Famous Swees Epok Epok. The Best Curry Puffs in Batam

As our car rolled by Swees Epok Epok off Jalan Imam Bonjol, our local buddy casually pointed out that it is the most famous curry puff shop in Batam. "Can we get some?" I uttered reflexively.



As we had a prior appointment, we made a trip back to Swees Epok Epok the next day.




Two stories of bright airy space at Swees Epok Epok based mainly on the popularity on their famous epok epok - this place is always packed during tea time. Swees was a humble street side stall before moving into this huge premises recently.




Every epok epok is freshly hand made and deep fried at Swees Epok Epok.



They have several flavours such curry chicken & potato, sardines, yam. We just have the classic chicken & curry potatoes (to save tummy space for more food to taste during our whole day food trail).

First impressions based on the shape, size, colour and style of the folds reminded me of Singapore's Old Chang Kee curry puff.



The difference was quite obvious once I bite into Swees' epok epok.

Swees' epok epok has a thick, stiffer shell with flaky layers. Old Chang Kee's shell is thicker and is just one crumbly sheet i.e. 1 layer. Personally, I find flaky, multi-layered, crispy shells more interesting. Swees' shell is also cleaner tasting than Old Chang Kee's. 

Swees' epok epok's egg and curry potato filling is sweeter and less spicy (compared to Old Chang Kee's curry puff).



My dream curry chicken & potato pastry would have Swees' epok epok's multi-layer flaky shell stuffed with Old Chang Kee's spicier curry chicken & potato filling.



Kari Epok Ayam or Curry Chicken with Potato - IDR 3,000 (29 cents SGD)

Sardine - IDR 3,000 (29 cents SGD)

Talas or Yam - IDR 3,500 (34 cents SGD).

Food Geek Notes: Epok epok or curry puffs? Epok epok were inspired by Portuguese style pastry brought to the Malay Archipelago in the 1500s. Epok epok shells are thin and have a stretchy, chewy bite. The British brought their way of doing pastry when they arrived in the Malay Archipelago in the 1800s. Adding butter to the dough in the way of English pies made the shells crumbly and flaky. Filling the flaky, crumbly shells with curry chicken and potato gave us curry puffs. Both epok epok and curry puffs are sold in food stalls today. However, the terms epok epok and curry puffs are now used interchangeably by custom, even though they are really different pastries. Fun fact - next time you eat a stretchy, thin, chewy shell epok epok, remember the humble snack in your mouth is a half millennium old historic artefact 😮 (Source: Makansutera)

Recommended for you 👍 When you are in Batam, do come and check out Swees Epok Epok's famous curry puffs.

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Restaurant name: Swees Kopi Tiam
Address: 🏠 Nagoya Citywalk Northwalk, Block B, No 1, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Lubuk Baja Kota, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444, Indonesia
GPS: 1°08'32.3"N 104°00'24.1"E 🌐 1.142293, 104.006697
Tel: +62 812-6645-7717
Hours: 7:00am - 10:00pm


 
Date visited: 26 Aug 2019