More Than Just Good Pork

The Tri-fecta allows patrons to try all three varieties of siew yok.

The bits which aren't on the menu: my dad gets little treats as he is a regular. These are the crunchy end bits.

The restaurant called Siew Yok in Taman SEA (next to Taman Megah and behind the row where Cash Converters is located) is  making a name for itself for its siew yok or roasted pork. While the pork is good, a really nice meal can be had without the pork too. 

Beef brisket.

Lala in clay pot.

Pennywort salad.

Signature egg noodles.

The shop offers three kinds of roast pork, classified by the colour of the crackling on top. They are Yellow Gold (light tan, hard, full-bodied and crispy), Melting Gold (rich tan, soft melting, crispy) and Black Gold (dark tan, medium bodied crispy). They come in small, medium or large portions of each, with Tri-fecta giving diners the chance to try all three versions. Kit, who has slaved on perfecting his own roast pork belly (and to great success, I may add), was pleased with the pork, deeming it very even and with little fat. Me? I like the greasy hunks of salty lard-laden meat my mum-in-law brings back from the market, but yeah, I guess these were good too. 

What I really liked though were the other dishes. The Mixed Beef is particularly good. It is a selection of beef brisket, tripe and tendon braised in a clay pot with enough liquid to be called a soup. It is hearty, very rich and almost a meal by itself for RM15. 

The lala in clay pot is also quite original, being served in a sweet, pungent broth infused with basil. The herb is very persistent in this dish, so only those who like it should try it, because it seeps into the very flesh of the shellfish. For RM15, it is also hot and hearty, and almost feels like a Chinese wine soup. 

Possibly the most innovative menu item is the pennywort salad. Known locally as daun pegaga, this pretty little weed will take over your garden patch if allowed to take root. It is a traditional ulam platter item, famed for its bitterness and blood cleansing properties. 

At Siew Yok, it is mixed with dried shrimp, onions and chillies, tossed in a fish sauce dressing and served chilled. It is the spiciest of the salads available, but also very refreshing. For RM12 it is worth the novelty. 

Dishes can be enjoyed with rice or noodles. We opted for the latter and I was very pleased with how delicious these basic noodles were. Springy, with good bite, and a smooth texture, its strengths were played up with a simple black sauce, fresh chopped spring onions and fried shallots. Fragrant and yummy at RM3 a bowl. 

I loved the fact that the Chinese tea was refilled, and that there was the popular Eight reassures Tea on the drinks menu. Diners who like their meals accompanied by vino will be glad to know that they are free to bring their own bottles. No corkage is charged, but the restaurant will ask restitution for broken glasses. 

In a nutshell Siew Yok is a great place to bring foreign guests to try our roasted meats without squatting at some coffee shop. It is also great for quick meals and hot, delicious meals. 

Siew Yok

25 Jalan SS23/15 Taman Sea

47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor