Bak kut teh is one of the many dishes is subjective to one’s preference – some like it dark and herbal, some like it light and pepper, and some, a balance of herbal and sweetness. I tend to gravitate towards darker and more herbal bak kut teh broths in general so naturally, the ones from Klang appeal more to me.
A friend of mine told me about Chao Zhou Bak Kut Teh in SS18 Subang a couple of months back, citing this bak kut teh spot as a “decent option” for those who don’t want to go all the way to Klang. This bak kut teh restaurant is located along the same row of shoplots as Xfrens Restaurant, which is one of my go-to spots for tai chow around Subang. I tried Chao Zhou Bak Kut Teh a couple of months back with Jien when we were running some errands within the vicinity.
Bak kut teh for 2 pax
Ordering is straightforward as the menu is limited to soup bak kut teh, braised pork trotters, chicken in rice wine and vegetables. We stuck to the soup bak kut teh, yau char kwai and white rice which arrived pretty quickly since there weren’t many customers that weekend.
At first glance, the bak kut teh looked a tad pale though it did have a decent amount of herbal aroma. Tastewise, it falls under the herbal and sweet category rather than the darker kind that I like. That said, it is a decent enough choice if you’re looking for a quick bak kut teh fix.
The meat cuts are alright; we got pork ribs and three-layer pork, both cooked till tender. Soup refills are allowed hence our extra order of yau char kwai. I love dunking my fried rice crullers in bak kut teh broth as the “air pockets” really soaks up the herbal soup well.
All in, it was a decent bak kut teh meal. Definitely not THE best bak kut teh I’ve eaten but I do like the balance of herbal notes in Chao Zhou’s broth. If you’re looking for a dark, rich and herbal bak kut teh option, this isn’t it. But if you’re open to options, you might find this a pleasant surprise. We paid about RM45 for all the above including two drinks – reasonable for KL standards.
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Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 6/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: Definitely not like Klang bak kut teh but if you appreciate balance, you’ll find this fairly enjoyable.
Chao Zhou Bak Kut Teh
11G, Jalan SS 18/1b,
SS18, 47500 Subang Jaya.
Tel: 012-717 2986
Business hours: 9am till 2.30pm, 5pm till 9pm
(closed Monday)