There has always been a little tension between Malaysians and Singaporeans, especially when it comes to food. Each country will always insist that their nasi lemak is better! Not to mention fighting over who actually came up with popular local dishes.
Since Malaysia Boleh! opened its door late in 2016, I might have tipped over to the other side. This food court in Jurong Point is home to various uniquely Malaysian food.
Living within close proximity to the mall, I pride myself on being a frequent patron of this eatery and have tried just about all the stalls.
So I’ve compiled a list of 10 dishes in Malaysia Boleh! that’ll transport you to the streets of Malaysia, and you don’t even have to go through customs! Confirm plus chop get the approval of our brothers and sisters from Malaysia.
1. Nasi Lemak (Kuantan Nasi Lemak)
Kuantan Nasi Lemak is one of the more popular stalls in the food court, which explains why there’s always a long queue. And no wonder, because the Nasi Lemak ($3.50) actually manages to please from all aspects!
Every ingredient in the nasi lemak was cooked well, from the fluffy aromatic rice to the golden crispy chicken, and even the sambal. The sambal was thick, sweet and had a good amount of spice.
I have to say, the chicken wing was one of the best I’ve tasted. Its crispy skin had an interesting gingery scent, and the meat was moist and oozing with flavour. You won’t regret sampling this local dish!
2. Hokkien Mee (Penang Gurney Drive)
Penang Gurney Drive is by far the most popular stall in Malaysia Boleh!. And if you’re willing to soldier through a long queue, then you are absolutely deserving of this pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Their most popular dish is the Hokkien Mee ($6). Although on the pricer side, all is forgiven when you get five monstrous prawns in a single plate.
I loved how there were bits of lard for that added flavour and crunch, and I could really taste the pleasantly smoky wok hei flavour.
3. Min Chiang Kueh (Penang Gurney Drive APOM)
Min chiang kueh may be rather common in Singapore, but there aren’t many stalls like Penang Gurney Drive APOM that serve the Malaysian version of it.
The stall actually sells different variations of the dish, from the more familiar soft gooey version we’ve all come to love, to its crispy and thin bowl-like counterpart. You can also choose from different toppings such as Chocolate, Coconut and Peanut.
Eating the Min Jiang Kueh ($0.80) can get a little messy, so arm yourself with some tissues beforehand. I liked how it was really crispy and tasted mildly sweet. The peanut powder also had a good mixture of peanut to sugar.
The base was also surprisingly buttered and added to the overall flavour. Although the toppings could have been a little more generous, it was still a good snack if you have a sweet tooth.
4. Chendol (Penang Road’s Famous Chendol)
Near the centre of the food court, there’s a food cart that you’ll probably miss it if not for its large signboard, “Penang Road’s Famous Chendol“. This small stall has earned its place in my heart.
This bowl of Chendol ($2) is my top go-to desserts on hot days, doesn’t it resemble a miniature mountain with carnation milk like snow on the side? Although the toppings were pretty standard, it’s the harmonious combination that made the dish absolutely delicious.
Every mouthful was laced with an abundant serving of green jelly noodles, and the addition of the red kidney beans also gave more texture to it.
5. Char Siew Bao (Famous Handmade Buns 著名手工叶子楣大包)
Stationed at the entrance of Malaysia Boleh!, you’d have to be blind to miss the twin steaming baskets from Famous Handmade Buns standing tall like the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Whenever I pass by the stall, it really isn’t a matter of whether I’m getting any baos, it’s how many I’m getting.
These Char Siew Bao ($0.80) are on the small side but they make up for it with intense flavour. The filling was moist and the pork bits were slightly charred. It paired well with the sauce, which had a subtle sweetness.
6. Bak Kut Teh (Klang Bak Kut Teh)
Relying on only one dish, Bak Kut Teh ($5.80), Klang Bak Kut Teh has soared through the ranks and established itself as one of the cornerstone stalls in Malaysia Boleh!.
The stall only sells the herbal version of the dish, with a wide selection of ingredients like pork ribs, tofu skin, tau pok and button mushrooms. The broth-infused ribs were incredibly tender and juicy, and went really well with a little spice from the chilli padis.
I highly recommend putting about half of the you tiao into the soup. Pairing the savouriness of the you tiao with the herbal taste of the soup made for a delicious combination!
7. Clay Pot Chicken Rice (Petaling Street Famous Clay Pot Chicken Rice)
Whenever my family comes to Malaysia Boleh! for dinner, my brother would make a beeline for Petaling Street Famous Clay Pot Chicken Rice.
“It’s damn good what,” he’d always say, and truth be told, their Clay Pot Chicken Rice ($5.80) is in fact, pretty damn good.
The dish consists of marinated chicken, pork belly and Chinese sausages, topped with spring onions and a generous drizzle of sweet dark sauce.
Charred to perfection, each spoonful had a blend of sweet, savoury and smoky flavours. Tip: scrape off the rice off the sides of the pot, and mix them into the fluffier rice. Aside from giving each bite a nice crunch, it also accentuates the smoky taste.
8. Chicken Rice (Ipoh Buntong Bean Sprout Chicken Kuitew/Rice)
If chicken rice is your thing, then trying out Ipoh Buntong Beansprout Chicken Rice‘s Chicken Rice ($3.50) is a must.
I’ll always add Beansprouts ($1.50) to my meal because it’s served cold and adds a refreshing crunch to each bite.
The meat was juicy, succulent and tender, and I gobbled all of it down. I simply couldn’t get enough!
The sauce was absolutely delicious and accentuated the flavours of the meat. However, it was just a tad too oily for my liking. It was a pretty sinful meal, but it’s well worth the extra pounds.
9. Mee Hoon Kway (Hong Kee)
The Mee Hoon Kway ($3.50) from Hong Kee is a pretty hot favourite amongst the lunch crowd.
You might have to wait for a while as bowls are made in individual pots, but don’t worry, there’s always free WiFi in the mall to tide you over the waiting.
The dish was full of delicious ingredients like meatballs, pork slices and minced meat. I liked how the flavourful minced meat came in lumps and was pleasantly soft.
The soup was surprisingly light, and tasted a little sweet. Although the noodles were a little too soggy, it was still reasonably firm enough to slurp down easily.
10. Chwee Kueh
Remember the breakfasts you used to have growing up? Well in this day and age, stalls selling traditional delicacies are gradually fading away. Thankfully, we’ve still got a couple decent stalls like Chwee Kueh to keep the fire burning.
Understandably, the Chwee Kueh ($2 for 5 pcs) weren’t quite in the same league as those from the old chwee kueh masters, but it still holds its own pretty well. Each kueh had a decent amount of chye poh and I liked how it wasn’t overly salty.
Also, unlike how most Chwee Kuehs come totally soaked and dripping oil, the ones made here have significantly less oil.
If these dishes are not enough to stir the fires in your belly then I don’t know what will! Head on down to Malaysia Boleh! if you’re hankering for authentic Malaysian street food fare.
Malaysia Boleh!: 1 Jurong West Central 2, #03-28, Singapore 648886 | Tel: +65 6779 8980 | Opening Hours: 9.30am – 10pm daily | Facebook
