(All photographs in this post EXCEPT the last one were taken using my mobile phone camera.)
I used to go to the car wash opposite this coffee shop…but the coffee shop closed down eventually and the car wash has moved some place else too. I do know where they have moved to but so far, I have never gone to them at their new location. Instead, I’ve been going to this one…
…across the road from the shops at Bandong Road here. There used to be an “Agro Mart” here but I guess their business was not all that good so it closed down eventually (or maybe they shifted elsewhere, I wouldn’t know) and subsequently, these car wash people took over the place. They are doing pretty well, I guess, as I would often see a lot of people sending their cars there. I find that they do a much more thorough job than that old place and they charge less too – RM12.00 compared to RM15.00 previously.
While waiting, one can always cross the road to this coffee shop…
…for a drink or a bite to eat.
It is a very nice and clean place…
…and I guess it must be doing all right as it has been around for quite a while now.
That morning, I decided to check it out and ordered their mee goreng (fried noodles)…
…and yes, it was very good! I paid RM4.30 for this plus a glass of kopi-o-peng kao (iced black coffee, strong) which was not bad at all, nicer than many other places in town. I did not ask exactly how much each cost – I guess it is RM2.80 for the noodles and RM1.50 for the coffee, or RM2.50 and RM1.80 respectively…but whichever the combination may be, I must say that I think it is relatively cheap.
This shop is right across the parking area from my regular Malay kuih stall…
…so if one does not fancy the freshly-cooked food here, one can always pick up something at the stall and order a drink here and eat in the shop. Seeing how I did enjoy what I had that morning, I certainly would want to stop by and check out what else they have on their menu the next time I send my car to the car wash.
Incidentally, I did drop by the stall that morning to place my orders for their steamed (layer) cakes for Chinese New Year and I saw this one…
Good grief!!! Some people would be put off by the name given to it – kek belacan (Dried prawn paste cake)! And no, there is no belacan in it, none at all.
It is VERY expensive though – RM32 for a rectangular loaf (and that works out to around RM2.00 for that little slice) and from the price, I could guess that they must have used a lot of the very special and expensive ingredients to make it and it should be really very good. That was why I just had to grab one to take home and try…and yes, it was absolutely awesome! Very very nice and very rich and flavourful, not very sweet – nowhere near those imported cakes and cookies when it comes to sweetness, many of which are just so very sweet and not all that nice at all. However, at that price, I think I will go back there one of these days to order some to serve to any guests who care to drop by, come Chinese New Year – I suppose it is all right to spend a bit more for this special and very auspicious occasion – but a poor ol’ pensioner like me sure can’t afford to indulge in anything this expensive on ordinary days. Sobssss!!!!
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
What’s in the noodles?
Nothing. Not sure even if there’s egg, can’t see but it tasted great! I could taste a lot of chili sauce used. Come back and look at my version of it, tomorrow’s post, I think – very nice too but mine had egg. Maybe you can leave that out.
What about the flavoring of the sauce on the noodles? Is there fish in there? Wasn’t sure!
No, that will be the day – fish is expensive. Just chili sauce and a bit of soy sauce. See my next blogpost – not the same but very nice too. You may leave out the egg.
Nice photos. I love iced tea but I only like coffee hot, whereas I like tea both hot and cold. 🙂
I don’t mind coffee hot at cold places…like where you are. Had it in a cup most of the time when I went to NZ. Not really into tea but I’m ok with it. May have that sometimes.
The cakes look good! 🙂
Hmm…my guess would be RM 1.80 for the coffee, had iced Milo just now and it was RM 2.50. Sibu has some of the highest beverage prices around, even higher than KL!
I just landed and we went out to Ta Kiong just now but we didn’t buy a lot of stuff coz we don’t have an open house this year. I did get some Maxim egg rolls for my dad though, notice there’s a lot of “Mei Xin” (same pronunciation, different characters) stuff there too, which is weird since Ta Kiong usually carry more premium items, not Chinese knock offs.
Forgot that Ruby was closed on Wednesdays though…
Hey, you’re back! Welcome home! Staying till the New Year? Do drop by – no, I don’t have a problem with that. Always thought it’s a 100-day thing, ok after the period but I guess it’s just not the same especially for your dad. Bring him along too, most welcome.
Yeah, Ruby closes on Wednesdays but there’s always Y2K…or Nice House – they close on different days, and the very popular Mom’s, all in the same area. Hmmm…if it’s RM1.80 for the coffee, like in most of the Chinese coffee shops, then it’s only RM2.50 for the noodles – incredibly cheap…cheaper than kampua in the Chinese shops here! That’s a steal!
Ya, was in Ta Kiong, Saturday – I think they’re cashing in on the festival. In fact, they’ve put away most of the things like the local-made cookies (the imported ones still there, at the usual shelves) for all those Chinese New Year stuff. From Taiwan or China, eh? Never even bothered to give ’em a second glance. In fact, I left almost right away as it was so crowded – I would not want to buy anything there, looking at the horrendously long queues at the miserably few cashiers’ counters.
Kek belacan? Looks like moist chocolate cake.. Makes me wana try it too since you said very nice, hehe..
Not sure if there’s chocolate – I think they use Milo (which is chocolate, actually), Horlicks, Nestum, condensed milk – all the expensive, very rich (and nice) stuff…the dark colour is browning, I hear. Some like it black!
I like that fried noodle. Very Malay-style. Go well with a glass of ice tea or teh tarik. ^^
Oh. It is alright to indulge into something that you love during festive season. And what do you mean, you are poor pensioner?? Where got? ^^
Very nice. I wouldn’t mind dropping by here again to see what other nice things they have. The girls at the kuih stall told me once – fried rice…but I think as far as fried rice anywhere is concerned, it would be difficult to beat mine. Hehehehehe!!!! 😉
True!!! True!!! Pensioner, drawing half of last drawn pay…so little, just enough to get by. So kesian! Ummm….any ang poao for old uncle? Hehehehehe!!!!!
Another wet day in Kuching. How nice to have that plate of fried noodles now. Kek belacan???… Never judge a cake by its name. It may sound weird but taste is great.
True, very true! Some may be so colourful and pretty but are not nice at all, not worth the calories. Appearance and name can be deceptive.
So that kek belacan is in fact, a chocolate cake? Or is it something else?
No, I would not like it if that is all it is – a chocolate cake. Not a fan!
How times flies, in a week time, CNY liao…
Yalor! Time flies!
that kinda price isn’t even enough for just drinks in KL sometimes. :S
Oh? HB says drinks are cheaper in KL? Whatever it is, the coffee at the coffee shops there sucks big time. So black…very very black, will stain the glass, very sweet…and no coffee fragrance, no kick at all.
kek belacan? if no belacan in it why call kek belacan?
Probably because it looks like belacan? I already told the lady boss – the name might put people off. Give it a nicer name. I suggested “Midnight Romance”. Hehehehehe!!!! I’m such a hopeless romantic!
Prawn paste cake? Seriously? I’d like to know how my two favorite things that come together would be like.
Nope, no prawn paste in it, just the name. Come to think o fit, would probably be nice – steamed belacan cake, using rice flour with a bit of that with dried prawns and a bit of minced pork and shitake…like steamed yam or carrot cake. Savoury one, serve with chili and/pr rojak sauce. Yummmm!!!!
What a hilarious name – Kek Belacan! 😀 It looks like very moist chocolate cake. Is it?
Nope, sure does not taste like chocolate cake, can’t really taste chocolate in it – I would not have loved it if that is all there is to it. So rich, so nice! Simply out of this world! I’ve gone back to order more…for Chinese New Year!
i like your description of the steamed cake, and it does look awesome! feed me three slices, please 😀
That will be RM6.00 but since it’s so good, I guess it’s worth it. Once a year, never mind! 😉
Your mobile camera is pretty good!
Ok, not as good as some smartphones,…but better than my old one, that’s for sure.