Foong Foong (Yong Tau Foo) @ Ampang

When we speak of yong tau foo, the one that automatically comes to mind is none other than Ampang yong tau foo.   So, if one wants to partake in yong tau foo, Ampang is the place to head to as it's synonymous with good yong tau foo!  Even yong tau foo restaurants that are not situated in Ampang would have the word "Ampang" included somewhere as part of their restaurant's name! ;D

We came to this area looking for a wantan mee shop for our late breakfast but found it closed (actually not opened yet) and, so, ended up at Foong Foong @ Ampang instead.  This restaurant has been serving this Hakka delicacy for more than 3 decades and some will vouch that this is the real and original Ampang yong tau foo.  I've eaten here many times in the past (as well as the one next door, Orchard View Yong Tau Foo) but it has been quite a while since my last visit.

They focus on only one thing here and that is the yong tau foo and offer around 10 types of yong tau foo and none of those Hakka dishes that their competitors offer.  Each piece is very reasonably priced at RM1.10 if you consider the size of the yong tau foo.  Make your orders at the counter where the boss (or his son) is seated and they will broadcast your order over the microphone to the kitchen.

Obviously, at any yong tau foo place, the two most sought after yong tau foo items are none other than the Fried "Fu Chuk" (Beancurd Sheet) and Fried "Sui Kow"  (Dumpling).

And here is our order of 20 pcs of fried fu chuk and fried sui kow.  They also offer the sui kow in soup version.

Between the fried fu chuk and the fried sui kow, I definitely preferred the fried sui kow which tasted better. It had a plump filling made up of a mixture of fish paste, ground pork, jicama and carrots...and the sui kow skin was very crispy.  On the other hand, the fried fu chuk was both a bit of a 'hit and miss' for me.  I liked that the fried fu chuk skin was crispy but the fish paste filling inside some of the fu chuk was scarce.  This made the fu chuk puff up with a lot of air inside (and collapse as can be seen in the 2nd pic), rendering it with a soft texture and not as crispy when you bite into it.

This was our plate of mix yong tau foo (10 pcs) with brinjal, ladies fingers, bitter gourd, soft tofu and tofu pok.  I made a request for more brinjal and no fish balls and fresh chillies. 

The brinjal and bitter gourd I absolutely loved and these were giant size.

The soft white tofu I didn't enjoy as much but the ladies fingers I did.  Again, I don't know where they find such large, fresh and very green ladies fingers...and the filling was plump too.

I quite like the broth that came with the mixed yong tau foo which I found to be not as oily as the one from O & S Restaurant (although the broth of the O & S one was more flavourful).

The yong tau foo is served with a chilli and sweet sauce.  The sweet sauce here has a tinge of red (like Ipoh ones) which I liked.

#A Side Story:

There was this elderly lady selling "bak chang" (glutinous rice dumplings) on foot.  She came by our table but we didn't want any.  It was a pity seeing an elderly lady (who wasn't walking that well to start with) having to carry a (heavy) tray of bak chang.  I asked my son to see if she managed to sell any but she (later) disappeared from his view.  A while later, she came back to our table and begged us to buy one since she didn't manage to sell any.  She said we looked like the ones who would most probably take pity on her and that was why she returned.  I told her that I specifically asked my son to look out for you too just to see if you sold any.

When I bought two, she was so grateful she kept thanking us and showering us with wishes of good health and prosperity.  She's just a lil' old lady and I did what little I could to help her along but the way she showed her gratitude really surprised us....kindness begets kindness, I suppose.

This was her bak chang @ RM5 each

Although the bak chang @ RM5 is smaller than the ones I've bought at the same price, the flavours were quite good.  It had a pc of not overly fatty pork, salted egg yolk, mushroom and black-eyed peas in it.  If I ever bump into her again, I would surely get some...or, if anyone else bumps into her, pass some business along her way coz her bak chang is quite good :)

My Personal Opinion

After 3 decades and countless servings of yong tau foo, this well-known place still continues to dish out very good tasting yong tau foo.  It's no wonder why it has remained so popular with locals and visitors alike.

Asking me to choose my favourite yong tau foo place is really hard coz it's like asking me who's my favourite child....asking those with more than one child who is their favourite child.  There are so many I like....this one, the one next door (Orchard View), O & S Restaurant, the Imbi one (rumours are that the owner used to work at one of the famous yong tau foo restaurants in Ampang)....and even some of the ones in my neighbourhood :)

I like different yong tau foo types at different places.  If it's fried fu chuk, it's O & S and Imbi, if it's sui kow, it's definitely O & S but Foong Foong has my vote when it comes to the other yong tau foo types purely because of its XL sizes.  I think the sizes of their yong tau foo are the biggest I've seen so far.  So, if you ever find yourself in Ampang town, do drop by to savour the 'real' Ampang yong tau foo (if you haven't already). It's still one of the better ones around! ;) 

Restoran Foong Foong
621-A Jalan Merdeka
68000 Ampang
Selangor