I remember my very first visit to the vegetarian food court at Blue Boy Mansion. It was back in 2008 when Jien and I set out to search for this “utterly delicious” char kuay teow that has no meat, no lard, no cockles and no prawns.
That plate of vegetarian char kuay teow knocked our socks off. And it has been doing so ever since. Each time I eat the char kuay teow at Blue Boy Mansion, I marvel at how a meat-free plate of noodles can taste this good.
The friendly uncle has been frying plates and plates of char kuay teow (and other fried items) for close to two decades, a skill he learnt from a char kuay teow master when he was just 13 years old. This Indian uncle speaks good Cantonese and shares how he’s gotten too tired to cook at open houses and events, which he used to back in the days.
I’ve only ever eaten the char kuay teow at this vegetarian food court – my former colleagues and I loved eating here whenever we got the chance to drive out. And without fail, I always go for a large plate.
You can opt to have your char kuay teow with egg or without; and the noodles are served on a banana leaf base to intensify the aroma. It comes with slivers of oyster mushrooms and mock meat slices for that extra bite. The latter is fried till the edges are crispy, just like how lap cheong is fried in a regular char kuay teow.
Each bite yields strands of flat rice noodles, expertly cooked with plenty of char from the wok fire. The noodles are so well seasoned yet fluffy in texture, and there’s a good amount of chili paste for that added kick. And you also get a nice crunch from the beansprouts, which completes the char kuay teow experience.
The char kuay teow costs RM7.50 for a large plate – very reasonable considering the portion and this uncle’s masterful skill. Definitely something to try when you’re in the area!
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Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 7/10
Food: 8/10 (vegetarian)
Verdict: Until today, I’m still amazed at how good a plate of vegetarian char kuay teow can taste.
Char Kuay Teow at Blue Boy Vegetarian Centre
Jalan Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur.