Lai Foong Lala Noodles
[Non-halal] We’ve been meaning to check out Lai Foong Lala Noodles in Chinatown but the place is always super packed when we visit it.
So we were elated when they opened a new branch in Damansara Utama – which is closer to our home.
[Lai Foong Lala Noodles is part of the Michelin Guide KL and Penang 2023 Guide. Check out our Michelin post here]
Lai Foong Lala Noodles in Damansara Utama
Lai Foong Lala Noodles is one of the most popular spots to get clam noodles on Petaling Street.
This business was first started by a hubby-and-wife duo in 2008 who operated a food stall selling fried rice in Kedai Kopi Lai Foong (also known for its beef noodles stall) on Jalan Tun HS Lee.
The duo would eventually introduce the family dish of lala noodles (clams in noodles) and this dish would supersede others in popularity.
The duo later opened a full-fledged restaurant on Petaling Street in August 2020, before expanding with two more outlets in Puchong and PJ over the next few years.
Lai Foong Lala Noodles is on the Michelin Guide
Earlier this year, Lai Foong achieved another feather in its cap when it was recognized as a Bib Gourmand restaurant in the first Michelin Guide KL and Penang 2023.
After opening a second branch in Puchong last year, the restaurant expanded its wings and opened its newest branch here in PJ Uptown (on the same row as Padangs on Wheels) earlier this year.
Lai Foong Lala Noodles can be busy
As we’ve not tasted the noodles at the original branch in Chinatown, we can only share about our two visits here.
During our two visits for lunch (on a weekday and weekend, separately), we were fortunate to get tables immediately. But note that it can get very busy from 12pm onwards.
The broth is potent
Our favourite dish here has to be the Signature Lala Noodles (RM14).
What sets Lai Foong’s noodles apart from others is the really aromatic broth.
Cooked in a wok with lots of ginger, garlic and chillies – the broth has discernible wok hei – before the clams and yellow wine are added.
Hence, we really enjoyed the strong ginger flavours in the broth, with a really potent kick from yellow wine.
Generous clams
Apart from the broth, we were quite pleased to find a generous portion of clams (we reckon about 80 grams) in each bowl.
While not the most plump we’ve eaten, they were fresh and cooked just nicely for the perfect texture.
We also liked that each clam was adequately cleaned to remove any sand – and all of the clams had meat in them (good QC).
Sang Har Lala Noodles
We also tried the Sang Har Lala Noodles (RM28) on our second visit.
In terms of flavours, the broth is pretty similar to the signature dish with added sweetness from additional two freshwater prawns.
We thought the prawns were of decent size for the price – but the best element is the roe seeping into the broth, which gives it an extra umami dimension.
Sang Har Cantonese Noodles
If you don’t fancy clams, the Sang Har Cantonese Noodles (RM25) are pretty good too.
We thought the prawns here are cooked better with a more supple texture vs. the one in the soup dishes.
The prawns are served with thin crispy yee mee.
We enjoyed the gravy which had a good spicy ginger kick and decent wok hei.
Fried lala bihun was just ok
However, we thought that the Fried Lala Bihun (RM14) were just ok.
We felt it needed a bit more wok hei, and the clams were just too teeny-weeny tiny as they really shrunk during the frying process.
Summary
If you’re craving good lala soup noodles, we recommend the ones here for the potent broth and generous amount of clams.
The freshwater prawn dishes are good too but skip the fried lala bihun noodles, in our view.
Lai Foong Lala Noodles PJ Uptown
Address: 58, Jalan SS 21/62, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Hours: 11am-8.30pm (Weekdays), 11am-9pm (Weekends), Closed on Mondays
Phone: 03-7731 6609
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