Boat noodles make their triumphant entry into Petaling Jaya's SS2, with a tempting twist this time - this new outlet reputedly relies on the recipe handed to its founders by the owner of Victory Monument's most popular boat noodle eatery in Bangkok.
This restaurant's three Malaysian founders spent a week in Bangkok learning how to make boat noodles exactly to the specifications of Ratchanee Paengkesorn, who'll visit this outlet once every few months to ensure standards remain solid.
Now's the perfect time to visit VM Boat Noodle - the outlet is offering a free first bowl to all customers for the next few weeks. No terms & conditions; you won't even need to order a second bowl if you prefer not to.
The sight of bowls of boat noodles has become a familiar one by now; who could have predicted at the start of 2014 that this would become one of the year's biggest food fads? VM Boat Noodle serves six types, each costing RM1.90.
Our favourites are the two versions with broth thickened with pork blood - one is topped with beef & the other has pork, both satisfyingly rich & creamier than the norm (the beef one has an edge, if we had to choose), with a potent sweet-savoury tang.
The other recipes comprise dry glass noodles (one beef, one pork), plus two more with clear soup & clear spicy soup. Basically not a bad choice if you're in SS2 & interested in boat noodles.
We like this one: Boiled dory fish - fresh & flaky, soft to the bite but not mushy - served with a salad & spicy sauce. RM5.90.
Tender water spinach, also worth ordering (RM1.50), before wrapping up with coconut custard pudding (RM1 for two).
VM makes its own lemonade (RM2.50); coconut juice in husks are offered too (RM5.90). Thanks to VM for hosting us here.
But if you live or work in Subang instead, here's another new option that's closer to you: Aroi-Kaa in SS15.
Despite the deluge of boat noodle eateries, each one does have something definingly distinctive. Here at Aroi-Kaa, it's a boat!
Aroi-Kaa's menu is concise - beef soup, clear chicken soup or (our favourite of the three) tom yam chicken soup, a bit punchier in flavour than the other two. No pork at Aroi-Kee.
Plenty more protein here, with soul food like braised chicken feet & mixed beef soup (value for money for RM4.90 each).
Maximum-guilt snacks at Aroi-Kaa include crispy fried chicken skin (RM2.90) & chicken joints (RM4.90).
Victory Monument VM Boat Noodle
68, Jalan SS2/67, Petaling Jaya. Open 11am-1130pm daily.
Aroi-Kaa Boat Noodle
Menara Rajawali, Jalan SS15/8, Subang Jaya, Selangor. Open 12pm-10pm daily
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