Thursday, November 27, 2008

Yut Kee, Jalan Dang Wangi Kuala Lumpur

Sandra, an old friend of mine has been doing well as an artist, check out her website. Having been in Singapore all these years, she decided to drop by Kuala Lumpur for a visit before starting a new chapter in her life when she relocates to Beijing. We met up in Yut Kee, a fave of Sandra's and reminiscing the days of our adventures in primary school seemed like the perfect thing to do and we did exactly that when we ate here. Yut Kee and the surrounding area brings back lots of memories to me as I use to frequent it with my dear 'ol Dad. As for Sandra, she grew up in this area and this was a place she had to visit. A nostalgic tour of the area...

Old Tree
This is the area where Sandra's grandma's house used to be. It's now a parking lot; the lone tree is the only thing left standing after all these decades.

Construction
What was once a quiet suburb is now a fast becoming a commercial area. As you can see, construction is taking place.

Tailor
But luckily for areas like Jalan Yap Ah Shak, we can still find the old within the new and hope it stays that way.

Yut Kee Lunchtime
Maybe that is the case with Yut Kee, the comfort of having something so familiar (it's been around since the 1920s!) despite the "madness" of city life. It makes this place endearing to many folks who patronise it in throng especially during lunchtime - the primary reason as to why the scene above takes place daily while food is secondary.



Yut Kee

Display Cabinet
The antique display cupboard for Yut Kee's Kaya Swiss Roll and Marble Butter Cake. Great stuff.

With that in mind, Sandra and I met up earlier for brunch and decided to talk and eat our way till almost tea time! We started off the meal with a simple Kaya toast bread...
Kaya Toast
I loved the Kaya spread! The Kaya is made in-house.

which went into lunch time....and we ordered these...
Image00032-1
Fried Mee Suah....it was a tad salty for me but am sure you know what I mean when I say that it has that distinctive Hainan taste which I love.

Mee Hailam
Forget about food presentation , this Mee Hailam came looking pretty "tossed" up and was rather bland.

Then as we headed towards tea time, we decided to go for the Roti Babi (RM7) which we both loved and enjoyed (we even ordered a second one)! Hahaha....Shredded pork and sauteed onions inside a fried bun; something simple but yet emerged as a signature dish of Yut Kee.
Roti Babi

Jack Lee
Here's a portrait of Jack that I took, taken during brunch before he starts getting really busy.

Despite the fare turning out the way it did, we'll still be heading on back to Yut Kee time and time again just like most people. Yut Kee is a place where memories are projected and good times relived :o)

Yut Kee
35 Jalan Dang Wangi
50100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2698 8108

Opens 8 a.m - 5 pm, closed on Mondays


Read the review from someone who's 18 and does not have that many memories yet (as compared to me!) to relive.

The review of a young couple - KampungBoyCityGal

The review of someone who visited this institution


They took all the trees
And put them in a tree museum
Then they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go,
That you don't know what you’ve got
‘Til it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

- Joni Mitchell (Big Yellow Taxi)




24 comments:

J2Kfm said...

oh this ... i still have yet to get my hands on those roti babi.

the mee nicer or the chops nicer?

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

yes..very nostalgic hor..then again with new complexes here and there..history seems so far away..and to many, it is just an eatery in a run down state..

Ciki said...

like you, i am old enough to have memories. My mum/grandmum's house was ripped out in the Imbi/BBintang area too.. to make way for Pavilion and the lot! hmmm.. time to visit Yut Kee again i suppose... ;)

Anonymous said...

ah, the roti babi. the only thing i am willing to drive down to Yut Kee for. not so keen on the rest :P

Anonymous said...

It's good to relive the old memories sometimes... it makes you realize the long journey you have made so far.

Anonymous said...

Jack certainly looks happy and prosperous. Or it could be the lovely lady taking his pic that inspired a smile so sweet? Hehe.

tigerfish said...

Kaya DIY ? ;p

choi yen said...

Planning to go there have breakfast but heard that there will be quite packed on weekend morning, sigh~~

Ethan W. said...

Ahaha!

Yes, the mee sua is salty.

And your roti babi picture is kinda like a mirrored of mine :o

Oh I'm still not 18 la.

17. And working. Child labour, I swear. But all in good name to graduate.

Kok said...

wmw,
The kaya is very traditional but the butter... aiyoor.. spoilt everything. :P

worldwindows said...

A KLite took me there in 1986. Can't really forget it. Went there with wifey a couple of times in mid-90s. Great food!

wmw said...

j2kfm : Uh..I would have to go with the chops then.

Joe : We must keep the memories alive ! It's not just another eatery, Julian says its an institution!

cumi & ciki : I have a lot more memories than you cos I'm a lot older! Hahaha...Visit, if not for the food - for the memories. Hey, my old schools (primary & secondary) are gone too, BBGS! Didn't know there were houses near there.

Jasmine : Roti Babi and memories I guess :o)

Jason : Yup, we all have come a long way since then. I was schooling and you were in diapers! Hee hee...

LFB : Yes, he looks sweet hor? I was telling him that it's hard to get a shot of him like that...smiling for the camera like that.

mimid3vils : Take a day off from work and do a food crawl in KL, starting with Yut Kee in Dang Wangi to Tong Shin, Alor and Pudu area! Have breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. Make your off day worthwhile! :p

Ethan : Oh yah! Almost a mirror image. Going to be 18 soon lo...

Kok : Aiyoh, churn your own butter??? hehehe....Too much work!

Xiu Long Bao said...

I suppose that I'm starting another new chapter again. Yeah, if u know what I mean, a new vocation next month.

Yut Kee is in my top list, roti babi + pork chops. Mind revisiting again wiv me :p ?

Anonymous said...

A nice whiff of nostalgia there. You always seem to get nice pics of the proprietors of the shops... :-)

wmw said...

tigerfish : Yup, DIY! Woo Hoo!

worldwindows: And now for a trip here again in this decade? :o)

XLB : Sure...when are you free? New vocation, where? Still there or coming back here?

Lyrical L : Hahaha...thanks.

Simon Seow said...

Went here once. Down their pork chop and roti babi for breakfast. Damn full.

minchow said...

I love that shot of Jack! Doesn't look at all like he minds that he's about to get really busy!

Beachlover said...

wow! the owner look so happy posing for you! like "chao toh kam "smile!LOL!

wmw said...

Simon : You had two dishes at one go ah?

550 ml of Jar of Faith : Hahaha...I like the shot too...if only the other person wasn't in the background.

Beachlover : Hahaha....wah! No gold lo...

Hazza said...

I know exactly the feeling about eating at an old place you have known since childhood, however, I am sure owners back then did not to look so gay in the picture??? hehe

wmw said...

Hazza : Nolah, he doesn't look like that. He looks sweet, that's all!

Anonymous said...

jack got son? intro to me la..haha

Anonymous said...

Its ok only la, the chicken chop is Hainanese style too but its not fabulous and its considerably pricey. The Hainanese noodle was also so so.

Authentic Haninanese fare though. I like the swiss rolls with the kaya rolled in :) the butter cake is also very buttery if you like that old school type cake.

I didn't quite fancy sitting with total strangers who talked louder than me - table sharing is common here unfortunately.

B' said...

don't forget the kaya swiss roll
on special days, there is the pork roast served too!