Tag Archives: noodle
Liang Yung Hua Restaurant (梁荣华饭店) and its 80-year-old recipe
Can we put equal sign between “New” and “Better”? Probably not everything, especially for traditional food by Leong Wing Hua Restaurant in Papar town, which is famous for their roasted pork prepared in original way for over 80 years.
Old wooden shophouses in Papar town
Papar is 37 Km away from Kota Kinabalu City. The old wooden shophouses there would be the first thing that grabs your attention. Outsiders may think that it’s a sign of under-development and ought to be replaced.
The location of Liang Yun Hua Restaurant
However, the locals may not agree, as they appreciate these old building as a heritage. You will understand their sentiment, after you have a meal at Leong Wing Hua Restaurant (Other names: Restoran Liang Yun Hua, Kedai Makan Liang Yung Hua; 梁荣华饭店 in Chinese). The authentic taste of their roasted pork brings you back to the era when taste and quality matter more than profit.
Liang Yun Hua Restaurant is over 80 years old
The interior of Leong Wing Hua Restaurant is quite basic. No fancy theme, no air-conditioning, and no music, but it’s always crowded with people who want great food.
Liang Yung Hua Restaurant (梁荣华饭店)
Leong Wing Hua Restaurant serves excellent roasted duck, Chinese sausages, and roasted pork (烧鸭、叉烧、烧腊、脆皮烧肉 in Chinese). You better be there early before everything is sold out. Normally we eat these with noodle or rice.
Food menu of Liang Yun Hwa Restaurant (see translation in blue at the left)
Their noodle is also handmade, which tastes better, less oily and more chewy. Another must try is their Vinegar / Sour Pork Trotter (猪脚醋 in Chinese). Each dish costs about RM6.50 (≈US$1.60). Please see food menu above (prices as of Mar 2016).
Old photo of Liang Yung Hua Restaurant
This restaurant was started by Liang family in 1937 and is passed down to 4th generation now. The founder learned the “secret” recipe of making delicious roasted pork from a Hong Kong chef who worked for a wealthy family. Even after 80 years, the restaurant insists to grill the pork in traditional way with charcoal.
Noodle with roasted pork and Chinese sausage
The slow and mild grilling process by charcoal can keep the meat juicy and smoke it with nice aroma. In contrast, most restaurants today order roasted pork from distributors, who usually use “shortcut” method, i.e. by gas or electric oven, to mass-produce mediocre roasted pork to save time and cost.
Noodle of Liang Yung Hua Restaurant
FYI, Leong Wing Hua Restaurant also makes Hakka Pork Belly With Yam (客家扣肉) during Chinese New Year by special order.
Chinese sausage of Liang Yun Hua Restaurant
The following is the location and contact of the restaurant:
Cellphone: +60 16-5366971 (Ah Lun)
Address: P. O. Box 158, 89608 Papar, Jalan Masjid Papar, Sabah, Malaysia
(Next to SJK Cheng Hwa Primary School; 吧巴正华小学 in Chinese)
Opening Hours: 7am – 2pm (may close earlier if items sold out) (closed on Monday)
GPS: 5.735573, 115.932982 (see Location Map or Street View)
Photos taken in Papar, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo
Nom Nom Sabah Food at Sim-Sim Water Village
Let me tell you what are the must-do things when you go to Sandakan City. First thing is Eat, second thing is also Eat, third thing is… well, you know. I may sound like joking but there are really a lot of delicious Sabah food you must not miss in Sandakan.
Sim-Sim Water Village
One of the best places for eat out is Sim-Sim Water Village, which is about 3 KM away from city center of Sandakan and along the main road Jalan Buli Sim Sim. Sim-Sim Water Village is built by hundreds of wooden stilt houses on the sea and has over one century of history. Travel agents always bring tourists here for sightseeing.
Going for lunch at Sim-Sim
The water village is really a big maze. It is divided into over 20 zones and each zone is accessible by a “bridge”, which is a long concrete or plank walkway extending a few hundred meters to the sea and flanked by houses and shops. The famous dining area is on 7th and 8th bridge.
Walking on 8th bridge of Sim-Sim Village
7th Bridge (or Lorong G)
If you want to taste iconic food of Sandakan, go for Spring Noodle and Century Egg Dumpling (弹弓面 and 皮蛋饺 in Chinese) at 7th Bridge of Sim-Sim Water Village. Actually these two food are also available in other places of Sabah (even in Kota Kinabalu City) due to their increasing popularity, but 7th Bridge serves the most original and authentic version.
Spring noodle (left) and Century Egg Dumpling of Sandakan
The highly recommended restaurant for both dishes are Kau Kee (九记) at G68 of 7th Bridge. This coffee shop opens from 6am to 11am daily, but the food can be sold out before 10am, so you better be there early.
Century Egg Dumpling
The texture of Spring Noodle is dense, thereby nearly doubling the flavor and aroma of yellow noodle, and a small bowl can make you full. As its name implies, the noodle is springy and a bit chewy. Eat it with savory deep fried pork and enjoy their lusciousness bounced in your mouth.
Century Egg Dumpling is a must-try at Sim-Sim
Oh boy, next one is my favorite, the Century Egg Dumpling. The cook mixes the pork with century egg (jelly-like preserved egg), giving this dumpling a meaty taste blended with rich and creamy yolk flavor. However, some westerners might think the smell of century egg is repulsive. If you are first-time trying, you can order small quanity to sample, and order more if you really like it.
8th Bridge
For seafood lovers, head to 8th Bridge, which is just next to 7th Bridge.
Seafood restaurants of Sim-Sim Water Village
When you reach the end of 8th Bridge, turn right to Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant (Chinese Name: 森森海上风味餐厅). This Chinese restaurant doesn’t serve pork but it’s not truly halal, though some Muslims think it’s acceptable.
White-bellied sea eagle statue of Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant
Sea view at Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant
You can enjoy sea view and breeze while having your meal.
Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant
The opening hours of Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant are 6:30am-3:30pm and 5:30pm-9:30pm.
Address (see Location Map): Kampung Sim-Sim, Off Jalan Buli Sim-Sim, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: +60 89-226558
They accept payment by credit card.
Steamed fish of Sim-Sim
Sandakan City is one of the most important landing ports of seafood, so the restaurant is never short of fresh seafood such as fishes, crabs, prawns, squids, lobsters and seashells.
Sandakan is never short of big fishes
Great variety of seafood dishes at the restaurant
There are many ways to cook a seafood, e.g. steamed, fried, broil. You can always ask the waitress to recommend the best way to enjoy it.
Butter Prawns
Clams
Big oyster of Sandakan
You can find many positive reviews on the Internet that Sim-Sim 88 Seafood Restaurant offers yummy seafood at affordable price. I won’t say it’s very cheap but it’s great value for money. The best seafood is fresh seafood. They don’t even need to use MSG.
Juicy big oyster
If you want only quick and simple meal for one person, you can order the following items too.
Seafood noodle
Fresh seafood with noodle
Crispy seafood noodle (香底米粉 in Chinese). The noodle absorbs all the broth from seafood.
Milky seafood noodle soup with sour pickle, very appetizing
Want to have some “snack”? You will love their fried baby squids. It’s crispy and chewy but you will enjoy its fragrant smell.
Fried baby squid (with dark soy sauce) goes well with beer
Close-up of fried baby squid
Piranha in fish tank of the restaurant. Can order? 😀
Other Sandakan Food
As I mentioned, Sandakan City is great for a gastronomic tour. The following are more Sandakan food to make you happy:
- Sim-Sim BBQ Fish (Ikan Bakar) (Halal)
- UFO Tart (a.k.a. Cow Dung Tart)
- Kueh Teow Noodle with Deep-fried Pork
- Seafood Bak Kut Teh (Herb soup with seafood)
- Kim Fung Night Market (Street Food)
Photos taken in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo
