LWIN LEE | ANGCLE PEOH PENANG AYER ITAM MARKET @ BANDAR BUKIT TINGGI, KLANG
Folks of Klang Valley now need not go through all the trouble
driving up to Penang whenever the hankering for its delicious hawkers’
signatures comes kicking in. In fact, you could just conveniently drop by
Angcle Peoh restaurant which is located at the brisk area of Bandar Bukit Klang,
serving all the delicious Penang Ayer Itam’s food you have been yearning for, that
also widely enjoyed by all walks of life
Man of few words but once the ice is broken, Uncle Peoh is just
like any other ordinary grandpa that is friendly and loving kind. Tad shy at
first but instantly regain composure once he started sharing his insights and
stories thus far as he journeyed the path called life.
Bit of ‘his-tories’ behind Uncle Peoh’s humble beginning……………..
FROM PENANG WITH LOVE
Angcle Peoh’s Asam Laksa has a
new home in Klang
From a very young age, Uncle Peoh
has been the youngest of five siblings with one sister who helped out their mom
selling homemade fried bee hoon (vermicelli) early in the morning and, of
course, Asam Laksa after a short lunch break during the 1950s. “We were very
poor,” he says. “And that’s how we made ends meet. She would start her day as
early as 5am and only calling it a day at midnight.” She
lugged all the needed ingredients with a rattan basket (including the laksa
broth), and walked almost 4km on a daily basis from their house to the Ayer
Itam market.
He grew up in Penang and, at the
tender age of seven, while other kids were still studying in
school, Ang – who didn’t have the luxury of time to complete his
homework – was doing what he could to ease her mother’s burden and picking up
on the method to concoct a delicious bowl of Asam Laksa. They owned their first
bicycle which made it slightly easier to carry the rattan basket. “We also
sold kuih and even
ice-cream,” he recalls. “Our school fees was RM5 and my mom would save up every
‘syilling’ (coin) she could to ensure that we could continue studying.”
Looking back, that environment had
him embraced the responsibility as the breadwinner at young age in order to ensure
his family’s livelihood. It was then that he decided to drop out of school at
the age of 14 to assist his mom full time. “It was with a very heavy heart that
I decided to do so,” he explains. “I only studied two weeks of Form 2 and have
no regrets in making the life-changing decision.”
He felt encouraged when business
started to pick up in the 1970s, with the family being able to afford a pedicab
when he was 17 and eventually a lorry ten years later.
The fame about Asam Laksa from Ayer
Itam then got around, and soon he branched out with Angcle Peoh, a
play on words with “Ang” being his surname. “Coming from a poor family, I’ve
always wanted to come down to Selangor to sell my laksa,” he says, much more when
his daughter had gotten married and proceeds to set up her asam laksa stall at
Asia Café.
As lady’s luck was at their side, a
helpful client who stumbled upon a shop lot at a good location in Klang, urges
them to consider the idea of a full fledge eatery to sell their fare and even
help to pay the deposit. “Customers are coming from as far as Seremban just to
try our laksa. Of course, many bring young children who are unable to stomach
the intense taste of laksa. And that’s why we have incorporated other Penang
signatures into our menu. We had some teething problems moving from a stall
concept to a full fledge outlet, but with a central kitchen we’ve manage to
streamline the process and ensure consistency in our dishes.”
Today, he feels extremely grateful
to his mom for having given him everything: a calling in life, the possibility
to be semi-retired now.
Open exactly a year ago on 29 March as vividly recalled by both Ms Ang (Uncle Ang’s daughter) and Uncle Ang, now the shop has been transformed from a humble stall at Asia Café to a spacious air conditioned shop at Bukit Tinggi Klang.
Despite approaching octogenarian, he still at the Klang outlet
daily and insists to prepare asam laksa himself every morning to ensure the
asam laksa broth is on par- the satisfaction
to see patrons enjoying his food who came afar, is just priceless. The genial Uncle Peoh could
always be seen at the asam laksa counter on your right upon entrance, if you
pay close attention enough. Now test your vigilance and don’t always engross
with your ipad, smartphones or any kind of gadgets (=
There is no qualm that the culinary heritage of The Pearl of Orient
is palatably reflected in Uncle Ang’s Ayer Itam signature dishes. Without
further ado, let’s check out what has Uncle Peoh prepared for us to satiate our
Penang food cravings!
ASAM LAKSA (MYR 6.90)
Comes heartily with the thick broth, derived from some good hours’
boiling that renders the zest of the soup. Unlike the other restaurants, Uncle
Peoh’s asam laksa is much more tongue-friendly and not that prickling spicy.
The fact that Grade A prawn paste is used has further sweetened up the soup bounteously
in the savoriness of sardines.
FRIED KOEY TEOW WITH DUCK
EGG (MYR 8.90)
Finally, satiated my longing for the real, unmistakable Penang
char koey teow that is utterly full of ‘wok hei’. Every string of noodles is
nicely coated and very flavourful! Slurps………
FRIED TOM YAM MEE (MYR
9.90)
Something new and interesting is cooking up here!
Cleverly whipped up in the dry version of tom yam unconventionally
(homemade tom yam paste by the way), tangle of goodish Vits noodles with pieces
of squid and prawns are smothered in a thick sauce that has a surprisingly full
flavor followed by some hint of tang.
Light and cooling bites come just in time after a delish spread!
CENDOL
(MYR 5)
Cendol sourced from homemade supplier thus rendering the
quintessential original taste of pandan flavor, made with gula Melaka.
Love the aroma and pure peachy sweetness from the gula Melaka.
ROJAK (MYR 6)
Who could restrain from this crunchy and crispy chuck?
Fyi, the rojak paste also specially made inhouse, yum!
And I thought some homely boiled drinks would be ideal to clear
off the throat as well as to cool off the body especially after so many ‘fried’
dishes, but undeniably, temptingly mouthwatering (=
WINTER MELON WITH ALOE VERA
BASIL SEED (MYR 4.90)
OKINAWA BROWN SUGAR GINGER
TEA (MYR 4.50)
Ginger drink that has been slowly boiled for 2 hours with adequate
brown sugar to ease foodie like me- ginger has been a huge challenge to me (=
The appropriate amount of brown sugar somehow has mellowed it
down. Great recommendation from Ms Ang that I now found my new appreciation on
ginger drink-which I usually shun off due to its gingery pungency, hehe.
Staying true to their roots, diners are assured of good quality
and tasty food are prepared from the freshest ingredients. Savoring back these homey
dishes again definitely helps to remedy my craving for authentic and true
Penang delicacies. Just like the saying goes, nothing beats hometown food particularly
when you are a Penangite as well (=
Cheers
for now and Carpe Diem! ❤ℒℴѵℯ❤
Location : 42, Lorong Batu Nilam 21B, Bandar Bukit Tinggi 2, 41200 Klang, Selangor
Contact : +6017
9362223
Opening hours: 10am -
9pm (Off day on Mon or Wednesday alternately)
Website
:
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