You Char Kway near Pelangi Plaza @ Jalan Maju Jaya 現做現賣油条

You_Char_Kway_Pelangi_Plaza_Jalan_Maju_現做現賣油条

现做现卖油条 | 39, Jalan Maju, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru (food stall inside Xong Ling Seafood coffee shop) ⏰ 7am - 11am

Whenever I am around Jalan Maju, JB's "newspaper street", I will pop by the corner kopitiam at the far end (opposite Rong Shu Xia Kway Teow Kia).

I come around to look at auntie Auyong's wanton mee stall even though she had moved to Seri Austin a long time ago, back in 2018. I just like to come back and see what has happened to the old spot - another wanton mee hawker has taken over auntie Auyong's stall space.

Stumbled upon a new stall serving you cha kway (Chinese fried crullers or dough sticks).

Just seeing how the boss patiently slapped, sayang, massaged his dough, stopped me in my tracks. Such lovingly made soft-tender dough must taste very good, I thought to myself.

郑励维's father founded this you char kway stall over 20 years ago. 郑励维 took over after the Covid-19 pandemic and had ran the stall for over 2 years.

郑励维 gets up every day at 4am to start making the dough for his you char kway.

郑励维's secret family recipe makes fried dough that is crisp outside and tender chewy inside.

I ordered one to try (RM1.50 each). Boss will provide a plate for eating in the coffee shop.

The you char kway was airy, lightly crisp on the browned outside. The inside was soft, gently chewy. It was not greasy, not tough chewy. Tasted very mildly savoury. Can easily enjoy two pairs without problem.

Dunking the you char kway takes away most of the crispness, making the pastry soggy and limp, but added the bitter sweet taste of kopi C (Nanyang latte).

You char kway is also commonly enjoyed dunked in bak kut teh soup (I love this), eaten with porridge / congee, mung bean dessert (tau suan), wrapped in chee cheong fun, etc.

Freshly kneaded, freshly fried you char kway (Chinese fried dough sticks) is one of life's enduring, endearing simple joys in East Asia. 郑励维 makes a good rendition. He also has other fried pastries such as "butterflies", ham cheem peng, 3-in-1 fried battered sweet potato, yam, nian gao combination. (Need to try all these next time.)