Last year end, we managed a trip to Seremban, the capital city of Negeri Sembilan. The name Negeri Sembilan derives from the 9 villages settled by the Minangkabau people. Unlike other states in Malaysia, Seremban food has it own flair, predominantly influenced by the Chinese-Hakka majority here. Well, join us for our mouth-watering food hunt trips at Seremban city!
1. Empayar Seremban Siew Pow 芙蓉烧包城
For some unexplained reasons, the Siew Pow (烧包) produced in Seremban has its own charms. This claim is further fortified by the presence of a castle alike structure with its name tagged to "Seremban Siew Pow". Almost all driving through the North-South Highway prior entering to Seremban toll will witness this majestic building. Anybody dares challenge this claim of best Siew Pow now?
The castle alike structure also bears a rather bold and esteemed name - Empayar Seremban Siew Pao. Of course, the name is warranted as they indeed serve the best Siew Pao in the town, alongside with various confectionaries, Chinese style stir-fry dishes. They even had special parking allocations for tour buses. How impressive.
Their must try here is the Crispy Pork Siew Pao (脆皮烧包). Eat them while hot, and you shall be indulged in the crackling sound of the skin. For the choice of meat filling, we preferred pork meat over chicken meat.
We also leveraged on our visit to sample their Salted Egg Yolk Cake (咸蛋酥), egg tarts and durian siew pao. Shirleen thought that the durian smell could be enhanced. As a conclusion, our favorite of the day still their Crispy Pork Siew Pao!
Empayar Seremban Siew Pao
Lower Ground, LG 1 - 57, Jalan Besar TBK 4, Pasar Besar Negeri Sembilan, Taman Bukit Kepayang, 70200, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Contact Num : +606 - 601 6308
Operation Hour : 11:00am - 12:00am (till 1:00am on Fri & Sat)
2. Asia Siew Pow Master
Another big names for Siew Pao in Seremban would be Asia Siew Pao Master. This modest and no-frills bakery also sells excellent Siew Pao for its cravers,
Despite its size, the bakery still attract an exodus of crowd here forming a long queue regardless of the time in the day. Nevertheless, fret not as the queue moves rather fast, and you could facilitate it by making your decisions what to order by looking at the menu displayed.
The siew pao here was never disappointing, and our favorite still went to the siew pao filled with moist and juicy pork slices wrapped by a layer of flaky crust. Over here, we learnt that chicken filled siew pao actually had sesame seed topping while the pork ones does not.
On a sidebar note, there is nothing to shout about their egg tarts and butter buns.
Jalan Seng Meng Lee, Taman Unian 70200, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Contact Num : +606 - 763 2409
Operation Hour : 7:30am - 6:00pm
3. Yi Poh Restaurant 姨婆老鼠粉
Across the road from Asia Siew Pao Master lies Restaurant Yi Poh, one of the most renowned Hakka inspired noodles shop in Seremban.
The forte of the restaurant are Lou Shi Fun, a thick and short rice noodles. It is topped with char siew and minced meat, then stir in the dark soy sauce to give a bold taste. Yi Poh Lou Shi Fun is famous because their traditional recipes are passed from generations, and the authenticity still well preserved.
We sampled their Hakka Noodles and it tasted alike Kolo Mee for us. Aside of extensive list of noodles offered in the menu, there are various side dishes such as wanton, pork balls and pork tendon balls. We specially fall in love with their tender and succulent pork balls and pork tendon balls!
If you enjoy a pepperish soup, then the soup version here definitely will be your favorite.
Anyhow, although Restaurant Yi Poh may looks grand, they offer affordable dishes for its patrons. Currently Restaurant Yi Poh has expanded its operation to Puchong and Petaling Jaya, allowing those origin from Seremban reminiscent the hometown flavour at foreign state.
Restaurant Yi Poh
26A, Jalan Seng Meng Lee, Taman Unian 70200, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Contact Num : +606 - 763 2791
Operation Hour : 7:30am - 5:30pm (Closed on Monday)
4. Chicken Rice at Continental Hotel
As we have scarce time and limited stomach within our short trip to Seremban, we have to be prudent in managing our appetite, juggled between each decision to derive at the correct choices. When browsing through Internet for Seremban chicken rice, we stumbled across Rebecca Saw's blog where she noted on the long waiting time for Diamond Chicken Rice at Restaurant Chai Hong. Then she recommended this unammed chicken rice at Continential Hotel instead.
It took us a few turns to locate this shop. Located at the ground floor of (should be defunct) Continental Hotel, a senior couple has been managing the chicken rice stall for more than 30 years.
How surprise could a chicken rice get? Well, aside of serving tender chicken, the scoring points would be their ginger mixed chili sauce. Emitting a pungent smell, it could caught you choking without guard.
The rice itself was fragrant, and mix with the black soy sauce for a greater taste. Total was RM 8.80 inclusive a cup of coffee. No complain about that.
Chicken Rice @ Continental Hotel
Jalan Dato Sheikh Ahmad, 70000, Seremban Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.(next to Wisma Umno)
Operation Hour : 10am till sold out (usually around lunch hours)
Pasar Besar Seremban had a few hidden gems hidden within, one of them being the Beef Noodles from Stall 748. Queue might be long but they have a systematic way in managing the expectations. Place your order to the lady boss, and she will give you a card with number to be placed on table. Be patient, eventually your bowl of beef noodles will be served to you.
Though available in both dry and soup version, one shall pick the dry version to full relish on it. The own made thick noodles are drenched with a sticky brownish sauce, then sprinkled with peanuts and spring onions. It gave a substantiate pleasant and peppery taste to our taste buds enjoyments.
Contrary to popular belief, the beef aroma is inviting and does not possess foul smell. Perhaps this is due to the secret recipe passed from generations to marinate the beef.
Beef Noodle @ Stall 748, Pasar Besar Seremban
748, Pasar Besar, 70000, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Operation Hour : 7:30am - 3:00pm
6. Haji Shariff Cendol
Head over the Haji Shariff Cendol in the scorching hot afternoon for a bowl of chilling cendol. You will not miss this in Seremban town, as this shop is located in the corner of Jalan Yam Tuan and painted in green. With a history dated back to 1930, Haji Shariff Cendol woos the customers across races.
Cendol Campur (RM 2.00) is definitely a good bargain. Green pandan "worms", corns, peanuts, and glutinous rice are served in a small steel bowl to quench your thirst. If you are looking for something more fulfilling for the stomach, pasembur or noodles are available as well.
44, Jalan Yam Tuan, 70000, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Contact num: +606 762 8505
Contact num: +606 762 8505
Operation Hour : 10:00am - 6:00pm (Closed on Friday)
Mee Hoon Sotong is an unique dish in Seremban. Sadly for our trip here, we did not manage to get a bowl despite been to 5 different places. All were sold out (even at 10:00am for stall 753 at Pasar Seremban). We hope to come back here just to taste a bowl of it, apart of Tow Kee Hakka Mee at Pasar Seremban.
A few locations which we went:
I was rather pissed off at Stall 787 at Seremban Food Court actually. The boss told me they finished selling when I was queuing up. Alright, I conceded defeat and went to order Beef Noodle, waited and finished it, probably within the course of 45 minutes. Then as we were heading back, we saw people still taking away from Stall 787? Seriously??!! Were you disdaining me, just because I was wearing a sloppy clothing and ordering a plate of Mee Hoon Sotong only? Now for whatever sake, even the entire Seremban was down to Stall 787 selling Mee Hoon Sotong only, I would not even dine in there.
looks tasty & yummy~
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