How much more…

The other day, when I shared on Facebook the photos that I took here…

…somebody commented that it was a tempat kayangan or something like that, implying that the things were more expensive than elsewhere but she made no mention as to how much more nor where I would be able to get such nice ones and how much they would be going for so don’t ask me – honestly, I do not know!!!

Well, I do know of one place where the tee peang (Fuzhou oyster cake) was cheaper, dunno now and that was the stall at the Sibu Central Market but of course, these days, wild horses will not drag me to that hot spot – that high risk place. I did go and buy to try a long time ago before the pandemic but no, others might praise it to the skies but I was not that impressed so I never went back to buy again.

I quite liked the ones at the fruits & vegetables sundry shop near my house but if I remember correctly, the prices were more or less the same. According to the lady boss, the old lady concerned had not been well lately so she would not be making those (nor the pretty good mang ngee in the afternoon) anymore. Other than those, there were others here and there – I don’t remember the prices but anyway, they did not tickle my fancy, including the ones from here…or here.

Well, I stopped by the shop again the other day to see what else they had. I did not want the meat ones as I had just bought them not too long ago. Unfortunately, the kosong ones, those without any meat filling, were all sold out.

I did not feel like having the deep fried stuffed kompia (RM1.00) each…

…either but I did ask for three of the Chinese French toast with meat filling (RM1.00 each)…

My girl enjoyed these but she prefers the ones at one bakery here in the town centre.

I also bought the sweet potato fritters (50 sen each, 6 for RM3.00)…

…and yes, they were pretty good.

I asked for the chai peah to try as well, also 50 sen each, 6 for RM3.00, a bit more expensive than the ones here…and not as nice! The taste was all right but the ones here were not as thin and crispy, a bit chewy/rubbery and a tad more oily so I did not really enjoy them.

I did not want the cucur pisang (banana fritters) but I did ask for two of their ngor hiang (meat rolls, RM3.00 each)…

…to see if theirs were any good.

So far, our favourite would be the ball-shaped ones here and we liked the one we had here too. I do not remember any others that we had had before so if we had any, I guess they were all quite forgettable. My missus used to make really good ones but for reasons unknown, she has stopped making for quite sometime now. Yes, I would say they were nice enough but I wouldn’t say they got us jumping with delight especially when my missus can make very much nicer ones. They tasted great but the filling was a little mushy – one does not get that all-meat feeling, unfortunately.

So other than the cucur pisang, I have tried everything that they sell at the stall. Never mind that the things may cost a little bit more, not much, but other than the tee peang, personally, I don’t think I would be making my way back there for any of the rest.

HOCK LOK HONG CAFE SHOP 福樂園茶室 (2.284690, 111.832669) is located at No. 1, Lorong Lanang 2 at the traffic lights where you turn in from Lanang Road heading toward the Sibu Rejang Esplanade and the Li Hua & Kingwood Hotels.