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The moment I mentioned the name of this place to my friend (who’s responsible for doing non-halal food tastings for me these days), he immediately perked up and said that he’s been wanting to try it for ages. “But I’ve heard that the aunty is a bit… ‘friendly’,” he added quietly. Well, I took that as a sign that the food must be damn good. So, off we went to Restoran Pu Yuan, an obscure spot dishing out authentic Hokkien cuisine at Old Klang Road.
I personally think that the word “hidden gem” is thrown around too carelessly these days, but when they labelled Restoran Pu Yuan as such, best believe that it was indeed, hidden.
The place was literally tucked behind an alley, and you had to squint a bit just to spot the signage. The parking itself was a tough process; I’d suggest for you to park in front of Post Office Malaysia and the wet market nearby, though the spots are still quite limited.
Despite that, Restoran Pu Yuan is apparently a well-known place among the locals, frequented by working people during lunch break and parents who have just picked up their kids from a school nearby.
We arrived a little before 1pm and managed to snag a seat, though it got crowded only 10 minutes after. Expect to share a table with other patrons, but worry not as the place is air-conditioned for your comfort!
What I tried at Restoran Pu Yuan
After asking around for suggestions, we settled for a small plate of the Fried Sweet Potato Noodles (RM13 for small, RM21 for medium, RM26 for large). Our small-sized portion was actually quite large, at least enough for my friend’s appetite (who’s a grown man in his 20s, for reference).
They served us efficiently quickly — we only had to wait for 8 minutes for the noodles to arrive. The “rude” aunty was also super sweet to us, so maybe those bad reviews on Google were just the result of unlucky visits.
The noodles looked appetising from the get-go, complete with a sprinkle of shallot bits and green onion. The sweet potato noodles were blanketed in a combination of soy sauce and oyster sauce, giving it a beautiful sheen. It was tossed with quite a plentiful amount of ingredients like spinach, cabbage, and prawns. Though the prawns were on the smaller side, they were generous with the quantity served.
We expected for the noodles to be chewy considering the type, and it did not disappoint. It gave a satisfying mouth-feel for those who enjoyed QQ-ness in their noodles. The sauces were also not that salty, just enough for it to keep you craving more.
Our next dish of the day, which is also a favourite among Restoran Pu Yuan’s regulars — Fried Hokkien Mee (RM10 for small, RM19 for medium, RM25 for large), arrived just 5 minutes after the Fried Sweet Potato Noodles were served. Like the previous dish, the small-sized portion was sufficient for 1 person to feel full afterwards, in our opinion.
The Hokkien mee was definitely more flavourful when compared to the sweet potato noodles, as it was stir-fried with pork lard, fish sauce, soy sauce and oyster sauce. The addition of the pork already gave it a mouthwatering fragrance from the moment it was served. Upon taking the first bite, my friend was immediately hit with the distinct flavour of wok hei.
The prawns used were also on the smaller side, but they managed to infuse a hint of freshness to the dish, acting as a perfect component to the medley of pork and sauces. Overall, it was also a good stir-fry.
Final thoughts
While I personally feel that the price is a little high for its portion, my friend and I agree that it is still affordable. Considering how satisfied he was with the taste, I’d say dining at Restoran Pu Yuan was definitely worth it.
He expressed that he’d definitely visit with more friends the next time, especially when the food is meant to be shared among a group of people.
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