Pork
chop bun is one of the ‘must eat’ items on every visitor’s list when they set
foot in Macao.
Although
Tai Lei Loi Kei – the eatery from Macao famed for its pork chop buns - has
shuttered in Malaysia, new homegrown entity Porco Macau Pork Chop Bun is
holding its own at Lot 10 Hutong.
Head
chef Fong Phooi Yoke has twigged the pork chop marinade recipe with her own
mixture of brandy, Chinese wine, garlic, onion, white pepper and Bo Bo soya
sauce; imbuing winsome flavours to the signature speciality of Macau Pork Chop Bun (a la carte RM13.90,
set meal with a drink RM15.90).
The
hefty slab of tender pork chop sandwiched in a crusty bun tastes delectable; the
meat pleasantly suffused with just the right degree of marinade. Delicious
enough on its own without the need for tomato or chilli sauce, diners can opt
to trick up the pork chop bun with a sunny side up egg and a slice of cheddar
cheese at extra charge.
According
to Chef Fong who’s fondly known as Yoke Cheh (sister Yoke), the secret of such
scrumptious pork chops is due to the quality ingredients and hours of meticulous
preparation. Firstly, the pork chops (each T-bone chop weighs about 300g) are
pounded with a mallet.
“This is painstaking and labour-intensive as we have to
flatten it evenly to the desired thickness. After the meat goes into a special ‘tumbler’
machine to the marinade coats each piece thoroughly, the pork shops are
pressure-cooked for about half an hour to tenderise it. Each piece of pork chop
is only fried on the spot upon order, to ensure its best eating quality.”
Much
to our delight, the eatery also serves Pork Chop Noodles (a la carte RM13.90,
set meal with a drink RM15.90) and Pork Chop Rice with Egg (a la carte RM14.90).
I’m
partial to the springy eggy wantan noodles, served korn lou-style with a generous slab of pork chop. Yoke Cheh
confides that the noodles are made the traditional bamboo-pressed technique
hence its toothsome springiness. Lightly tossed in dark and light soya sauce with
aromatic fried shallot and sesame oil, the dish’s comforting simplicity already
drew me back for repeat visits.
For
die-hard rice eaters, equal satisfaction is guaranteed when they go for the
Pork Chop Rice with Egg. Should you find it a tad dry, I suggest ordering a
portion of Curry Fish Balls (RM6.90) as accompaniment.
Our
dining party has nothing but effusive praises for the bouncy fish balls doused
in piquant curry gravy. We love the garlicky-oniony sweetness amplified by the
mild creaminess of coconut milk, juxtaposed against aromatic ground spices and
the muted tanginess of tomato sauce.
The
proof of the great pork chops is definitely in the eating as queues are often
seen in front of Porco Macau Pork Chop Buns at Lot 10 Hutong now. Go on, don't miss out on such good pork for thought.
For information and enquiries, please call tel: 03-2782 3500. PORCO MACAU PORK CHOP BUN is located at Lower Ground Floor, Lot 10 Hutong, Lot 10 Shopping Centre, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.