Rou Gu Cha King – Sometimes original is better

Rou Gu Cha (肉骨茶), or also known as Bak Kut Teh in Hokkien should not be a stranger for local Chinese. Once a local Chinese newspaper even conducted a tour to find out the best Rou Gu Cha in Malaysia. Today, we are going to visit a commercialized Bak Kut Teh shop in New World Park, Penang – Rou Gu Cha King.

Rou Gu Cha King Restaurant

Tea pot set

Abalone Bak Kut Teh... Menu

The interior is nicely decorated. There are tea pot set next to some tables in which you can order some nice Chinese tea and make it on your own. I am not reaching that level yet so I just let the tea pot watches me eating. One thing I must compliment is that their menu is quite informative, which not only show the title and price, but also the ingredients used for the meal in both Chinese and English. I learned some ingredients’ name in English during the visit. The most expensive meal in the menu is Abalone Rou Gu Cha, which costs RM138 for 4 persons.

红酒肉骨茶 Australian Red Win - Pork

清香豆芽 Seasonal Bean Sprouts

龟苓膏 Herbal Jelly

There are set meals as well which come with rice, Chinese tea, Chinese cruller (油条), seasonal bean sprouts, and herbal jelly. The original Rou Gu Cha (RM10.90++ set) tastes good and the host will refill the soup for you. The red wine Rou Gu Cha (RM12.90++ set), unfortunately, does not allow you to do so and it does not come with Chinese cruller. Anyhow, it is just an original Rou Gu Cha topped with a little red wine. It is better to bring your whole bottle of red wine, order an original Rou Gu Cha, and mix it at your own pleasure. There is even a “vegetarian” Rou Gu Cha but I wonder which veggie will go to this kind of shop looking for vegetarian.

:easy:

Other than the traditional Rou Gu Cha with rice, the restaurant also provides Rou Gu Cha Mian (RM9.90++ set), which is a “dried” version of Rou Gu Cha served with noodle. LORD! It is salty! It is like eating sand and I hope I have some hot water to make it as a less-salty soup version.

猪脚醋 Vinegar Pig Leg

Ginger Duck 美味老姜鸭

Garlic Scallop 蒜带子贝

The restaurant offers many other dishes as well, including Vinegar Pig Leg (Tu Kar Chor) (RM9.90++), Ginger Duck (RM9.90++), Garlic Scallop (RM6.90++), and so on. Ginger duck is again at salty side.

The restaurant is originally from Shanghai and there is another branch opening at Gurney Plaza.

As a whole, with so many items in the menu, the shop worths some visits but it is better to stick with the original Rou Gu Cha if you are Bak Kut Teh lover.

You can download the broucher from here: