I was in Sungai Pinang Kecil in Pangkor Island looking for hyperlocal food, cuisine that defines this little fishing village off Malaysia's west coast. The last thing on my mind was global chain Din Tai Fung style dishes.
We were on a food trail since sunrise and Kedai Kopi Lam Ah was our lunch stop (I lost count of the number of stops). We simply had too much coffee and food, even though everything we drank and ate was among the best we ever tasted.
Like the other stops, our table at Lam Ah was carpeted with food and drinks again 🤦🏻 I was in Pangkor for hyperlocal experiences, so ironically it was that oddly out of place plate of pork chop fried rice that got the attention of my numbed, food dazed mind.
There was a slight eggy, toasty aroma rising from the fried rice. Curious, I took an obligatory spoonful from that eggy, yellow mound.
Boomz!
This was indeed that classic Din Tai Fung 排骨蛋饭 Fried Rice with Pork Chop.
The soft-tender short rice grains moist but loose had subtle taste of wok hei, savoury sweet and wrapped with eggy flavour. Bits of scallion punctuated the fried rice with its pung pung 香香 aroma.
The fried pork chop was well marinated with layered savoury seasoning which complemented the pork's subtle sweetness. Though almost completely lean, the pork chop was tender to the bite.
Perfectly executed.
I was so excited that I sprang up to meet the chef.
Chef Choi Wei Kiek was with Din Tai Fung in Singapore from 2010 to June 2022. In his last position, chef choi was responsible for fried rice at Din Tai Fung's Marina Bay Sands restaurant.
Chef Choi returned to Pangkor Island in Jun 2022 to be closer to his aging mother-in-law. He's such a lovely man! In Jul 2022, chef assisted by his wife opened this little hawker stall named Yi Ke Zhan at Kedai Kopi Lam Ah in Sungai Pinang Kecil village.
The one page menu features some familiar dishes.
There's 红油抄手 Red Oil Chou Shou which is meaty wantons in a pool of savoury spicy hot sauce and chili oil.
When in Pangkor Island, add "village Din Tai Fung" to your eat list 😄
I am building up my Pangkor Eat List 👈 click
Written by Tony Boey on 27 Aug 2022
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