My weekend makan adventures are back!
This weekend, I visited the idyllic town of Taiping to try out one of their most famous breakfast spots - Kakak Restaurant. You'd think that Kakak refers to "sister" (Malay translation) but the name of the shop in Mandarin is actually "家家" which means "every family".
As I'm still trying to maintain social distancing as much as possible, I went early to avoid the breakfast crowd.
A friendly uncle took our order and everything was promptly served in under 2 minutes.
Let's makan!
Kuay Teow Soup (4/5)
The signature dish at Kakak restaurant. The broth tasted like a cross between Penang Kuay Teow Soup and Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun(without the prawns) - not too thick and deliciously flavourful. The kuay teow was smooth and the beansprouts were fat and crunchy. I liked the touch of fragrant fried shallots too. While some have complained about the amount of MSG used, I thought it tasted fine and wasn't feeling thirsty after the meal.
Dry Noodles & Bee Hoon (4/5)
If you're not in the mood for something soupy, Kakak's dry noodles are also tasty. The sauce is fragrant and goes very well with their homemade sambal.
Braised Chicken Feet (5/5)
The chicken feet are cooked to perfection; tender but not falling apart. The sauce is not your typical dried shiitake mushroom braising liquid. Instead, it has a distinctive dark soy sauce aroma that is not overpowering and pairs well with both the kuay teow soup and dry noodles. Do order these if you're a fan of chicken feet!
Chicken with Beansprouts (3/5)
While the beanspouts were short, crunchy and fresh, the chicken was a bit of a let-down. I expected the chicken to be more tender and juicy.
Kakak Peng (5/5)
This unique drink is a smooth and refreshing glass of Nescafe coffee with a hint of barley fragrance. A must try!
Overall, the food is satisfying and reasonably priced. While it's the best bowl of Kuay Teow soup that I've tasted, it's still well worth a try to get a taste of Taiping's "ko cha bi" (traditional taste). Service is impressively quick and overall cleanliness is commendable.
Sabbylicious Makan Rating
Food : 4/5
Price : 4/5
Environment : 4/5
Service : 4.5/5
Must order : Braised Chicken Feet
Operating Hours Tuesday - Sunday (8.00 am–1.00 pm). Closed on Monday.
Location
Restoran Kakak 家家粿条汤 111, Jalan Pasar, 34000 Taiping, Perak.