Claypot Yu Tao Mai@Jalan Tiong Nam

I have heard of this place in Jalan Tiong Nam KL serves good claypot fish head noodle long time ago but just didn't have the chance to try them out until last weekend.The traffic was smooth on Sunday morning and it didn't take long, less than half an hour for us to reach there. Once stepping into restaurant, I was immediately felt like being toasted in the oven. It was so damn hot even though it was only 10:30 in the morning. Thanks to their zinc makeshift roof! We ordered a pot of their famous claypot fish head noodle for 3 persons and a pot of bak kut teh for 2. The fish head noodle arrived shortly and it was still bubbling hot when served. The noodle came with a few pieces of deep fried bite-sized fish (head parts), yam, fish ball, "fu chok"(fried bean curd skin), "lala"(clam) and tofu. I don't know what type of fish they were using and I personally found that the fish was a bit soggy to my liking. The soup was lack of the "hua tiou chiew"(Chinese wine) flavor and I don't remember if they even put "ham choy" (preserved salted veggie) in it. To me, the taste was bland and I personally felt it was just lack of the much desired "kick" for a fish head noodle.

I know a place in Kuchai Lama serves a better claypot fish head noodle than this one. It will definitely give you a much needed "kick"...and I will blog about it if I can find the right time to re-visit the place again.

The only plus point is they used the thick beehoon (vermicelli) where it was very "Q"( elastic & chewy) and not easily become soggy when it was soaked longer in the soup.
For their Bak Kut Teh, you can avoid it. Just stick to the Ah Sang's one. The total bill came to RM 40.00 inclusive of drinks for 5 adults. It is no harm to give them a try if you are around that area. To avoid a 3rd degree burn, you may go there before the sun rises. Location map.

Yu Thao Mai - 鱼头米

Woo Pin Yu Thao Mai-鱼头米 which is based in Cheras is quite popular among the avid foodies of fish head noodle in Klang Valley. They also have another branch in Taman Desa. But I still go back to their main branch for the original 鱼头米.This bowl of 'bee hoon' (rice vermicelli) is huge with 3 large pieces of deep-fried 'Soong' fish ( A type of fresh water fish). They do have the poached version of fish if you don't particularly like the deep-fried version. Evaporated milk is used to cook the broth so it's a bit milky but don't worry if you prefer the plain one. They do serve without milk one. Anyway, the evaporated milk will make the broth to have more... oomph flavor! Never the less plenty of 'kiam chai' (salted veges.) and the Hua Tiao Chiew( Chinese wine ) really give it a kick!.
To squeeze a piece of lime into the 'sambal' to go with the fish is heavenly!
I asked to be given only the 'meaty' fish as I don't really know how to appreciate the head's parts. So they gave me 3 large pieces of fish. This bowl of 鱼头米 priced RM 7.50. Actually the basic one is just RM 6.50 but I ordered a 'keh liao' (additional) one. 3 pieces of fish pastes for RM1.00. The fish paste is made of mackerel fish. The texture is a bit harder than the normal fish ball. Worth it!
The evaporated milk and 'hua tiao chiew' are the main ingredients.

By the time I finished that bowl of 'yu thao mai', my underwear was already soaked in sweat. I guess it must be the ginger, or maybe the 'sambal' and the scorching sun did the trick. Remember to wear light!
The Woo Pin Fish Head Noodle is located under this 4 storey flat, in Jalan Ikan Emas, Cheras. They close on Thursday. Lunch time is crowded. Location map.