Lai Foong Beef Noodle

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Kedai Kopi Lai Foong (丽丰茶餐室) is a popular eatery near Pudu Sentral bus station terminus. This old coffee shop has been around since time immemorial. Well, I may be exaggerating, but at least it has been operating for several decades.

One of the most popular stalls in this coffee shop is Lai Foong Beef Noodle (丽丰牛肉面). This stall started in 1956, making it even older than this great nation. I am not sure whether the stall started at this very spot, though. Please forgive my ignorance since I was not born yet.

There are several versions of Beef Noodle (牛肉面) depending on how gaga you want to go over it. For RM10.00, you get the full package which includes lean beef (牛肉), belly (腩), stomach (肚), intestines (肠), tendon (腱) and beef balls (牛肉丸).

The beef soup is saturated with rich flavors, although I feel that it is on the saltier side of my liking. The recommended type of noodles is flat rice noodles (粿条), but other choices are available too.

Beef belly is certainly the star of this dish. The meat is a lovely mixture of lean and fatty tissues, giving it excellent mouthfeel.

On the other hand, I do not enjoy the lean beef so much because it is too tough and coarse in texture. It should be better if it were cut into thinner slices.

Meanwhile, the beef stomach is quite enjoyable. The rubbery texture is a real treat in the mouth.

Another gratifying ingredient is beef tendon, which has a tough yet pleasant texture.

The two beef balls are springy and highly addictive. The only way to comprehend this is by tasting them by yourself.

As for drinks, they are the regular ones available at any old-fashioned coffee shops. Our drinks today are iced coffee, hot milk tea and hot Chinese tea.

Kedai Kopi Lai Foong is quite packed during lunch hours, and the waiting time for food can be surprisingly long. However, take comfort with the fact that every customer is in the same boat. The crowd cannot be wrong about a popular stall, right?