Review: Ah Soon Kor, PJ SS3

 42 Jalan SS3/31
Petaling Jaya
Tel# 013-856 7669
https://www.facebook.com/Restaurant-Ah-Soon-Kor-221406514650740/

 On a lazy weekday afternoon, it is difficult to find someone for lunch. However, it is nice when you have friends who have flexible hours. They sometimes tell me they put in the extra hours here and there but do you believe them for a minute there?

Having passed by this place few times while on the lookout for something else, it surprised me to know that this is the famous Sabahan food joint because it's signboard gave no hint of such except that their forte is steamed fish. Maybe it is but I decided to try some East Malaysia food instead because that's the only way I could.

 Two different types of chili. The bottom one is sweeter but both equally potent. It doesn't heat you straight up but slowly builds up. By the time you realize it, a glass of ice water nearby would come in handy.

 Beaufort noodle. Yes, that is quite a generous helping of vegetables. Unfortunately, I don't really like stalks of any vegetable due to the amount of chewing required.

 Underneath all that fiber hides some springy noodles and slices of pork in char siew style. Although the pork was unremarkable as it was more lean meat, the noodles is certainly the star of this dish. Despite drowning in a gravy (really thick soup), the noodles held its texture well and went well with the chili sauce. The gravy also had a nice stir fried flavor (like burnt but not quite) to it. Imagine Cantonese style or wa tan hor. 
 

Stir fry bitter gourd with pork in black bean sauce.
Touted as a must-try, I recommend this only to diehard fans of the gourd. Otherwise, have high tolerance for bitterness. 

Tuaran mee.
A rather successful export of Sabah, it's not difficult to understand why this dish is making waves in West Malaysia. Think of it as the Chinese's answer to the mamak's maggi goreng. Only homelier. I like the bits of egg and the eggy sauce. Only complaint is why not drier but apparently it was supposed to taste better so maybe I went on the wrong day.