Whether it is braised or steamed, deep fried or double boiled; the Chinese cuisine has long been a favorite of Malaysians of all ages and races. With the strong demand from Muslim customers, there has been a growth in Halal Chinese food across the nation. These eateries, include those opened by Muslims from mainland China, has made the dining environment in Malaysia even more colorful. This article will expound on the top 10 Halal Chinese food in Klang Valley.
(The restaurants are listed in no particular order. Please click on the restaurant names for addresses and OpenRice members' reviews.)
1. Mohd Chan @ Bangi
The founder of Mohd Chan Restaurant, En Mohammad Chan Abdullah, opened his first restaurant at Bukit Beruntung in 2007. One of their must-try dishes is the Kung Po Chicken, which is stir-fried in dark soy sauce with dried chili, so it carries a sweet note with a spicy kick. Another dish that is worth trying is the Crab in Special Sauce. It is a heavenly medley of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.
2. Muhibbah @ TTDI
Muhibbah Seafood Restaurant is located at the border of Kampung Sungai Penchala and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail with lush greenery surrounding the premises. It adopts an opened air concept without air conditioning except for 3 private dining rooms. For main course, try their popular Stir Fried Beef with Thai Basil prepared with generous amounts of garlic, Thai basil leaves, and chili padi. Another highly recommended dish is their house special Fried Squid, which comes with a sweet chili sauce dip on the side.
3. Mohammad Chow @ Damansara Perdana
Mohammad Chow has been making headlines since its establishment by two friends; Mohammad and Chow. Recommended by the popular dining documentary, Jalan Jalan Cari Makan, the restaurant has been drawing in customers from all walks of life, even local celebrities. Their signature Seafood Fried Rice does not have fancy decorations or garnishing but the fragrance of the fried rice is enough to make you drool. Complete the meal with Durian Pancake that explodes with creamy durian flesh in your mouth.
4. Bei Ping @ Section 15, Shah Alam
Restoran Bei Ping is operated by a Shanghai born husband and Malaysian wife duo whose union brought forth the best of Beijing and Malaysian food fusion. Their signature dish is the Peking Roast Duck, which is served in medium or large portions. The skin of the duck is placed in a small cabbage boat and smeared with a special sweet sauce. The remainder of the duck meat is hand wrapped in a thin pastry, which is slightly thicker than popiah skin.
5. Haslinda Sim Abdullah @ Bangi
When Ms. Haslinda Sim Abdullah converted to Islam, she realized that Halal Chinese food was hard to come by. This prompted her to open her first restaurant NJ Zenith at Desa Petaling, which led to many more branches across Klang Valley. The Cantonese Fried Kuey Teow is the bestseller amongst all other noodle dishes. The noodles are stir-fried in a hot wok and later a thick and savory egg sauce is poured over it. The stir fry gives the noodles enough “wok hei”.
6. Haji Shahrin Low @ Ampang
Haji Shahrin Low Seafood Restaurant opens its first branch amongst the bungalows and luxury condominiums of Bukit Antarabangsa. The brain child of Haji Shahrin and his partner Mohammad Azimullah, this restaurant has expanded to more than 18 outlets all the way to Jakarta since 2009. Being a seafood restaurant, you definitely have to try out their array of fish, crabs, and lala dishes. For the best of everything, try their Hotplate Seafood Combo, which includes various seafood prepared in different style.
7. Pak Ya @ Ampang
Restoran Pak Ya Chinese Muslim Food Corner is literally at a corner of Galaxy Ampang Shopping Mall. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating with two televisions suspended high on the ceiling showing Chinese soap operas. Fried wan tan mee with prawn is a famous dish here. The pre-fried wan tan mee is moistened with delicious gravy that makes the fried noodles both crispy and juicy. Other ingredients in the dish include white cabbage, ginger, and spring onions.
8. Al-Amin @ SS2
Al-Amin at SS2 is operated by chefs from the Xinjiang region. Two signature dishes here are the Handmade Xinjiang Noodles and the Lamb/Chicken Kebab. The handmade noodles looked like Pan Mee, but it is wider and has a less chewy texture. It is stir fried with a generous amount of beef and vegetables, making it a huge portion that can be shared by two people. As for the kebabs, it is marinated with the chef’s special sauce and grilled to perfection.
9. Adam Lai @ Section 15, Shah Alam
Chef Adam Lai partnered a local celebrity, Ebby Yus, and two other friends to establish Restoran Adam Lai on early March 2012. One item in the menu that stands out is the Adam Lai Juice, which is a mixture of apple, orange, and Ribena. Another unique dish at the restaurant is the Special Chicken Boxing, which is deep-fried chicken wing drenched in a special sweet and spicy sauce. The beef rib soup is also very appetizing due to the “daun limau purut” that gives the soup a sour kick.
10. Well Cook Gourmet @ Subang Jaya
Well Cook Gourmet opened its door to the public in Subang Jaya in 2008. The signature dish here is the Fried Assam Laksa, which is a creative combination between Assam Laksa and Char Kuey Teow. This dish is created by the owner’s wife, Madam Teoh. The Fried Laksa uses the same “lai fun” noodles and other typical ingredients that you can find in Assam Laksa. This unique cuisine is fried in an extremely hot Wok splashed with spicy tanginess while the conventional mackerel fish slices had to be replaced with chicken cubes to suit the stir-fry cooking method.
