Nostalgic Taste of Chowrasta Pork Porridge

Post by Chiefeater VK

I hadn’t eaten the Chowrasta pork porridge since I was a teenager.

So sitting down to a bowl of Chee Cheong Chok again after all these years was very much a trip down memory lane.

A bowl is now RM12.

What immediately reminded me that this is quite different from the versions we get in KL was the fried intestine. It is sliced remarkably thin.

That makes a difference because there is much less moisture trapped inside. Once fried, the pieces become extremely crisp — almost brittle — rather than having the thicker, chewier texture I normally encounter back in KL.

That crunch against the soft porridge is one of the things that makes this bowl interesting.

Then there is the char siew.

The pieces have a noticeable smokiness and char, bringing a slightly sweet, roasted flavour into the porridge.

It is unusual.

Depending on how you like your Chee Cheong Chok, that sweetness could even be a deal breaker because it changes the character of the bowl quite noticeably.

My suggestion?

Keep an open mind.

It is part of what makes this particular version different.

Comes with blood curd too.

There is also a little bit of logistical knowledge worth having before you come here.

The stall itself is located outside Kedai Kopi Baru, but if you want table service, you need to find a seat at Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen nearby.

That sounds more confusing than it actually is.

You don’t have to hover around the stall wondering how your porridge is ever going to find you.

They do a very good job of finding you.

Considering this stall has been serving Chee Cheong Chok around Chowrasta for decades, I suppose they have had plenty of practice.

For me, though, this wasn’t merely another Penang breakfast. It was tasting something again that I hadn’t eaten since I was a teenager.

The price has certainly changed.

Thankfully, some of the memories are still there.

Pricing

Chu Chap Chook / Chee Cheong Chok – RM12.00

MVX Summary

MVX Score: 8.0/10

M – Meal Value
At RM12, this remains a reasonable breakfast considering the assortment of pork innards, crisp fried intestine and char siew that goes into the bowl.
Score: 8.0/10

V – Venue
This is pure Chowrasta street-food territory. The stall sits outside Kedai Kopi Baru while diners must be seated at Kedai Kopi Soon Yuen. It is functional rather than comfortable, but the slightly unusual arrangement is handled remarkably efficiently.
Score: 6.5/10

X – X-Factor
The paper-thin fried intestine gives you an unusually crisp texture, while the smoky, sweet char siew changes the flavour of the porridge in a way I don’t normally encounter in KL. Add the nostalgia of returning after several decades and this was much more than just another bowl of porridge for me.
Score: 9.0/10

Business Hours

Saturday to Thursday
07:00 am to 11:00 am

Closed on Friday