This famous PJ spot is known for its sweet and sour pork covered in ice, make it make sense!

Petaling Jaya’s Section 19 is quite famous among residents for its number of durian stalls. However, aside from being a reliable source of the king of fruits, this neighbourhood is also home to quite a few classic restaurants. One of these restaurants is none other than Chef Chew Kitchen, a Chinese tai-chow eatery beloved by patrons coming from far and wide.

**Popular PJ tai-chow place**

The restaurant is believed by some to be among PJ’s best tai-chow places. Its founder, Chef Chew, previously served a major Chinese restaurant chain before striking out on his own. Seems like he struck gold, given how packed this place is on weekends. But what’s tai-chow? Imagine you are too lazy to cook rice, let alone any dishes to go with the rice. The tai-chow place is where you go to get rice as well as any dishes you like.

Sweet & sour pork…on ice?

As it happens, Chef Chew Kitchen has a few dishes which tend to be the talk of everyone at the table. The most unique of these has to be the Chilled Sweet & Sour Pork. While sweet and sour pork is a common sight in most restaurants, Chef Chew serves porky bits atop a bowl of ice. Why does he do this? Normally, when drenched with sauce, the pork absorbs too much and becomes soft and squishy. So, the ice helps to keep the pork feeling light and crispy. While the outside may be chilly, the meat inside stays warm and chewy.

What else is good?

Image credit: Chef Chew Kitchen on Facebook

Another recommended dish would be the Charcoal Beancurd, which is noticeably a black tofu. Don’t let the colour deceive you, as the tofu is soft as silk. It comes topped with minced pork & bathed in a sweet pumpkin sauce. The Salted Egg Yolk Sotong is also a must-try if you are a seafood lover or just like all things coated in a golden sprinkle of salted egg. While some salted egg dishes have overwhelming flavours, Chef Chew’s version is done just right. You can taste both salted egg and sotong without either covering the flavour of the other.

Always remember to eat your vegetables! At Chef Chew’s, you have a variety of vegetable dishes to choose from. Crowd favourites include the Claypot Kangkung with Shrimp Paste. While the texture is slimy, the crunchy kangkung flavoured with salty and savoury shrimp will likely win you all over with the first bite. Also worth trying is the Claypot Pork Belly with Eggplant. Hey, isn’t this a meat dish? Eggplant is a veggie, so it counts! And who can resist gulping down the eggplant together with a chunky piece of pork belly anyway?

Image credit: Chef Chew Kitchen on Facebook

Worth the wait?

With reasonable prices and delicious food, it is little surprise why lines of people can sometimes be found outside the restaurant waiting for a table. If you ever want to visit, it is highly recommended that you book in advance to avoid a potential inconvenience. And if you decide to go without a reservation anyhow, the food is likely worth the wait.