POKC (People of Kheng Chew) at Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya deserves a better crowd, we would say.
Located in between Rekindle Café and Epicuro Café, we have been so keen to visit POKC since its opening in the month of September. We get attracted with its out-of-the-box concept that serves both Western x Hainanese food and thirdwave coffee in a lively, cutting-edge atmosphere, yet not lack of classic elements. This makes POKC worth being the meeting point for youngsters who love hopping around for fresh coffee, food connoisseurs who seek for reminiscence of Hainanese food, as well as families that come in both young and old for meals.
Of course, when a restaurant houses food that is cross-generations, conflicts arise. The current founder for People of Kheng Chew, Ms. Sheena, encounters difficulties in fulfilling requirement of everyone. While the younger generation loves POKC Hainanese food with Western touch such as adding deep-fried sweet potato as side dish for a Hainanese pork chop, the elderly prefers it to stay as original as how it should be back-in-time, just deep –fried pork chop heavily drenched in a bed of brown sauce with mixed vegetables.
Asking why thirdwave-scene coffee is dominating the all-time-favourite Hainanese coffee, we were told that this is decided upon majority feedback. When the interior is exquisitely designed, what people seek for may be more than just Hainanese kopi you can easily get at local Kopitiam. However, Sheena said that she would be more than happy to make you a cup of Hainan kopi upon request, also if time allowed, seeing that the restaurant is currently lack of staff.
It comes to a conclusion of no right nor wrong, since fusion food is blooming around the town. World of food is borderless, mix and match are always welcome as long as it brings positive outcome. For POKC, we give loud applause for their effort in preserving the authenticity of Hainanese food while going along with modernization. Even new things are added into their dish, the core value of Kheng Chew is still there. To top up, POKC kitchen has experienced Hainanese chef to prepare and monitor their food quality.
So just visit, and enjoy the food specially crafted by POKC. Perhaps you will agree with us that this thoughtfully designed restaurant cum café does live up to its name at certain points.
Roti Babi RM16.00
Flipping through the menu, we realize food choices in POKC are limited, narrowed down to mostly crowd favourites. More delights will be added in near future such as grilled steak, lamb shank, etc.. Roti Babi is the must-try here, having fluffy soft thick toast deeply coated with egg , generously sandwiched with flavourful minced meat then deep fried and cut into four. Pricey? Not at all as it almost double the size of usual Roti Babi.
Cordon Bleu Koi RM25.00
A thin layer of golden brown crispiness at the exterior, followed by succulent munch of chicken, further enriched with oozing goodness from melting cheese and smokiness from chicken ham rolled in the center. Served along with brown sauce, mixed vegetables and deep-fried sweet potato.
Kheng Chew Curry Koi RM18.00
We love this Kheng Chew Curry Koi (“Koi” means chicken for Kheng Chew People) that fares a well-balance of creaminess, richness and spiciness. Have an option of Hainanese white bread to dip with, or douse the curry gravy over a bowl of white rice.
Enchanted Lamb Stew RM25.00
POKC signature dish, putting together lamb shank, onion, potato, carrot, spices and slow-cooked with care. Result is tender chunks of meat in a bed of sauce lightly infused with sweetness of every ingredient, showcasing distinct gaminess too- the love it or hate it flavour.
Pork Chop
Very meaty and firm in texture, but not dry. Drizzled with tomato sauce that serves along for sweet tangy twist. Served with fries and vegetables.
Vanilla Mille Crepe RM13.00
For dessert, try on a range of homemade mille crepe in different flavours such as vanilla, salted caramel, rum & raisin and Malibu Dream; or delicious Chocolate Truffle Cake, Chocolate Brownie or Carrot Cake, priced between RM11 to RM15. Go for Malibu Dream Mille Crepe if you like alcohol-infused, but too bad it was sold out during our visit.
You might wonder, how about traditional Swiss roll and butter cake? POKC did serve them in the beginning, but feedback wasn’t good hence it was omitted from the list. If you enjoy them, suggest more often to uplift its chance to have a seat back into the dessert counter.
Affogato
Skip the crowd at Inside Scoop and hop over to POKC, you can easily get it at RM8.50 per scoop. Flavours available are Coconut Sorbet, Teh Tarik and Vanilla Bean. We happily indulged in POKC Coconut Affogato, a pleasing espresso-base dessert which mix Inside Scoop Coconut Sorbet two shots of freshly pulled espresso . Sweet, bitter with faint hint of coconut aroma. Summergirl greedily finished all by herself.
Mocha
Coffee lover, do not leave POKC without trying their coffee. The café serves coffee using beans provided by Papa Pahelta, the well-known Singapore roastery who also runs PULP at Bangsar, Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Shop in Singapore.
Flat White
Rather thin, but smooth and satisfying overall.
Latte
Photography: Summerkid
Write Up: Summergirl
Address:
POKC(People of Kheng Chew) Restaurant & Cafe
(same row with Epicuro and Rekindle Uptown)
12 Jalan SS21/35,
Damansara Uptown,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business Hour: 11:30AM-10:30PM (closed Tuesdays).
Contact: 03-7732-6080
