Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert from Singapore is out to conquer the Klang Valley with the opening of its first concept restaurant at 1 Utama.
dishes and
dessert in a relaxing and
contemporary ambience that's reinterpreted from Hong Kong’s char chan teng (tea shops). The contemporary ambience
features iconic images of the Fragrant Harbour and a flag-inspired art piece in a cosy premise that's separated from
the mall’s general foot traffic by industrial-style metal gates.
Novel drinks such as
Lychee Peppermint (pix above, RM5.90), Rainbow Passion Fruit with Soursop and Osmanthus Lime with Honey Pearl are available to slake one's thirst. Light and fruity, they should go down a real treat in our tropical weather.
We can vouch for the cool concoctions of Mango Freeze with Honey Pearls (RM7.90) and Passion Fruit Freeze with Honey Pearls (RM7.90) which prove delightful after a heavy meal.
It would be a great idea to nibble on the house appetiser of Crispy Salmon Skin with Pork Floss (RM5.90) while you peruse the menu. Tufts of briny pork floss atop these deep-fried morsels make them a moreish treat.
I have always love HK-style polo buns and the Char Siu Snowy Buns (RM6.90) at Sheng Kee are similar to them but slightly better in my opinion. Never mind that they're a dead ringer for those famous ones from a certain Michelin-star HK dim sum resto. It was love at first bite when I sampled the crumbly crust of Sheng Kee's subtly sweet buns that gave way to bites of savoury, sticky char
siew filling. The buns are worth returning for in my books.
The wantan meen at Sheng Kee is another pleasant surprise as the chewy egg noodles are close to the ones we had devoured on our recent HK trip. My choice would be the SK Signature Combination
Noodle (RM16.90) that comes with honey glazed char siew, plump prawn and pork filled wontons and sui kow dumplings.
You can have the egg noodles in soup or dry. True to HK-style, a light flavourful sauce doused the chewy threads in place of local dark soya sauce. Interestingly, things are a-changing on the isle as we discovered certain noodle shops have started to drizzle their wantan meen with a little dark soya sauce (influenced by us perhaps?)...
When it comes to classic comfort food, nothing beats the traditional dish of Braised Pork Belly with Mui Choy Rice (RM13.90). This simple homely dish is sure to appeal to all ages as the braised pieces of streaky
pork belly paired with crunchy mui choy (preserved mustard leaves) lend big, deep-seated sweetish-salty flavours to plain white rice.
For light eaters who want something hearty in manageable portions, SK's dim sum selection should fit the bill. Worthy recommendations include Siew Mai (RM5.90), Honey Char Siew Pau (RM4.90) and Yolky Custard Buns (RM5.90).
Delectable mouthfuls of minced pork and prawns make these Siew Mai superbly sublime
Piping hot fluffiness...enjoy notable sweet-savoury nuances of SK's Char Siew Pau
Be careful of the molten centre of runny yolk-based custard when you bite into the scrumptiously soft Yolky Custard Buns
Although I'm not partial to Carrot Cake (RM5.90) or Zha Jiang Cheong Fun (RM6.90), both these offerings are more than up to scratch. Shredded radish (it's really radish instead of carrot) is discernible in the fried carrot cake and as an added bonus, we found the slabs generously studded with bits of lap cheong (Chinese sausage).
Instead of the usual char siew or prawn filled cheong fun (flat rice rolls), SK's version is adorned with robust minced pork topping and light soya sauce - an ingenious melding of regional Chinese and Hong Kong influences.
The Oriental Chicken Sausage Rice & Mushroom (RM13.90) can be likened to a healthier version of loh mai kai (steamed glutinous rice with the same combo of ingredients). Served with some leafy greens, it is a hearty meal that would satisfy serious carb lovers. Somehow it also reminded us of the perennial CNY fave of lap mei farn (waxed meat rice).
Those who yearn for some beefy goodness would do well to order the HK Braised Beef & Tendon Hor Fun (RM13.90) - a yummy pairing of melt-in-the-mouth braised beef and tendon with silky Ipoh hor fun. Personally, I find the overall taste of this dish too subtle for my liking as the braised brisket which I had in HK had much more pronounced accents. Anyway, give this offering a whirl and decide for yourself as there's no hard and fast rule where taste is concerned.
Dessert is very much part and parcel of the HK food scene and SK's reputation and success are built on these sweet treats. The headliners are SK Mango Pomelo Sago (RM8.90) and Yuan Yang Paste (RM6.90) - two palate-pleasing creations that promise not to leave you with a sugary overdose.
Nutty, creamy profiles dominate in the second yin-yang broth. If you aren't a fan of almond milk or pudding, this may not float your boat but I daresay the black sesame puree helps to temper that inherent aniseed-like overtone a little.
Check out HONG
KONG SHENG KEE DESSERT at Lot LG311B, Lower
Ground Floor (New Wing), 1-Utama Shopping
Centre, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
