I had to make my way to the town centre last Sunday as there were things that I needed to buy and I decided to go early as there would be fewer people around. Unfortunately, I did not look at the clock carefully and got there…
…at least half an hour too early and they were not open for the day yet. I decided to go over to the shops across the road in the block behind the petrol station to buy a few things that I could keep in the fridge/freezer to heat up for my breakfast in the morning.
I stopped by here to buy their char siew pao (RM2.20 each)…
…which are a little cheaper than the ones (RM2.50) at the dim sum place that I went to that day. Gosh!!! They were only RM1.50 each when they first started their business in 2017.
I like the skin of the ones here, soft and cushiony, a lot more than the mushy cotton-like skin of the dim sum ones and the ones that day were not all that great – they would need to improve on their making of the skin. The ladies in the house thought the filling was too sweet for their liking but I was fine with it. Actually, if you asked me, I would say that I liked the filling of that one more than this one…
To me, this one was kind of dry, not quite to my fancy. If I am not wrong, it was not like this before, much nicer.
Moving on from the char siew paos, I was quite sure that I bought their lor mai kai once before and I did not like it. However, a foodie friend bought one sometime ago and he shared the photograph on Facebook. I commented that I would go there and buy too but I never did…and that was before the pandemic started!!!
Well, finally, I managed to get hold of one (RM4.00)…
…RM1.00 cheaper than the one I bought at the dim sum place but that one was bigger.
Yes, there was a bit of meat plus shitake mushroom inside this one as well…
…but it was overcooked – the glutinous rice was way too soft and way too sticky and I did not quite fancy the taste either, all soy sauce and nothing much else. Despite the fact that it costs a ringgit more, personally I do feel that the other one is a much better buy.
While I was there, I also picked up a packet of these (RM2.00)…
…for my girl and yes, they were all right, probably the same as the ones I bought here before. I was told that there are two different people making these kuihs and leaving them for sale at this shop (and elsewhere) and looking at the rest of the stuff that morning, I was quite sure these were made by this girl who has been around since 2019 and is obviously doing very well.
I also stopped by the coffee shop next door to buy these changs (meat dumplings) with peanuts (RM4.00 each)…
My ex-student/lawyer friend, Louis, gave me one to try that day and I really enjoyed it. I gathered that these are Hakka changs and personally, I do feel that they are very nice and all things considered, I would much sooner buy these…
…instead of the aforementioned lor mai kai, both of them.
SIN KIAW CAFE (2.291287, 111.826611) is located along Ramin Way, the first shop on your right as you turn in from Jalan Kampung Nyabor, behind the petrol station located at the bend and HONG KONG PUFF is right next door, to the left.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
I come to know Hakka bak chang had peanuts in it after I marry into a Hakka family.. 🤣.. I would declare my late MIL make the best Hakka bak chang. I prefer the peanuts in whole rather than those crushed and blended. The other day I bought a few to “buang gian”.
RM2.50 each and not so big.
Oh? So you are not khek lang then? Tan should be Hokkien.
Yes, my missus will declare that her mum’s Hokkien chang is the best in the world, second to none!
I don’t think I will like the peanuts crushed and blended. These are very nice, whole and soft – like those stewed ones that they serve at the restaurants. Never had any Hakka chang from anywhere else so I can’t compare, can only say that I really love the ones here.
I am Teochew plus Hockkien and ended up marry to Hakka…😊😊
Wahhhhh!!!! Anak kahwin Foochow, tambah one more. LOL!!!
I bought some char siew pau yesterday, only RM1.90 each. It even has a quarter portion of hard boiled egg in it.
Look like you find a good Hakka chang in Foochow-dominant Sibu. Not bad. Not many selling Hakka chang in Kuching. Nyonya and Hokkien changs more commercialised over here. Haha. My aunt always make Hakka chang whenever she is back from Singapore every year but it has been almost 2 years since she is back. Hope she is able to fly back next year when things turn out better.
I only have ONE nyonya chang left in the freezer, the ones I got from my friend. Richard. So precious! Cannot buy here.
Dunno if there is any other place selling Hakka chang, all I know are selling Hokkien chang…and most of them not good, scrimp on the meat and other ingredients.
Have not seen any char siew pao here with egg, steamed bak pao only and that too, so little, might as well don’t put. As if egg is so expensive. Really pissed off to see that..
I like char siew pau but some are a bit too sweet for my liking.
Maybe you’re like the ladies in the house – they kept grumbling that the filling that day was too sweet but I actually liked it. This one’s not as sweet but I did not like it as it was kind of dry.
Wah! The Hakka chang looks delicious. I don’t know where to find Hakka chang in Ipoh. I love peanuts in the chang. I am a great fan of bak chang.
I bet there are Hakkas all over, maybe not Sitiawan. Like Sibu, we’re mostly Foochows here. Luckily we can get Hokkien chang everywhere and Hakka ones at this one place only – dunno if there is any other place. No nyonya changs here, so sad! I love those!
We had some buns and dumplings in a dim sum for the first time in what seems like years recently. Really enjoyed them.
Yes, same here. Was craving too but sad that they did not have everything that I would like to buy here. Ah well! Something is better than nothing.