There are quite a few different perceptions where The Smoking Hog is concerned. These diverse views are mainly due to the ingenuity of the people behind this relatively new hog house. Let me tell you what my perception was.
When the rickety doors of the lift opened at the 3rd floor of the building, my eyes took a few moments to get accustomed to the very dim interior that enveloped The Smoking Hog. The immediate thought that flew to my mind was “wow, what a clandestine hideout!” The dimness around the place was highlighted by brass hanging lights in the centre of the tables mostly. The long centre table, made out of a solid tree trunk, with highback chairs (of various heights and design) reminded me of Al Pacino hunching over it with his mobsters in “The Godfather”. The deco all around screamed “elegant vintage” – from the bar top to the quirky animal paintings on the walls.
Now, the owner’s perception and basis for The Smoking Hog is a bit different. What I deem as “elegant vintage” is simply “a nicer environment” to TY Ooi. “Our repertoire of dishes is more suited for a bistro, rather than fine-dining and we just want to provide a nicer place for people to hang out” – that’s how TY sums it up. “And, oh… the dim lighting is just perfect to cloak yourself in especially if you have a hangover!” she chuckled.
The stairway to porky heaven
So, let’s set the premise right. The Smoking Hog serves casual bistro-like ultra porky (read: bacon) food in a nice environment. In fact, it’s almost a bacon den so be prepared to see those heavenly streaky slices in almost every dish! The bacon is smoked in-house, in their own smoker – the bacon is not as salty and certainly tastes a whole lot nicer since quality is not compromised.
The bacon smoker
The iconic Bacones
The Smoking Hog’s Bacones (RM27 for 2pcs) must be their single most recognizable item, so let’s start with these. It’s so iconic I think they should blaze it in neon on their signage. The bacones also happen to incorporate all my favourite stuff like crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, mash and baked beans. Mind you, those baked beans are made from scratch and not poured out from a can. So it’s something like a mini breakfast in a cone. Served on a hand-roll stand, the glorious pair will definitely elicit some “wows”!
The Signature Cheeseburger – all smoked up
Then there’s their Signature Smoking Cheeseburger (RM34) served with fries. No, it isn’t a pork burger neither is it a beef burger as some confused people thought. The thick solid patty is made in-house using lamb, beef and pork flavoured with a myriad spices and sweetened with some chopped onions. Sorry, no bacon here but smokey flavour yes, because the burger is served with billowing smoke in a glass cover and only removed at the table.
Fancy some Beer and Bacon Mancakes (RM25)? Strips of candied smoked bacon and beer pancakes are stacked up in a beer mug topped with maple syrup and ice cream. The Smoking Hog has a penchant for marrying the sweet with savoury, so you’ll see quite a number of these offsprings on the menu.
Beer & Bacon Mancakes
The Smoking Hog’s French Toast (RM27) is one of the most decadent I’ve ever had. The thick slices of bread are slathered with whisky, dotted with crunchy nuts, layered with bacon and bananas and generously drizzled with maple syrup. Oh there’s vanilla ice cream, too. Please share this out if you intend to try other dishes otherwise this portion will really stuff you up.
Quite spectacular, this French Toast
What’s better than a BLT? Why, one that also has crispy Softshell Crabs, of course. It’s also served with fries and coleslaw, how about that?
The Ultimate Soft Shell Crabs BLT
Dutch Babies are a fusion of pancakes and crepes. They are oven-baked till they fluff up and served just before they collapse. You can have the Basic with maple syrup, cinnamon powder, icing sugar and ice cream (RM15) or jive them up with pork sausage and salsa (RM24). I kinda like both versions as they taste so different.
The sweet Dutch Babies
The savoury Dutch Babies
The menu lists quite an extensive range of all-day-dining items. On top of the mentioned items, I like their Ceasar Salad (RM22), Bacon Mushroom Soup (RM16) and Lamb, brown rice and barley soup (RM35). The last item is not merely a soup, it’s actually a meal-in-a-bowl as there’s a whole lamb shank in it!
Very bacony Caesar Salad
Mushroom Soup also very bacony!
Lamb, brown rice and barley soup with a whole lamb shank in it!
Runny Pan Omelette or Scrambled Eggs (RM24) … choose to have this with either Mixed Cheese, Mixed Mushrooms or Mixed Cherry Tomatoes. Again, this is a meal by itself as it’s served with toasted ciabatta. I like it with mixed mushrooms.
Runny omelette of the cheesy kind
Runny omelette with mushrooms
There are some special items for the dinner section of the menu. From ears to tail, care to have the Pig Ears & Oxtail Stew (RM58). The chunks of wagyu oxtail are tender and velvety smooth and the pig ears wobbly and gelatinous. There are some grilled vegetables to lessen the guilt. Go for it, after all, it’s full of collagen.
Pig Ears & Oxtail Stew
The Smoking Hog’s Spaghetti Bolognese (RM33) is cooked in a thick sauce with the minced trinity of lamb, beef and pork. Very rich meaty flavours but do indicate at point of ordering whether you wish the pasta to be al dente. I found it to be a bit on the soft side.
Spaghetti Bolognese – totally decadent
Deviled Eggs (RM26 for 6 halves)
At this point, even if you are already on bacon overload mode, the Bacon Ice Cream (RM24 for 2 scoops) is something that must be tried at The Smoking Hog. 2 big scoops of ice cream filled with bacon bits and topped with 2 slices of crispy candied bacon. This is something that has to be shared as the portion is generous. Brace yourself for some real bacon loving here!
I adore the Havana Rum and Raisin ice cream (RM16) – 2 scoops of ice cream studded with the most divinely rummy plump raisins I’ve ever had. Enough said.
The ice cream is all made in-house, none of the commercial stuff here. Just go and pamper yourself. I’m going again, soon.
The Smoking Hog
3rd Floor (above Professor
21 Jalan SS2/64
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7865-9239
Closed on Mondays
Operation hours:
Tues, Wed & Thurs: 12.00pm – 11.00pm
Friday: 12.00pm – 1.00am
Saturday: 9.00am – 1.00am
Sunday: 9.00am – 11.00pm
Awesome. Spied this on the way back the other night. Will venture there soon, seeing how close it is to home 🙂