Best Places To Eat In OUG (Overseas Union Garden)

The dilapidated decor doesn't stop Sun Sea's regulars from turning up every morning. Since the space spans two lots and spills over to tables and chairs outdoors, you should have no trouble finding a place to park your breakfast club. Good things come to those who wait and here, it is the Penang Curry Mee (RM5.50) from the Kuantan Road stall you must wait patiently for. The broth has a runny consistency, yet lacks no oomph thanks to a good amount of coconut milk added. For fuller flavours, make sure you sink in the entire spoonful of belacan chilli paste. The dish also comes chock-full of tofu pok, coagulated pork blood, prawns, cockles, squid and beansprouts. Burppler Belinda Tay also recommends ordering the hawker centre's extra 'kao' (strong) drinks to fuel you through the morning.
Avg price per person: RM10
Photo by Burppler Belinda Tay

Come dinnertime at 7pm, a table at this zinc-roofed restaurant is one of Happy Garden's most coveted commodities. What draws the many families here to Mun Kee is their superb steamed fish head dishes that boast value for money. Once seated after a short wait, order the Soy Ginger Chilli Steamed Fish Head (from RM28). The fleshy fish head offers succulent meat steeped in bubbling soy gravy while the topping of fermented black beans adds a zingy saltish surprise to the recipe. Also delicious is the Sweet & Sour Pork (RM18), toothsome deep-fried meatballs glazed in our childhood favourite sauce. If it's available, get the Stir-Fried Green Dragon Vegetables (RM14) to fill up the quota for greens. These locally-sourced chives are known for its summer-suited cooling properties, and are tasty too!
Avg price per person: RM15

Make a beeline for OUG's favourite teatime snack! Run by an elderly couple, this foodcart that embellishes Jalan Hujan Rahmat 5 every afternoon doles out delicious Fried Nian Gao (RM1.30) and Sweet Potato (RM1), in addition to their indulgent Fried Bananas (RM1). What makes their pisang goreng a prized piece is their generous use of whole bananas — dipped into batter and then deep fried. The result is crunchy decadence, oozing with sweet banana flesh. Weekend afternoons will warrant a wait, but it also means you'll be one of the lucky few to get your orders fresh off the wok. The streetside stalwart closes promptly at 4pm daily, after which the peddler who sells Yau Char Kwai (from RM0.80) takes up the space instead. Either way, there will be a deep-fried delight here for you.
Avg price per person: RM5

Open only at night, the menu at Hong Cha sees unusual offerings of Tempura (from RM10) and Sushi (from RM3) alongside their mainstay of pork noodles. To order, hail one of the staffs carrying iPads or get the Hong Cha app on your phone — a remarkable step into the digital age, thanks to the owners' tech-savvy son. Their version of Traditional Pork Noodles (from RM6.50) may pale in comparison to some of its older competitors in KL, but their Hong Cha Kun Pork Noodles (RM5.50) changes the game. The balanced dish of pork and seafood noodles is deliciously meaty with a subtle sweetness that comes from seafood. Make this a family outing, and order the Chicken Floss Nigiri (RM7), a fun, locally-inspired sushi to keep the kids happy! In the day, catch the same chef at Sun Sea where he dishes out the same bowls for a slightly lower price.
Avg price per person: RM10
Photo by Burppler Cham Lk

Ming Kee's rickety setup is not for everyone. But if you can bear with the environment (or make it a takeout) for an excellent dinner with a friend or two, this is your cue. Fellow diners will testify that the Hokkien Mee (from RM8) is a must-have. The uncle wielding the wok spatula is not afraid to let you wait, if it means dishing out every order with precise quality. His conscientiousness pays off in the form of gorgeous Hokkien mee, slicked in a shiny, dark sauce and teeming with crunchy pork lard. The charcoal-fried dish surpasses its counterparts with an impressive flavour profile — rich and flavoursome with a slightly smoky finish. Coming from the same flavour-sodden wok is the Fried Rice (from RM7) that's also worth ordering if you fancy yourself a nice and simple rice dinner, bolstered with wok hei!
Avg price per person: RM10

Contrary to popular belief, Steven's Corner has more to offer than their chart-topping Cheese Naan (RM8). The cosy mamak well-equipped with mist fans, Wifi and live-football television also garners a top spot in the neighbourhood for its good food all around. For a casual night out with friends, this won't disappoint. The Mee Goreng (from RM4.30) with Ayam Goreng (from RM4) is a winsome combo of fragrant fried noodles and juicy, well-marinated fried chicken. That same delicious marination goes into their Burung Puyuh (deep-fried quail, RM4.80) — though the smaller bird typically yields tougher flesh, it can be delightful when cooked well. For a supper that intrigues, ask for the secret menu of Steven's Mee Kari Konlo (from RM6.80). The dry Maggi noodles are doused in your choice of chicken or mutton curry, topped with a soft-boiled egg. And the final touch, a bubbly glass of warm Teh Tarik (RM1.60).
Avg price per person: RM10

Housed in a shop tell-tale of its decade-old age in business, Ah Loy makes a comfort-giving spot to hit up, especially on rainy days. Order the Curry Mee (RM6.50) and if it's your first time here, make sure to go all out and swap the chicken out for the tasty pork ribs! Famed for their thick, flavour-heavy broth, these are not just delicious, but also packed with cockles, beansprouts and green beans. Customisation is the allure here, with options to mix and match curry gravy with various noodles and toppings. The Curry Fish Head Noodles (RM9) is quite a whopper to fill tummies, while a morning-only Fried Mee Hoon (RM2) comes doused in curry gravy. If you're here early in the day, look out for their underrated Roast Pork (RM4) that's ideal with everything.
Avg price per person: RM10
Photo by Burppler Rueann D

Every morning, this oldtime neighbourhood swarms with market-goers who surely end their routine with breakfast at New Sun Ho. Seats are laid out end to end along the street, and yet you might have to wait a few minutes before one opens up — thankfully, the morning sun is forgiving. Our favourite orders here include a big warm bowl of Loh Mee (RM6.90), yellow noodles in a thick, fragrant gravy as well as the rare encounter of a good Roti Canai (RM1.50) in a hawker centre. The ultimate meal here involves heading next door to Top Catch Fisheries for Salmon Sashimi (RM27) packed to go — the fresh catch goes supremely with an order of peppery Pig Organ Soup (RM7) served with white rice. For drinks, don't miss their bittersweet Kopi (RM2.20) that is sure to awaken senses.
Avg price per person: RM10
Photo by Burppler Mik Ki

Here's one of Peel Road Yang Kee's best-faring outposts. The OUG store opens early at 8.30am and closes right before dinner at 7pm, which makes lunch their busiest time of day. Tables are to be shared when necessary, but it won't be much of a bother when you're taken in by the Beef Noodles (from RM7). The dry version is their specialty, topped with the minced meat sauce and some vegetables. For sides, go for the tender beef slices, beef balls or the crunchy tripe that's particularly popular with the regulars. The small bowl of beef stock soup can come across a tad too salty, so use it only for ladling over noodles — it helps the loosen up the sauce for thorough mixing! For wilder diners, their red hot chilli sauce will add a nice, sweat-inducing kick to the meal.
Avg price per person: RM10
Photo by Burppler Trisha Toh

Hoi Sum is one of the quieter hawker restaurants in OUG, which also grants it the most comfortable in terms of space and cleanliness. While a little less popular, the foodstalls here can certainly hold their own with loyal followers. Take the wanton noodles stall, for instance. The friendly uncle and aunty are part of the Meng Kee (of char siew fame) lineage, and it is that irresistibly smoky barbecued pork that comes with every plate of Wanton Noodles (RM6). The noodles itself are formidable for its egg-fragrant quality, plus points for their scrumptious dark soy sauce concoction. Keep an eye out for the other roast meat stall that offers a delicious Salted Roast Duck — perfect for takeaways for home enjoyment.
Avg price per person: RM10