Adrian ChewWhile not as famous as the likes of Penang and Ipoh, the sleepy town of Bentong is slowly gaining a reputation as one of Malaysia’s food destinations. It’s already famous amongst locals for its durians, soy sauce, ginger and smelly tofu, but if you look beyond that and embark on a food hunt, you’ll find so much more – from delicious satay, porridge and rojak to apam balik.
Intrigued? Here are some of the must-try foods in Bentong and where you can find them:
1. Rubber tap noodles at Shu Shi Fen
Image credit: Go Bentong Facebook Page
In the 1960s and 1970s, there were many rubber tappers in the country who typically indulged in a piping hot bowl of noodles before they begin their work. Because of that, the noodles served by this particular stall has been nicknamed by locals as “rubber tap noodles” even though it’s officially known as Shu Shi Noodles. In this stall, you can select the side dishes from what’s on offer and pair it up with your noodles.
Address: Jalan Pasar, Pahang
Opening Hours: 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday
2. Satay at Satay Warisan Pak Chu
Image credit: Satay Warisan Pak Chu Bentong Facebook Page
Opened in 1993, Satay Warisan Pak Chu is considered to be the best satay stall in the whole of Bentong. Various spices are used to prepare the gravy for the chicken, beef and lamb satay. The sticks of meat are then grilled over charcoal fire, filling the vicinity with a tempting aroma. Once it’s ready, dip the satay into the peanut sauce and enjoy your meal. Take note that satay is usually sold at night, and you can hardly find it during the daytime.
Address: Kampung Baru Bentong Town, Pahang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 5.30pm to 11pm, Monday to Sunday
3. Homemade ice cream at Kow Po Ice Cream House
Image credit: Go Bentong Facebook Official Page
Rated as one of the top coffee shops in Bentong town, Kow Po Ice Cream House is a favourite spot among locals and tourists from near and far. The main draw is the homemade ice cream, which can be topped with cendol, red beans, fruit cocktails and refreshing pink syrup. Popular ice cream flavours include chocolate, coffee, coconut and peanut butter.
Address: No. 2, Bentong Heights
Opening Hours: 10.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Sunday
4. Pastries at BE Station Cafe
Image credit: BE Restaurant Facebook Page
BE Restaurant sells a range of pastries, including the all-time favourite char siew pau which is filled with grilled pork. Char siew pau originates from Seremban and the ones found in this restaurant are bigger than the average size. Other than char siew pau, you can find char-grilled bread, pumpkin buns, blueberry cheese tarts, salted egg yam puff and more. Wash it down with a cup of fruit juice. If you need something heavier, go for a bowl of Asam laksa.
Address: GF 15, Jalan Chui Yin
Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday
5. Porridge at the stall along Jalan Chui Yin
Image credit: Go Bentong Facebook Page
Porridge is commonly found in Malaysia and it is consumed not just by those who are feeling unwell. While porridge might not fill you up for hours, it makes a delicious meal and is considered a comfort food for many Malaysians. This particular shop has been serving locals for more than 40 years. Choose the ingredients for your personalised porridge and the shop owner will prepare it for you. Aside from the usuals like shredded chicken or mixed pork, you can also opt to have some fried mee hoon or peanuts inside. Don’t forget to top that off with garnishings of fried onion.
Address: 88, Jalan Chui Yin
Opening Hours: 7am to 1pm, Tuesday to Sunday
6. Rojak at the stall along Jalan Chui Yin
Image credit: Go Bentong Facebook Page
Another local delicacy to sample is rojak. It is normally found in nasi kandar restaurants or by the roadside, but you should check out a particular rojak stall which is also located along Jalan Chui Yin. This stall has been around for nearly 20 years. The owner prepares her own prawn paste and uses fresh ingredients to whip up a plate of mouth-watering rojak. Aside from having rojak, you can also buy puddings and prawn crackers here.
Address: 61, Jalan Chui Yin
Opening Hours: 7am to 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday
7. Beancurd products at Bentong Tau Fu Sdn Bhd
Image credit: Bentong Tau Fu Sdn Bhd Facebook Page
Crazy about tofu and soya bean? There is the one place you should go. While still new, this shop which also functions as a mini-factory is usually packed with customers. They produce tofu puff, boiled soya beans, bean curd, as well as tau foo faa (soybean pudding).
Address: 85, Jalan Chui Yin
Opening Hours: 7am to 5pm, Thursday to Tuesday
8. Burgers at Deen Burger Bakar
Image credit: Deen Burger Bakar Bentong Facebook Page
A burger joint like no other, Deen Burger Bakar is where you can watch the staff prepare your burger in front of you. The burgers come with interesting names, such as Black Cacylon, UFO and Double Trouble. The patties are all homemade, and depending on your order, they might be drizzled with mayonnaise and chilli sauce. A sinful meal but totally scrumptious! Take note that this burger stall is located in a food court.
Address: Kedai No 14, Medan Selera Bentong Town
Opening Hours: 6pm to 11.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday; 6pm to 12am, Friday and Saturday
9. Steamed fish at Restoran 126
Image credit: Restoran 126 Facebook Page
Restoran 126 is the place in Bentong for seafood lovers. The main speciality here is river fish which are caught from the Pahang River. Among the steamed fish selections are jelawat fish, patin fish, and red tail tiger fish. Pair your dish with stir-fry kai lan, Chinese cabbage or egg tofu. If you prefer prawns, do try the sang har mee (freshwater prawn noodles).
Address: Lot 10498 Kampung Bukit Tinggi
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday
10. Apam Balik at Kampung Perting Apam Balik
Image credit: Go Bentong Facebook Page
The apam balik at this mobile stall in Kampung Perting is worth queueing up for. Apam balik is basically a type of pancake with peanuts and smashed sugar inside. They are either thick and chewy or thin and crispy. The ones served here are pure perfection, with the aroma of butter calling out to customers. This place is open only on weekends; ask locals if you cannot spot the stall.
Address: Jalan Chan Sang, Kampung Perting
Opening Hours: 8.30am to 11am, Saturday and Sunday
In between the feasting, fill your time by checking out some of Bentong’s best attractions.
