You can find Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks at many shopping malls in and around Klang Valley. My first introduction to Shihlin's snacks was a couple of years back when I spotted it in Viva Home Shopping Mall (but this outlet has since closed).
Later, I found one closer to home......at 1 Shamelin Shopping Mall but this one also closed. [#Note: Of course it would as this is a really deserted and pathetic mall. There's no (good) food or shops here. I only come here for TGV as the cinema is new, so it's clean and comfortable.] So, when I was at IPC Shopping Centre recently, I noticed that they have an outlet there and (so) I just had to stop by to get some.
Their menu is made up of a few items such as XXL Crispy Chicken, Handmade Oyster Mee Sua, Seafood Tempura, Crispy Floss Egg Crepe, Sausage Cheese Egg Crepe, Mushroom Cheese Egg Crepe and Happy Rice Box Set.
I'm not much of a fan of their snacks (the Seafood Tempura is awful by the way) as I'm only after one thing when I'm here and that is their Sweet Plum Potato Fries @ RM5.50 which is my personal favourite. It has been a while since I last had them.
Looking at my bag of Sweet Plum Potato Fries, I realised that the portion size has dwindled a bit....but it was still as good, in fact better than I remembered.
I later found out that, sometime in late 2013, the fries had been enhanced with an improved recipe. The thicker chunkier sweet potato fries are now coated in a lighter batter that yields an incredibly crispy exterior but yet soft on the inside. Even the dusting of plum powder seems to taste different. If I remember correctly, it tasted a bit like five spice powder previously but it now has this fresh, tangy plum taste that I like.
If you enjoy eating plain fried sweet potatoes sold by Malay vendors, you'll definitely enjoy this even more. The sweetness of the potatoes, coupled with a zesty plum powder and the crunch of the batter, makes it an ideal snack. I love sweet potatoes....and even more so when they're crunchy....but you've got to eat it immediately, otherwise it loses its crunch within the hour!
I only come here for the oyster mee sua. For the chicken and sweet potato fries, I prefer that Hot Star (or something like that, can't remember the name hahaha)
ReplyDeleteThat other brand you mentioned is probably only available in Penang.
DeleteI've passed by the outlet at 1-U but I somehow I was not curious enough to check them out. I like fried sweet potatoes but having them sprinkled with plum powder seem strange. But who knows, I might like it :)
ReplyDeleteTry it, I think you'll like it as it has this slight tangy flavour to it =)
DeleteHad this at the chiplak Taiwan franchise place here - was very nice at first bite, kind of unique taste - everybody liked it at first bite...but after a while, we did not seem to enjoy it as much. Will not go back for more, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, yours could be a chiplak Taiwan franchise.
DeleteThink you or somebody else googled to see all the Taiwan franchises in the country and told me there was none by that name...or if there was, there was none in my town. Whatever, it is, I am not into all these Taiwan stuff, anyway, though they seemed to go down well with some people around here - be it those desserts and bubble teas...or all their deep-fried stuff.
DeleteMe googled? I've no idea which Taiwan franchise you're referring to.
DeleteOk, not you then. Can't remember who it was...exactly.
DeleteP.S.
Yup! Not you, went back to check...and it wasn't the one I went to that had these sweet potatoes either. Was the other place - I love yoo, sorry!!! Old man memory, not so good. Hehehehehe!!!!!
No worries....I've got poor memory too! ;)
Deleteit's quite stunning that shihlin has managed to survive for quite a long time! hmmm, i haven't tried these fries, but i wouldn't mind munching on them :)
ReplyDeleteActually, I think they're barely surviving as the only likeable product (to me) is their sweet potato fries. Quite a few of their outlets have closed already.
DeleteHave heard people praise this but havent tried yet
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't go so far as to praise it but it makes a nice snack :)
DeleteThey do sound delicious. Give me sweet potato in just about anything and I'll most probably enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteEven fried? Coz I know you're not into deep fried stuff that much.
DeleteI blogged about this before but mine looks very different from yours! Much thicker and very hard.
ReplyDeleteYeah, yours do look very different. I think the franchise may have poor quality control, thereby resulting in different look and taste in different outlets. I think it has to do with the person they hire to do the preparation and frying. Maybe you can try a different outlet to see if you can get a better tasting one. The coating should be light and crunchy and the sweet potato soft.
DeleteI guess the Ying Kee owner sold their Oug outlet to others since a few years back. No more familiar faces and the food is getting more pricey after change of restaurant operator. My husband tried to avoid that restaurant due to ripped off.
DeleteWelcome to my blog...thanks for commenting :) Don't know who is the owner or restaurant operator, all I know is that I come here specifically for the sweet potato fries, I'm not interested in their other stuff.
Deletehow to make them myself.. XD
ReplyDelete