We headed here for lunch yesterday. I’ve been visiting Siu Siu every once in a while for the passed 5 years or so. I liked the fact that it is conveniently located – just 10 minutes away from Bangsar South, where we work. Friday noon traffic, sometimes it gets really bad and during times like these – we prefer heading somewhere close and this eatery fits the bill.
Where exactly in Seputeh? I am sure most of you have heard of or/and been to the Glasshouse – https://thefoodbunny.com/2018/12/13/delectables-by-su-glasshouse-seputeh-something-different/ . Siu Siu is located about 10 seconds away? You simply need to drive up and you’d see it.
This is one of those restaurants whereby your experience, whether positive or negative, is dependent on your luck? My visits so far, has been pleasant. For some of my friends though, there were a combination of factors that made their experience negative.
The number one complain is the non existence of a Menu. This is a normal occurrence back in the day for those eateries who has been around for decades. Some choose to embrace the modernization necessity, comfort and ease of customers and create a Menu while others choose to maintain their operations the way it is. Perhaps in their mind – why change when it has worked so far, right? To me, this isn’t a problem. These sort of restaurants usually offer food that are similar to other Chinese restaurants – rice, meat, vegetables. The many times I’ve visited , it was always starts with “do you have this and do you have that” and almost always they say they do and that is it, orders are taken.
The other regular complain is that the service at Siu Siu sucks. No smile, no welcoming feel, when questions are asked – they stare and answer you rudely. I agree with the lack of smile but so far, for me it has been okay. I had no issues.
Another complain would be the overpriced food. Well, this I somewhat agree, depending on what you order. A medium sized chicken dish ( for 2 people) for 20 ringgit? Yup.
To me personally, the issues mentioned above were not much on an issue. My experience has always been okay. Over the passed 5 years, I’ve visited Siu Siu many times and I did not come across any major issue. Of course, do not expect perfection here – do not expect excellent interior and exterior, do not expect excellent customer service. All I care about is good food and in that sense, they often deliver.
During lunch, Siu Siu tend to get rather crowded, especially on weekdays. I arrived at 11.30 and it was starting to pick up then. There were already several tables that were occupied by big groups, 6 -7 pax. Occupied mostly by the folks working nearby.
If you come in a group of 2, they would somewhat refuse to sit you at the bigger table, despite being asked several times. Their reason for that would be because the large tables were meant to seat large groups but for us, the customers – this is also where the FANS are located. When you come in a smaller group – group of 2, they tend to seat you in the inner corner – where there literally is no fan. Imagine coming in with your formal office attire? It got really hot. No joke. While we were eating, sweat was dripping off our foreheads. Being seated in the inner corner also meant that you were seated near the water tank and every now and then, you would be able to see a guy from the kitchen coming over to the tank, putting his hands in and trying to catch a fish for cooking. I watched them swim for their lives and then gasping for air when caught and brought to their impending doom. Ugh.
The good thing about sitting near the tank was that it provided us the sounds of Zen?? If you closed your eyes and simply use your ears, there was something calming about the sounds that were produced. The flow of water into the water tank and the sounds of birds chirping – they had a parrot and a myna. The sounds made gave it a rather tropical feel. Once you open your eyes though, the calming effects ends. It soothing simply for your ears.
Kam Heong Chicken, 20 ringgit + Kangkung Belacan, 12 ringgit + Omelette, 10 ringgit + White Rice, 3 ringgit
The Kam Heong Chicken here is da bomb. It is a tad pricy – 20 ringgit but it tasted good. Kam Heong is all about the chicken and prawn paste. Most often, you can hardly taste the paste but here though, not only would you taste it in the gravy, there were plenty of dried prawn bits that provided a nice texture to this dish. The taste of lemongrass and curry leaf was also prevalent. It was lovely. The gravy was thick and had a mixture of flavors evident from the variety of items used, yummy!
The Kangkung Belacan was good too. It was not too watery – just the way I liked it because then, the taste of belacan and cili would be stuck to the Kangkung as oppose to the watery gravy. The Omelette was okaylah. It was the usual onion omelette. A nice addition to have with rice.
Would I head back here?
Yes, I’ve been coming here for years and will continue to do so. It is conveniently located and food is good. It may not work for some but it works for me.
Address: No 15-11, Lorong Syed Putra Kiri, Seputeh.
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 am – 10 pm. Mondays Closed.
Signing out now, Ciao.
