Ann’s Nasi Lemak, with its famous curried pig’s skin and pork curry. Her rice did not taste as rich as those from Madam Kwan or even Sakura, but costs only a fraction of the price at the other two places. Ann offers the hard-to-find pork curry and curried pig’s skin - rich, decadent and to-die for.
Sister’s Crispy Popiah - so-called as they incorporate crispy bits into their popiah filling - is the best-known popiah stall in KL. One of the must-not-miss places at the old Imbi Market, and still packing the crowds at this new location:
I think their business has spiked sharply in the short term, as KL-lites are curious about the new place. It’s only 10 minutes’ drive from the old spot, but a whole world of difference as this part of Pudu is quite an edgy, grungy part of town - many of the regulars from the old location may not feel comfortable enough to come down here. However, the new location is also in a busier neighbourhood - working-class, dense, packed, so they are going to get more walk-ins.
Ah Weng Ko’s business has gone through the roof at this new place in the last month - I think what they earned in one weekend exceeded what they used to earn in a fortnight at the old spot! Not sure what the long-term impact would be - once the curiosity of their old regulars who came here wears off. This part of Pudu can be pretty colourful - gang-fights, triads, etc.
The wet market is to move into the same new building as well - but I didn’t see any of those stalls there yet in my last two visits to the new place. They may be impacted - as Pudu’s large, well-known wet market is pretty nearby - the old Bukit Bintang/Pudu market catered to a different segment of KL society, who will most probably not venture down to this rougher neighbourhood.
Ah Weng Ko’s famous kaya-butter toasts and Hainanese “tea” (actually a blend of tea, coffee and sweetened, condensed milk). Unfortunately, in this currently very busy new location, the standards of their kaya-butter toasts have declined precipitously - the toasts were cold & limp by the time we got them, past the masses of walk-in customers that teemed the new location.
More ICC Pudu eats today - first stop: Ah Fook Chee Cheong Fun - one of the most popular stalls at the old spot, and still doing great business here. Ah Fook’s “chee cheong fun” noodles had the perfect texture: silky-smooth and of the perfect thickness. Its accompanying “yong tau fu” morsels were also pretty good: the pork “ngoh hiang” rolls were unique and I’d not seen those served with “chee cheong fun” anywhere else.
