Malaysia Boleh! This slogan, translated directly as “Malaysia Can!” generally refers to the possible things that Malaysia or Malaysians can do. It’s like a rallying catchphrase to drive success and be a benchmark for excellence. Taking this catchphrase to expound the delicious-ness of Malaysian street food, the Fei Siong Group from Singapore recently opened the first outlet of “Malaysia Boleh” in Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur.
It’s rather ironical that the reason Malaysia Boleh! came about was to satisfy Singaporeans’ cravings for authentic Malaysian street hawker food in Singapore! With several successful outlets in Singapore, it just goes to show that some sensible people in Singapore do know that Malaysian streetfood rocks – yay!
So, Malaysia Boleh at Four Seasons Place is a one-stop foodcourt which offers top-rated street hawkers’ selections from different states of Malaysia. From Penang Prawn Noodles to Ipoh Chicken Rice to Klang Bak Kut Teh, be prepared to feast on popular favourites served by more than 14 stalls. Check out also the interior design of this “atas” foodcourt – so reminiscent of the good old 1960s! Loads of nostalgia in the ethnic floor tiles, bird cages (sans birds) hanging from the ceiling, old-fashioned marble-topped tables and music from the old era playing softly from the speakers.
OK, so what’s good in Malaysia Boleh? We’ve tasted almost every stall at this place and good to know that generally food is very decent here with a few misses. Let’s look at what’s on our Top 10 list…
Curry Mee from Jalan Imbi Ah Yen’s stall. This is one of the best versions I’ve had – the curry is perfectly balanced with spices and coconut milk. We slurped up everything…noodles, chicken, long beans, tofu puffs and pig skin too!
Curry Mee
Ipoh Chicken Rice – as someone who grew up in Ipoh, I have to confess I’ve never eaten chicken rice from Buntong. Well, that’s unfortunate, for this plate of Buntong Chicken Rice really rocks! As plain and simple as it looks, don’t let that deceive you. The rice is fragrant, having been cooked with chicken fat, garlic, ginger and shallots. The poached chicken is smooth and tender and the chilli sauce was spot on.
Ipoh Chicken Rice
KL-style Hokkien Mee – I’m not a big fan of these thick black noodles but DL is and he’s happy with this version. With a good topping of “chu yau char” (fried pork lard), pork and cabbage, the noodles are well flavoured and with sufficient “wok hei”. I think the noodles would fare much better if they are braised a bit longer in a bit more gravy.
KL-style Hokkien Mee
Char Kway Teow from Yong Kee Penang. Personally I’ve never had this CKT in their Penang stall but this plate really packs a good punch. Tasty noodles with just enough “wok hei”, prawns, chives, crunchy beansprouts and eggs. Would have been awesome if there had been some cockles. From the same stall, have the Oyster Omelette (“or chien”) as well – it’s pretty satisfying.
Char Kway Teow
Oyster Omelette – “Or Chien”
Wantan Mee – I like the al dente noodles and the nicely-layered char siew here. The noodles have that perfect springiness in its texture, tossed in lard and premium sauce so that alone qualifies it to be on my Top 10 list. What I wasn’t impressed with are their wantans – too little filling in too much wantan skin.
Wantan Mee
Ipoh Pork Kway Tiao & Pork Porridge – smooth silky rice congee, or if you prefer noodles, the Ipoh hor fun with lots of porky goodness. Tender sliced pork, minced pork and pork innards to delight any porky fan!
Ipoh Pork Kway Tiao
Ipoh Pork Porridge
Klang Bak Kut Teh – it’s quite difficult to find authentic Klang-style BKT in KL and by that I mean the soup must be thick, dark and redolent with the necessary Chinese herbs and spices. The version served here is a respectable version, although not the best I’ve had (in Klang) but still, it does give some comfort.
Klang Bak Kut Teh
Chendol – this is everyone’s favourite at Malaysia Boleh and there’s always a queue at this stall. At only RM3 a bowl, this must be the cheapest around town and it’s RM3 well spent because the chendol is an absolute bomb! Fresh creamy coconut milk, fragrant gula Melaka and freshly-made smooth slithery chendol – how can that not be awesome?!
Chendol
So, the above are my Top 10 items to eat at Malaysia Boleh! There are many more at the stalls…
Penang Assam Laksa – I like the assam laksa here: the spicy/tangy/fishy flavours are well-balanced and the right noodles are used.
Penang Assam Laksa
Pudu Roast Meats
Claypot Chicken Rice – decent crust at the bottom of the pot but I didn’t quite like the boneless chicken in it and there’s no salted fish accompanying the rice!
Claypot Chicken Rice
Fried Radish Cake
Prawn Mee (Penang Hokkien Mee)
Pan Mee
Pudu Nasi Lemak
Most of the dishes are priced from RM10 up – considered as fair value due to the nice, clean and cool environment. We’ve been back there again just last weekend and the place was bustling with hungry weekend shoppers. During weekdays, the lunch time crowd forms queues at the place, I heard.
MALAYSIA BOLEH!
B1-01B, Shoppes at Four Seasons Place
145 Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalaysiaBolehKL/
If you are going by public transport:
Get out at LRT KLCC Station, go two floors up to Avenue K exit, cross the road to Shoppes Four Seasons Place. You’ll see Robinson’s Store, enter and go one floor down the escalator and you can’t miss Malaysia Boleh!