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Yut Kee @ Jln Dang Wangi – 80 Years and Counting …

December 3, 2008 | 5,513 views

80 Years of Legacy … that has gotta account for something, right?

Yut Kee (YK, for short) – Possibly one of the most raved/blogged about Chinese cafe/restaurant in KL

Google Yut Kee … or add another term, Roti Babi, and you may find so many links your head’ll spin. A hotspot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and tea time, the restaurant’ may occupies ONLY one corner shoplot on Jln Dang Wangi, a short distance from Jln Tuanku Abdul Rahman and SOGO shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Hainanese Tea (RM1.70) and Coffee (RM1.30)

Being another Hainanese outlet, the shop’s manned by Jack Lee (no, not JET … though the phonetic resemblance’s uncanny) the son of the original proprietor of YK’s.

And branded a Hainanese myself, I’ve always taken pride in my ancestors’ talent and fame in the F&B segment, particularly the Pork Chop, the chicken rice, the milk tea and coffee …. everything Hainanese.

Having breakfast here on a Sunday morning = Patience-in-Testing, yet a Jolly Good Time

The crowd was intimidating at first glance, rendering 1st timers (like me) shaking in our boots while driving by. But after parking the car haphazardly along ‘bahu jalan’ (it was a Sunday, after all, thus we’re KINGS), we marched to the entrance of YK‘s, and the lady boss signalled for us to move in instantly. She’s the usherer, of sorts. Pairing strangers on the same table utilizing simple Maths, and in return the patrons make friends (not war) while yakking over a good ol’ cuppa Hainanese coffee.

Btw, the coffee’s aromatic, strong enough for the morning, and smooth. The same can’t be said about the milk tea though.

Lum Mee @ RM6.50

Serving noodles, Western fare, toasts and such, and some other light snacks, the pricing in Yut Kee may be an eye-opener of sorts. A tad higher than your average kopitiam (NOT the commercialized, pricier option), but of course, let’s not compare an apple to an orange. Erm, wrong philosophy here?

Their Lum Mee’s gaining fans all over, and it’s easy to see why. Thick yellow noodles (or Tai Lok Meen in Cantonese) served in a rather light and simple sauce. My impression of Lum Mee has perpetuated around thick noodles cooked in very dark and un-savoury looking gravy.

With prawns, crabmeat and eggs thrown in, garnished with fried shallots and red chillies, the price may be justified by the portion, as where else can you get a Lum Mee with crabmeat?! But tastewise, I’m not brain-washed to be a fan, YET. And the sambal belacan with lime is a perfect companion to spice up the otherwise rather bland plate of noodles.

Roti Babi @ RM7.50

But this, my friend …. is a MUST-TRY on my list! Roti Babi (aka Fried Pork Bun?) is one of their most popular/ordered item, alongside the pork and chicken chops. Though shockingly doubling the price of Roti Babi in Penang, the portion and fillings you get is different on an entirely different level.

The bread is deep-fried with eggs, much akin to French toast, and filled with lots of shredded pork meat, Chinese wax sausages, crabmeat (again making another appearance … reminding me of M.Night Shyamalan in the movies he directed. Popping up un-necessarily) and sweet, caramelized onions.

Generously sprinkle some Lea & Perrins’ Worchestershire sauce, and savour the delicious combination of flavour, punctuated by the slightly sour, sweet and saltish sauce. Definitely one for the pork-lovers, and a rather heavy breakfast for one. 🙂

Homemade Kaya Roll (RM0.80/pc)

Throughout our chomping-cum-oogling session at Yut Kee, we bore witness to the churning out of many Kaya rolls and butter cakes, an indication of how popular their confectioneries are. People from all over were buying them back in bulk, and I was curious on how good their cakes really are.

Feeling rather full from the SECOND breakfast of the day, (this was right after the Sarawak Laksa session) the cake was a less-than-feasible option. Hence I went for the kaya roll, a much-beloved dessert/snack of mine.

The fragrance, sweetness and richness of the kaya was spot-on. Sandwiched between layers of ‘Kai Dan Kou’ (egg cake), the slice was delightful, and perfect as a snack for tea break. One full roll for RM8.

The overall experience proved to be a positive one; the service was prompt and the staff were friendly and helpful. Eating at Yut Kee brought back a sense of nostalgia, as if we travelled back in time and ate amongst the ancestral citizens in a quaint, little coffee shop.

Location : YUT KEE @ 35, Jalan Dang Wangi, 50100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : 603-2698 8108. Opens everyday except Monday, from 8.00 am til 5.00 pm.