Tag: western food

Yik Mun’s Hainanese Chicken Chop

Yik Mun kopitiam in Tanjung Malim was a popular stopover during the heydays of Federal Route 1. The Chinese steamed buns shop was an institution.

Now run by third generation descendents, the restaurant is located outside the old town. A shophouse factory in town churns out the assembly-line buns. They are no longer hand-made.

I didn’t order their famous pau (steamed bun) this time. It tasted lousy on a previous visit. Fortunately, the shop sells other local food including the famous Malaysian invention; the Hainanese Chicken Chop.

I am a bit OCD when I see salad dressing carelessly splashed all over the dish. The Hainanese chicken chop’s gravy is a speciality by itself. Typically, it has oyster sauce, HP sauce, Worcestershire sauce and blended secret ingredients in it. It must not be contaminated with Thousand Island dressing.

That aside, the chicken chop here tasted “so so” and the portion seems to have gotten smaller. At RM 14 ++, it is not cheap for a small town.

Nevertheless, the shop was packed when I was there. I guess a good reputation from the past can go a long way. Try it yourself and let me know what you think, if you are in town. Yik Mun is Halal.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 1000, f4, 1/60 sec.

Hitz Cafe

With a silky curtain acting as sunshade and intentionally mismatched kopitiam chairs, Jolene’s Hitz Cafe has all the cues of a hipster cafe. But since there are no hipsters in Tanjung Malim, how do they survive?

With good food, patronised by staff from nearby banks, UPSI lecturers, Proton City execs and other local folks.

Uniquely, there’s a Malay, a Chinese and a Orang Asli cook in the kitchen. According to owner Jolene Bateman, the menu was customised by her brothers (and partners) who used to work with hotels in England.

The grilled chicken I had was juicy inside and crispy on the outside. Like any respectable hipster outlet, there are sprinkles of finely chopped parsley on the food and a slice of lemon in the glass of water served.

There is even a special selfie corner with an old bicycle inside. Isn’t it nice to pay humble Tanjung Malim prices for a Bangsaresque dining experience?

Hitz Cafe is halal certified and is at 10 Jalan Chong Ah Peng, Tanjung Malim old town.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 500, f8, 1/60 sec.