Restoran Samy Bak Kut Teh

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First, let’s test your knowledge – what does ‘San Mei’ represent in Samy Bak Kut Teh?

Bak Kut Teh, the renowned herbal pork soup of Klang, is a dish prepared with pork and a variety of herbs and spices. While Klang is widely associated with Bak Kut Teh, early on, places like Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru (home to well-established brands like Bak Cheng Bak Kut Teh) also served this aromatic Chinese dish. So why did it become such a big thing in Klang? Perhaps it’s because the city has a significant Hokkien population! The intensely flavored and dark broth, which is similar to the Hokkien ‘hong bak’ or braised pork, could be a clue!

Different Styles of Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh comes in several regional styles, each with its unique qualities:

Dark Broth with a Strong Herbal Flavor: It has a relatively thicker and darker broth that emphasizes the natural flavor of pork bones, and the aroma of soy sauce.
Rich Herbal Flavor: This version focuses on the aroma of the herbs. The broth is more abundant, making it drinkable, and it’s sometimes served in clay pots along with vegetables like lettuce, enoki mushrooms, and fuchuk (beancurd).
Teochew-Style White Pepper Soup: Known for its strong peppery flavor, this version usually has a thinner, slightly spicy broth. It’s quite common in Singapore.

In recent years, a popular spin-off called ‘Dry Bak Kut Teh’ has emerged. In this version, patrons order Bak Kut Teh, and the cook serves it dry in a clay pot. It is then sautéed with dried cuttlefish, dried chili, and other ingredients until it’s flavorful and aromatic. The ‘Dry Bak Kut Teh’ has a rich and distinctive taste, making it a favorite.

Today, we visit a shop along Jalan Pandamaran, where two shop lots merge into ‘Restoran Samy Bak Kut Teh.’ This iconic eatery was established over three decades ago by its founder, Mr. Wong 黄进和. The second generation, his daughter, Madam Wong 黄丽恬, has now taken the reins, introducing new innovations like Bak Kut Teh soup bags, frozen packs, and self-heating Bak Kut Teh rice boxes – a brilliant move! The third generation, Mr. Wong’s grandson 黄建友, has also joined the business, ensuring the legacy continues.

It’s worth noting that they only serve pork and broth here, and there are no vegetables. However, you can order vegetables as side dishes. Despite this simplicity, the restaurant is bustling with local customers daily.

When ordering Bak Kut Teh in Klang, don’t limit yourself to just ‘half-fat, half-lean.’ Klang locals have taken their Bak Kut Teh expertise to a whole new level, with various choices of pork parts:

If you enjoy pig skin, you can choose ‘tua kut’ (Big Bone)，’suey kut’ (Small Bone)
If you don’t like pig skin, there’s ‘goh huey’ (Pork Belly)，’neng kut’ (Soft Bone)，’pai kut’ (Ribs)
For those who want pig tendons, there’s also ‘ter ka’ (Leg)，’ka wan’ (Bend)

There are also side dishes like chicken feet, intestines and shiitake mushrooms.

Samy Bak Kut Teh is known for its perfectly cooked fatty pork, which remains tender without turning mushy. The meat retains a nice bite, and the fat is rendered to perfection.

One of the highlights is the ‘ka wan’ (Bend) – back in the day, they used to have limited servings, so it was a race to order them early. Now, you’ll find more servings, making sure customers don’t miss out.

The pig’s kawan (Bend) is, in fact, the knee joint, and well-cooked tendons maintain their delightful chewiness. It’s a wonderful experience!

The rice is cooked to perfection – every grain is plump and glistening, without clumping. What sets Samy Bak Kut Teh apart is the fragrant onion rice. It’s delicious on its own! Customers can choose to use the tea provided by the restaurant, or they can bring their tea leaves. In the latter case, the restaurant charges a nominal fee for hot water.

In addition, you can also explore ‘Restoran Ah Her & Samy Bak Kut Teh‘ located in Taman Berkeley, Klang. This collaboration between Ah Her Bak Kut Teh and Samy Bak Kut Teh offers a fusion of flavors to satisfy your taste buds!”

So, by now, you might be wondering, ‘What does Samy 三美 mean?’ The essence of San Mei Bak Kut Teh is ‘汤美 Beautiful Soup, 肉美 Delicious Meat, and 饭美 Excellent Rice.’

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Foodveler on WhatsApp!