We’ve been indulging in way too many rich and hearty meals while in Malaysia, so when we stumbled upon Ke Ren Lai at Mid Valley Southkey, we decided to give it a try for dinner.
Ke Ren Lai specialises in Hakka cuisine, which we don’t see much of back in Singapore. We were pretty excited to see what they had to offer. They also have branches in Taman Pelangi and Sutera Mall.
A Healthy Meal Choice
As we were browsing the menu, I told my husband that this was going to be the healthiest meal we’ve had all week, haha. And that’s exactly what we were looking for.
Here’s what we ordered:
Lei Cha with Brown Rice
This thunder tea rice had a great crunch factor with lots of vegetables and toppings. The veggies were nicely cooked, providing a refreshing crunch with every bite.
While some people prefer to drink the lei cha soup separately, I personally enjoy mixing the soup with the rice and ingredients. The tea soup was a bit bland compared to the usual lei cha I get from Leipopo, but it was probably better for being lower in sodium, making it a light, healthy meal.
Hot & Spicy Pork Belly Set
For this set, you can choose one side dish from five options: Yuzu Sesame Dressing Salad, Vegetables with Oyster Sauce, Fried Minced Meat Tofu, Century Egg Cold Tofu, and Sweet Potato Fries. You also get to pick between white rice or brown rice.
We went with the minced meat tofu as our side. The tofu had a savoury sauce that paired really well with the rice, though it would have been perfect with a bit more sauce.
The pork belly was cooked in dark soy sauce with dried chilies, and it was really flavourful too.
Handmade Yam Abacus
The yam balls in this were slightly springy with a nice texture. It also had sliced tau kwa (firm tofu), mushroom and minced meat. Nicely seasoned, really tasty and satisfying.
Total Bill
The total bill, including 2 x ice water (RM0.80 each), came to RM63 (S$18.10) after taxes.
Packed and Popular
Shortly after we got there, the place started filling up and was soon packed. Not surprising, since their dishes are pretty wholesome and homely. They have a good variety of set meals to choose from too. If you’re tired of nasi lemak, curry noodles, and similar dishes at Nanyang kopitiams, Ke Ren Lai is a great alternative to refresh your tastebuds.