Mei Sin Eating Shop Imbi KL: Fried Nian Gao 強記炸年糕

Mei Sin Eating Shop 美新茶餐室 in Imbi KL has been in the city for decades , housing some of the local Chinese street food ideal from breakfast through lunch. Char Koay Teow, Pork noodles (Zhu Yoke Fan), Wantan Mee, Chicken Rice, Rice Noodle with Sliced Chicken ( Kai Si Hor Fun) , Curry Mee, Noodles with Braised Chicken Feet (Gei Giok Meen) and not to forget – The legendary Imbi Fried Nian Gao 強記炸年糕 .

We woke up early last Saturday, with no plan for the weekend. Had a sudden craving for Mei Sin Fried Nian Gao so Summerkid suggested to visit for breakfast as well. Ordered a plate of Lou Yau Kee Kai Si Hor Fun 老友記雞絲河粉 and Zhu Yoke Fun, which turned out to be disappointment.

Years ago, Mei Sin Kopitiam served superb Kai Si Hor Fun – Smooth flat rice noodles lightly coated with special concocted dark colour sauce, topped with poached chicken, finished with deep fried garlic bits. A dry style Gei Si Hor Fun that stands differently from your usual soup version Ipoh Sar Hor Fun.

But now, the good old taste no longer exist. Even the sauce wasn’t done right in this latest visit. Needless to say, noodles was lack of smoothness. Poached chicken could be the “savior”, but make sure to request for chicken drumstick or thigh. We got chicken breast which was rough and dry.

Pork Noodle Soup looked promising when served to our table. Cloudy broth, generously topped with minced meat, pork slices, pork intestines, pork liver and deep fried pork lard. Sadly, the noodles wasn’t up to our liking, with a rather salty soup. A rare occasion that Summerkid didn’t finish his Zhu Yoke Fun. “No good.” He said.

Bad breakfast so we “dapau” some Yau Char Kwai ( fried crullers) , Ma Giok ( sweet fried crullers with sesame) and Ham Jin Peng ( Deep fried flat bread with red bean filling) from You Tiao stall in front of the shop. RM0.90 per piece. Taste mediocre. Frying oil was a bit dirty, with black colour bits stick on our You Tiao. Hmm..

Thankfully, at least there’s still something nice from Mei Sin – Our favourite Imbi Fried Nian Gao 炸年糕, or Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Cake, or Fried Gold Cake, or Lava Cake. Anything, you name it. This humble stall sells traditional ” dessert ” – Fried Kuih Bakul, Fried Yam, Fried Sweet Potato and Banana Fritters.

Uncle is generous with the nian gao, yam and sweet potato. Each ingredient is thickly sliced, then sandwich all together, coat with batter and deep fried to golden brown. Crispy outside, gooey sticky rice with starchy yam and sweet potato in between. Delicious taste that we are not too sure how long it will stay.

Photographer: Summerkid
Write-up: Summergirl

Address:
Mei Sin Eating Shop 美新茶餐室
N0. 16, Jalan Melati,
Medan Imbi,
Off Jalan Imbi,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: 7AM – 3PM closed on Tuesdays