Uncle Soon Fried Rice
We can pretty much all agree that fried rice is one of the best comfort foods out there. Whether for lunch, dinner, or supper, a plate of wok-licked, eggy, and greasy rice is hard to go wrong with – unless we’re talking about BBC’s notorious egg fried rice, of course.
In Malaysia, Uncle Soon Fried Rice is one of the go-to spots for fried rice that’s highly raved by faithful and new patrons alike. And this has remained so, even after recently going viral and expanding with several more branches across the country.
Several outlets in Klang Valley
Originally from Alor Setar, Uncle Soon now operates multiple outlets around Klang Valley, including in Petaling Jaya, Puchong, and Shah Alam. Depending on which branch you head to, you might find a full-blown or slightly pared-down menu.
But one thing’s for certain wherever you’re at, you can always find their star dish to order: egg fried rice.
Most patrons flock to their branch and headquarters at Subang Square. But if you’re not bothered by the buzz of hungry office workers and the idea of wolfing down food in bare-bone shops-turned-dining-spaces, then head to their vibey Wisma Cosway outlet.
It’s located a short walking distance from KL’s prominent shopping street, Bukit Bintang, and opens till 3am to satisfy those random late-night cravings. It’s one of the few places in the area where you can find hearty food for under RM10.
To be precise, their classic Egg Fried Rice & Egg is priced at just RM7 – that’s even cheaper than a latte from a coffee shop chain.
With the quick table turnaround, their Wisma Cosway outlet operates in a self-service manner. Place an order at their main shop at the end of a corridor on the building’s 2nd floor, then snag a seat and wait.
The maze of corridors and multitude of shops that function as “dining” areas might seem confusing at first, but the sharp-eyed waiters will have no trouble finding you at your table.
Food at Uncle Soon Fried Rice
Ask most Asians what makes a good egg fried rice, and they’ll likely say it’s all about wok hei – which roughly translates into English as the “breath of the wok”. Not an ingredient, it’s the magical result of ingredients tossed about in a wok seasoned with oil and heated to inferno levels. In Uncle Soon’s case, leftover rice cooked over a gas jet.
Your order of egg fried rice from Uncle Soon will largely depend on the toppings you want included. Each plate already comes topped with a runny fried egg in addition to the generous bits of egg in the mound of rice. But if you want extras such as prawns and char siew, you’ll have to fork out RM10 per plate.
These additions don’t necessarily make or break the star dish, as the fried rice stands out on its own. Each individual grain of fluffy rice has a punch of umami and satisfying kissed-by-flames flavour. There are no distractions on the plate either – just oily flavour-packed rice with a smattering of eggs and smidges of leafy greens.
For even more flavour, pair a spoonful of rice with a puddle of sambal belacan that’s served on the side. The face-scrunching sourness from the sambal mainly acts to add another layer of flavour to the rice – it isn’t overly or distractingly spicy.
Klang Valley’s popular fried rice joint, Uncle Soon
Sometimes, it’s simple things that are hard to do well. With Uncle Soon, it’s easy to see why the restaurant has become a favourite food haunt among locals. They just have egg fried rice as a main on their menu, but each plate is done so well that the stall consistently draws a crowd and warrants a second – and maybe even a third and fourth – visit.
Subang Square outlet
Address: Subang Square Shopping Mall, SS15, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 10.30am-8.30pm, Daily
Wisma Cosway outlet
Address: Lot 1.26, 1st Floor, Cosway Guesthouse, 88, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10.30am-3am | Sun 10.30am-8pm
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Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia