"Should we order one kilo of the siu yok?" the two of us asked each other. The temptation to go hog wild is humongous at Crack Pork, a new hideout for roast meat junkies, opened this week by the local producers of pork-laced salt Garam Haram.
This cheerful lair's prime lure is Chinese-style siu yok - satisfyingly layered cuts of belly, some fleshy & others fatty, all irreproachably succulent, with a light crackling & luscious flavour. A 100-gram serving (RM10 nett - or RM90 for 1 kilogram), with a choice of a chunky-soft pear sauce, honey mustard or English mustard, will give you everything you need.
Crack Pork dabbles in a bit of diversification by also turning to Italian-influenced traditions to offer porchetta (RM13 for 100 grams; RM120 for a 1-kilogram roll) - pork tenderloin wrapped with belly, paired with salsa verde or honey mustard. Aromatic with rosemary, showcasing a more muscular chew compared to the siu yok. Order both for a clear comparison.
Crack Pork's most distinctive delight is its pork sandwiches - our favourite is the siu yok sandwich (RM13), bristling with Oriental flavours, with pickled vegetables, cucumber, cili padi, honey mustard & coriander, encased in a crispy-fresh baguette - pretty much a porcine banh mi. But we also enjoyed the European equivalent, porchetta sandwich (RM13) with rocket leaves, sweet bell pepper & salsa verde dressing, coming close to a hog hoagie. Again, it's fine to try both; they taste different enough.
The menu isn't extensive, but it's well thought-out, focusing on key specialities that the small kitchen can handle. Expect only a few other highlights, like 'Peking Pork' (RM12), with siu yok - instead of duck - & scallions & cucumber in fluffy mantao buns. For dessert, the salted caramel bacon tart packs a punchy sweet-savouriness & morsels of bacon for a textured bite. Garam Haram's porky salt varieties are available for sale too. And for coffee lovers, check out the nicely balanced cappuccino (RM9).
Crack Pork occupies half a shop-lot that's easy to blink & miss; still, many curious passers-by paused & pondered whether to come in - our response would be, totally. Note that Crack Pork opens only for lunch, except for Friday evenings (that's today!).
Crack Pork by Garam Haram
59G, Jalan PJU 5/21, The Strand, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
Open Sat-Mon, Wed-Thurs, 1130am-330pm; Fri, 1130am-330pm, 430pm-7pm. Will be closed May 11-12 for restocking.
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