Confession: I ate far too much popcorn. After a movie at Mid Valley Southkey, I wanted a light dinner. Something hot. Something soupy. We wandered past Sin Man Kee Char Chan Teng (新民记香港茶餐厅), flipped through the menu and spotted beef brisket noodles. Sold. Or so I thought.
What to Expect at Sin Man Kee Char Chan Teng
This is a classic HK-style diner with a hybrid menu. It mixes local, Cantonese and Western dishes under one roof. You’ll find:
- Beef noodles and Cantonese porridge
- Cheese-baked rice, fried rice and HK curry
- Hainanese chicken rice and chicken chop
- French toast and egg tarts
The interior leans hard into retro Hong Kong vibes. It looks the part. Sadly, the food tells a different story.
What We Ordered at Sin Man Kee Char Chan Teng
Beef Brisket & Beef Tendon Noodles (RM25)
You pick your carb: rice, hor fun, bee hoon or HK duck egg wantan mee (+RM2). I went with bee hoon.
One sip of the soup and I shook my head. The broth looks dark and promising. Don’t let it fool you. It lacks richness and flavour.
- Tendon: Soft, gelatinous bite. Not bad at all.
- Brisket: Tender and shreddable. Generous portion too.
- Soup: The big letdown. It drags the whole bowl down.
Signature Tofu Roasted Pork Rice (RM18)
Chunks of roasted pork belly and fried tofu sit in a dark brown oyster sauce gravy. The gravy turns the crackling soggy.
Taste-wise, it’s okay. At least it packs more flavour than the noodle soup. Hubby rates it average. He reckons plenty of tze char stalls do it better.
HK Style French Toast (RM12)
This one turned up as we finished our mains. I’d almost forgotten about it. I nearly asked the staff to cancel. Since it arrived, we tucked in anyway.
I had high hopes. The noodles and rice let me down, so I wanted a sweet ending. I’ve never had a bad French toast at a char chan teng. Until now.
Every bite oozed oil. I gave up after two bites.
Good to Know Before You Go
- Prices: All prices exclude SST and service charge.
- Timing: Side orders may lag. Chase them up early if you want them with your mains.
- Location: Handy if you’re catching a movie at Mid Valley Southkey.
The Verdict on Sin Man Kee Char Chan Teng
We left unimpressed. Honestly, this was probably the worst meal of our JB trip. The decor charms and the beef portions impress, but the flavours fall flat. The French toast sealed the deal.
Would I return? No. Plenty of better HK-style spots in JB deserve your ringgit.
