You can also find it being served with bowls of piping hot bak kut teh. The demand for these sees stalls that pop up in the evenings since it also makes a good teatime snack.
Usually, the stalls will prepare the dough ahead of time. It’s rolled out and cut just before it’s dropped in hot oil in a wok. Most times, if you wish to grab a few varieties, you have to wait since it’s prepared batch by batch.
Aside from yau char kwai, there’s also a variety of other types of fritters. You have the ham chin peng with its savoury taste that is filled with red bean paste. Some stalls also serve the fritter without the filling; just flavoured with five spice powder.
For those who prefer a sweeter taste, there’s cup chung which has a slice of sweet tasting glutinous rice. You also have mah kiok shaped like a butterfly that is sprinkled with sesame seeds. Another rarely seen version is ngau lay so that is shaped like a cow’s tongue with a slightly sweet taste.
In the old days, there were more varieties available at the stalls as it was their daily morning bread. One of the items that have since disappeared from these stalls is sai yung or the puffy soufflé-like ball sprinkled with icing sugar.
Nowadays, you find that being served as dessert in restaurants. Usually, the crispy fritters would be enjoyed with a watery savoury tasting gingko (pak gor) porridge that also includes boiled foo chuk.
Stall near to Restoran WDS,
Jalan SS2/6 (Chow Yang), PJ.
Open: 10am to 2pm. Closed on Thursdays.
A few doors away from the popular corner coffee shop, you will find this 40-year-old stall selling yau char kwai. Patrons often order ahead as it takes time to prepare all the varieties.
Portions tend to be bigger than other stalls so expect generous fillings in their cup chung and ham chin peng. Their yau char kwai has a thicker golden crust with a slightly chewier interior.
You can also pick up fried sesame balls or jin tui filled with red bean paste or lotus paste. There are also curry puffs.
Stall near KL Baptist Church,
Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL.
Open: 3pm to 8pm. Closed on Sundays
Usually known as the Jalan Alor stall even though it’s on Changkat Bukit Bintang, this stall can be found on the road leading to Jalan Bukit Bintang after the church. Started since 1984, it’s run by an old couple who make yau char kwai, cup chung, mah kiok and ham chin peng.
This is the only stall that sells the traditional ngau lay so too. Their fritters have a nice fluffy interior with a light crispy edge that keeps for a few hours.
The cup chung contains a slice of soft textured glutinous rice that is lightly sweetened. Here their ham chin peng only has a swirl of red bean paste.
Stall in front of AmBank,
3 1/2 miles, Jalan Klang Lama, KL.
Open: 3pm to 7pm. Closed on Fridays.
Famous for their curry puffs stuffed to the brim, this 20-year old stall also sells a variety of fried fritters. Look for their yau char kwai as it has a light crispy golden crust with a fluffy texture. They also sell other types of fritters and jin tui.
Stall in front of Big Pharmacy,
Persiaran Ara Kiri, Lucky Garden, Bangsar, KL.
Open: 6am to 10am. Closed on Mondays.
Located at the morning market at Lucky Gardens, this stall run by a couple sells a large variety of fried goodies that is fried in batches. The yau char kwai has a nice savoury taste.
You also have ham chin peng with a fluffy interior and red bean paste filling. There’s also cup chung, mah kiok and fried golden cake where nian gao or sticky rice cake is sandwiched between slices of sweet potato and yam.
Here you can pick up cucur udang or crispy prawn fritters filled with chopped spring onions. They tend to be a little oily but it makes a tasty bite with their homemade chilli sauce. They also sell char siew pao.
Restoran BBQ Thai Nong & Jimmy,
298C, Jalan 15, Kampung Baru Ampang, Selangor.
Open daily: 12pm to 2.30pm, 5.30pm to 11pm.
If you’re looking for a different type of fritters, try this Thai version. Unlike the large crullers, these golden coloured puffy bite-sized ones are paired with sweet tasting kaya made with pandan. They make the perfect snack as you’re waiting for your BBQ seafood hot from the grill.
