Ngau Kee Beef Noodles @ Tengkat Tong Shin

In spite of its overstated neon sign proclaiming its infamous Beef Ball Noodles, Ngau Kee has been operating in this tiny, unglamorous 5-foot alley way at the top of Tengkat Tong Shin for as long as I can remember, with less than 10 tables for patrons to dine ‘in’… by the roadside that is.

Restoran Ngau Kee @ Tengkat Tong Shin, Kuala Lumpur

My mom and I used to frequent Ngau Kee for late night supper raids back in the day when we used to stay at our old Ampang Road bungalow. I have memories of how jam packed the little alley was with locals enjoying the Beef Noodles, even on the occasion we dropped by past midnight for takeaway. Hence, when I happened to be in the Jalan Alor neighbourhood this time around to visit my old friend K, I felt compelled to see if my favourite Beef Ball Noodle joint was still going strong after all these years.

Minced Beef Kwan Lo (dry-style) Noodles with Beef Ball soup

Quality was rumoured to have taken a dip ever since Ngau Kee’s old husband and wife team put up their feet and handed over the reins to a younger team of workers. My take? – Fine, maybe the place has lost a bit of its charisma as any stall would after the departure of their owners-cum-talismans. But my usual Kwan Lo (dry-style) minced beef noodles, served with a side bowl of their wonderfully flavoursome Beef Ball soup was as good as the ol’ days. The noodles, still springy and sweet from simmering in beef stock.. The minced beef, rich and full of the flavours of chinese herbs and dark soy. And then the pièce de résistance… the Beef Balls – an explosion of beefy, almost buttery flavour. Perfect when dipped into their home-made chilli sauce.

It ain’t a pretty dish, but PWHOAR is it tasty.

Happy days.

G.

Restoran Ngau Kee Famous Beef Noodles
Top of Tengkat Tong Shin (near Corona Inn Hotel), 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia