Have you heard or read about Sin Kok Thye Hainanese chicken chop?
I have read so much about this old kopitiam Sin Kok Thye aka New Cathay in Port Klang or Pelabuhan Klang.
Last Saturday, my partner and I went to this ever-jammed Royal Town of Klang to try out the so-much-talked-about Hainanese chicken chop.
This old and shabby-looking corner coffee shop at Jalan Kem, Port Klang, Selangor.
When we reached this quaint kopitiam that hot afternoon, it was about 1.30 p.m.
The place was full with customers, luckily we managed to get a marble table all to ourselves in the middle of the shop, near the cash counter.
Even though this cramped eatery is not actually halal (only pork-free) per se, but there were many Malay-Muslim young couples and families eating there that Saturday afternoon.
We tried ordering a chicken cop and a plate of fried rice, but was told the latter has sold out.
I have read from many local food blogs saying that its hailam mee is ordinary, so we decided not to order any noodle.
We ended up ordering two plates of Hainanese chicken chop.
From my personal observation mee hailam is still very popular among the Malay customers.
Not only at this place, even at other similar eateries like Capitol Cafe along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur (opposite Sogo KL).
Surprisingly, the service at Sin Kok Thye is very prompt and efficient.
The portion of the chicken is reasonably big and it is well fried.
It comes with only a few pieces potato wedges, a sprinkle of onion, baked beans and one piece of tomato.
There is no green pea or carrot cubes (look at the photo below).
One big disappointment was the gravy. It was not only watery, but was overly sweet and it tasted like those canned bake bean gravy.
Sin Kok Thye Hainanese Chicken Chop
I think the chicken chop gravy from Yut Kee Restaurant at Jalan Kamunting (formerly located at Campbell Street) and the already closed-down Restoran Sin Seng Nam at Jalan Pasar (formerly known as Market Street) tastes much better.
As for drinks, we ordered a cup of kopi-O (black coffee) and a glass of iced barley. The latter was fine, but the coffee was another disappointment.
When it came, I could see a ring of yellowish foamy bubbles around the cup. It was very unpleasantly looking and taste wise, it was bland.
How To Go To Sin Kok Thye At Port Klang
For those who would like to check it out for yourself, the location of Sin Kok Thye can be a challenge for those who are not familiar with Port Klang.
This century-old kopitiam is somewhat hidden away (blocked by a huge flyover), and it is among a row of derelict abandoned colonial-style buildings.
From various blogs, I read that this Port Klang chicken shop is somewhere near The Embassy Hotel, opposite RHB Bank, and the wet market.
But if you are clueless about Port Klang, the best way is when you reach Port Klang, ask people the direction towards Pulau Ketam jetty (Jeti Pulau Ketam).
The main road leading towards this jetty is called Persiaran Raja Muda Musa.
Once you are driving along Persiaran Raja Muda Musa heading towards Jet Pulau Ketam, keep driving and keep to your left lane. You will past a few traffic lights.
The landmark to look out for is a FLYOVER which is right in front of a traffic light at the junction of Persiaran Raja Muda Musa and Jalan Kem.
When you reach this traffic light, you can see rows of shops on both side of the road.
At this traffic light, you turn left (this is Jalan Kem) and Sin Kok Thye is on the left side of this narrow dusty two-lane road.
Be careful, you might miss this unassuming Hainanese coffee shop which is a corner lot.
There is no proper parking space in front of the shop, but you can still park your vehicle along this road if you want.
The best way is you drive across this traffic light, then you turn to the first junction on your left, then turn left again at a cross road. You should see the yellow color Pasar Pelabuhan Klang (wet market) on your left.
There is proper parking space around this area. To get to the shop, you have to walk cross the road with the flyover above you.
SIN KOK THYE or NEW CATHAY COFFEE SHOP is at:
23, Jalan Kem,
Port Klang, Selangor.
It opens from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on Sundays.