Food: Ding Bian Hu & Chao Zhu Mian
Location: Chop Hing Huong, Butterflies Garden, Blacksmith Road.

Chop Hing Huong has been serving old school Foochow food in this back alley tiny cafe for as long as I can remember. This is the birthplace of Ding Bian Hu in Sibu, even possibly the whole of Sarawak. This is where I had my first Ding Bian Hu when I was very young. This is my memory lane.

I returned tonight to do a review. I felt proud. As you could see, it’s personal.

I came with my brother and sister-in-law. We ordered Special Ding Bian Hu (RM 2.60) and Chao Zhu Mian (RM 2.70). As I was taking some pictures of the cafe, looking through the digital viewfinders, I thought as if this place was suspended by time itself. The Hing Huong Cafe looked exactly how I remembered it in my childhood memory.

And so was the Ding Bian Hu. I stared at the bowl placed before me. The Ding Bian Hu looked and smelled the same. When I stirred with the spoon, the subtle motion of the Ding Bian Hu relaxed me. And after I had tasted it, that moment was a bit sentimental. It reminded me of my childhood. Again.

The cuttle fish was crunchy, the fishballs were flavorful, the “Hu” (rice paste) was smooth with good consistency and the broth was comfortingly good, perfectly seasoned, light and delicious. I never ordered any drinks whenever I eat here because it is simply unnecessary. And so was tonight.

The Chao Zhu Mian again was really good. The noodle used had a light crunch on it. The soup was thick and flavorful. Again, the homemade fishballs were quite exquisite.

What I really like about Chop Hing Huong is that they don’t expand their business with setting up branches or offering ambitious list of new menus etc. But instead, they keep doing what they do all these years, and they do it exceptionally well.

If someone lies to me now that Chop Hing Huong’s Ding Bian Hu and Chao Zhu Mian are the best in the world, I would self-ignorantly choose to believe it.

Ding Bian Hu and Chao Zhu Mian get 3 1/2 Stars.

Coffee Shop

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