Petaling Jaya, one of the oldest and most developed cities in the Klang Valley, is home to a handful of good eateries. Malaysians love their street food, which they gladly devour for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes, even supper. Here are 10 street food stalls to eat your way through PJ.
Escape from the hot weather with a bowl of shaved ice in this old neighbourhood of Petaling Jaya. Many shops in the area have been operating for decades and Weng Kee ABC & Cendol has been a neighbourhood gem. Located at PJ Old Town Market Food Court, their Air Batu Campur (ABC, mixed ice) is as authentic as it comes. Paired with red beans, corn and topped with peanuts, anything more than that would be over the top. The secret to their ABC lies in the gula Melaka syrup drizzled all over the shaved ice, and that is what has been keeping loyal customers coming back all these years.
During the day, this stall is the staple chicken rice stall that you see at every hawker centre. At night, it transforms into a popular braised duck stall. The duck, cooked beautifully, is tender and flavourful. Paired with a plate of aromatic rice, this will be a meal you won’t be able to forget. For a touch of fiery kick, try it with the sambal and chilli.
The Malaysian experience will not be complete without a plate of char kuey teow. A good plate of char kuey teow has that charred flavoured and should be topped with a healthy amount of cockles, prawns, Chinese sausages, and bean sprouts. Stir-fried with chili sauce, this is a perfect combination of sweet, savoury, and spiciness.
Juicy, greasy, and flavourful – that is a sign of a good Ramly burger. Get your hands on one of them at SS2’s Mamak Square. The locals flock to this stall for their chicken burger. The best thing with Ramly burger is the customisation – be it adding an egg or an extra slice of cheese.
Another neighbourhood favourite in Petaling Jaya is the hokkien mee at Ah Wa. Walking into the restaurant, almost every table has a plate of their signature charcoal fried hokkien mee. The noodles, coated with aromatic thick black sauce, is served with pork slices and crispy lard that will keep you wanting for more.
If the noodles at Ah Wa is not enough, order a plate of chicken wings that are grilled to perfection from the stall next to it. Served while it’s still piping hot, the wings are crunchy at first bite and bursting with flavour. Before long, you’d be devouring the whole plate in a cluck.
Trust the place when it has a sign that says “Voted Best Burger in Town by Someone Who Likes Burgers”. Mike’s unique creations like Kungpao Gourmet Burger, Kangkung Sambal Belacan, and Bbq Gourmet Triple Chicken Burger help keeps his customers coming back for more.
Find a variety of Chinese tong sui (desserts) to your liking at SS17’s Wai Sek Kai (food street). The stall is surrounded by various metal pots where you will find most locals’ favourite desserts. The place is self-service and you can choose from beans and nuts to sweet potato soup.
Beat the heat with a bowl of cendol. Enjoy the sweet relief in the form of shaved ice, cendol, and grass jelly served from a truck by the roadside. For something savory, they also have rojak – slices of eggs, tofu, crackers, and cucumber – topped with a generous amount of nutty and spicy sauce.
When there’s a long line, you’d know the food is good. People have been coming to Hong Seng Restaurant for decades just to have a bite of Wong Kee’s thickly cut siew yoke. It’s an explosion of flavour and texture with its crispy skin, tender meat, and well-paired sauces. The crowd tends to grow fast when the stall opens at 12.30pm, so be sure to come early so you wouldn’t miss a bite of this mouthwatering dish.
