Saw and smelled the aromatic white plumes from the corner fried kway teow stall at Pah Li Ban a few times. But, there are many choices here at PLB. As I worked my way through the stalls, eating their food one by one, I finally got to taste Sohai fried kway teow only today.
Sohai fried kway teow was good 👍 Can come again.
Don't let the wacky name distract you from the food. ("Sohai" is a rude word meaning a dimwit in Malaysia 😂 )
I am not sure what style of fried kway teow this is. It is close to the Penang style but the hawker said she came up with this version through her own trial and error.
Nevermind what style, it's nice 👍
The scalding hot flat rice noodles were savoury spicy (as I asked for chili) with layers of savoury flavours from soy sauce, lard, prawn, caramelised garlic, chai poh, and blood cockle. It doesn't have sweetness from sauce (unlike the Singapore style) but a subtle bit from sweet chai poh.
Flavours come also from egg, chives, caramelisation on the noodles (but there was neither lup cheong nor fishcake). I am a sucker for chives - got chives means good 👍 There was a teasing bit of wok hei.
Additional subtle umami flavours extracted by sizzling the prawns in lard played a big part in this rendition. Hawker fries the kway teow plate by plate and this is the crucial first step.
The fat taugeh (bean sprouts) were very crunchy and juicy. Done just enough to drive away any raw taste, its sweetness blended well with the layered savouriness of the fried kway teow. Exactly how I like it. I overheard another customer said "加豆芽" meaning "add more beansprouts" 😄
High Five!
The noodles felt scalding hot in the mouth till the end of my meal . Maybe it was the lard and also that it was a hot sunny morning 🌞 Though fried with lard, the kway teow noodles were not overly greasy.
After finishing my fried kway teow, I went to chat with the friendly lady boss, Coco. She started out selling fried rice but now her fried kway teow is her top seller.
Coco fries her own lard for use in her fried kway teow and fried rice. Next time, I shall ask Coco for lard croutons - there was none in my plate today 😬
Coco is a hawker by day and in her spare time, she dances, cosplay, acts part time and party 👯 Living life to the fullest.
Check out this humble little fried rice (with signature curry leaf flavour and aroma) and fried kway teow stall.
There are at least five coffee shops and dozens of food stalls here in this hyperlocal makan (eating) spot in Skudai, Johor Bahru.
Written by Tony Boey on 15 Nov 2022
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