Chocha Foodstore in Petaling Street may look like any other shoplot along the row – but walk past the unassuming door and you’ll find yourself in a place that evokes plenty of nostalgia and old school charm. The word “chocha” means sit and drink tea in Hakka, and that was what everyone did when I went there with a friend not too long ago.
Interior
The place is “Instagram-worthy”; ideal for social media influencers looking to create more content. That said, I visited to see what the hype was and if the food was worth raving about. Service was quick though I feel some of the staff could have been friendlier and more accommodating.
Cincalok fried chicken
We tried the cincalok fried chicken (RM25), served with fermented shrimp sauce, tomatoes and pineapple salsa and tomato chutney. I liked how the salsa balanced out the richness of the chicken – a dish that would go really well with beer, I reckon.
Chinese pesto flat noodle
I didn’t care much for the Chinese pesto flat noodle (RM20), Chocha’s rendition of pan mee that comes with local herbs pesto, charred capsicums, semi-dried tomatoes, peanuts and sesame seeds. While the noodles were nicely cooked, I thought the flavours fell short; flat tasting.
Crispy Chilli Squid
I preferred the Crispy Chilli Squid (RM22) though it can be a tad greasy for some, especially if you’re planning to order the fried chicken as well. This was seasoned with Cajun spices, and further accented with coriander and chilli for flavour and aroma. Not bad, but I liked the chicken better.
Iced Long Black
Coffee wasn’t good when I was there. My iced long black was watered down and sour. You’re better off having tea since it’s hard to go wrong with that. The place packs up quite quickly during the day, so if you’re planning to visit, do take note.
To sum up my experience, I didn’t quite care for food at Chocha. Service had hits and misses as well and while the ambiance may be Instagram-worthy, I’m one who eats with my mouth rather than my eyes. Your choice. 😉
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Ambiance: 6.5/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 5/10 (pork free)
Verdict: Go there for the “old school” experience, but the food isn’t much to shout about.
Chocha Foodstore
156 Jalan Petaling
50000 Kuala Lumpur.
Business hours: 11am – 10pm (closed Monday)
Tel: 03-2022 1100
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