwee-kway/
Chwee kueh is Teochew cuisine. So not surprising that it is found in JB/Johor. I won't be surprised that Ipoh has chwee kueh too.
ReplyDelete