One curry puff is a snack, two make a meal. Ewe Paik Leong goes in search of the best curry puffs in the Klang Valley
SS2 GORENG PISANG, JALAN SS 2/64, PJ
This is a mobile cart parked beside the road, and its owner also operates a kiosk in Sunway Putra Mall. On offer are fried yam, spring roll, fish ball, tapioca ball, sweet potato, prawn fritters, steamed tapioca, kuih kasturi, keropok ikan, banana popcorn, banana fritter and curry puffs. The spiral crescent-shaped pastry shell of its curry puff has a nice crunch to it and complements the generous robust and heavy filling. Rating: 5/5
SIMPLY CURRY PUFF, JALAN PETALING, KL
Located beside Tang City Food Court, this stall sells curry puffs, sardine puffs, and non-spicy chicken puffs. Its curry puff is stuffed with chicken, potatoes and onions. Wowie zowie! It’s love at first bite! The filling in the curry puff is redolent of dry curry chicken brimming with the flavours of mustard seed, cumin and coriander. The fairly thin crispy crust and flavourful fillingis an exciting combo. Deeeelicious! Rating: 4.5/5
AMBANK CURRY PUFF, 4TH MILE, JALAN KELANG LAMA, KL
This unnamed stall has earned this moniker because of its location outside a bank and operates only from 3pm to 6pm. It sells curry puffs and sesame balls. What strikes me when I set eyes on the pile of curry puffs is the lack of consistency in shapes, a neglect to presentation. My first bite of a curry puff reveals that it is packed with curried mashed potato. However, the dull of the crust does not do justice to the spicy fillings. Rating: 3/5
IKEA CURRY PUFF, IKEA, JALAN PJU 7/2, PJ
This kiosk is tucked within a difficult-to-locate corner in the home of the furnishings giant. Apart from curry puffs, there’re also hot dogs, ice-cream and other snacks. While chewing on a curry puff, I wonder why it’s different from the others? Aha! Very likely it’s baked, not fried. The smooth texture of the fillings against the soft, thin pastry gives a pleasant feel in your mouth, and the delicate curry flavour of the potato is nice, but not compelling. Rating: 4.5/5
BRICKFIELDS PISANG GORENG, JALAN TUN SAMBANTHAN 4, KL
Pisang raja, sesame balls, kuih bakul and curry puffs are sold at this roadside stall. Its pisang raja is the crowd-puller and its curry puff is just above average. Though the spiral pastry of the curry puff is crispy, the diced potato fillings produce only a lethargic kick as the proportion of spices is not the best. Some vital ingredient seems missing. Rating: 3/5
OLD CHANG KEE, LG. 1 UTAMA SHOPPING CENTRE, PJ
This take-away store hails from Singapore and sells potato puffs, sardine puffs, spicy puffs and curry puffs. When my teeth sinks into a curry puff, its golden brown crust crumbles easily, with flakes dropping off. Revealed are still-warm curried potato pieces which have a lighter, more subdued spicy aroma compared to others on this list. Small pieces of firm chicken provide a change of texture from the soft potatoes, while part of a hard-boiled egg gives the ensemble a new twist in flavour. Rating: 4.5
GERAI MAKANAN GORENG, JALAN 21/11B, PJ
Housed in a hawker centre, this stall sells an array of snacks that can leave you with decision paralysis! It’s well known for its prawn fritters, fried bean curd, fried popiah, banana fritters, kuih bakul, yam, etc. The thick spiral crust of the stall’s curry puff is a triumph in crunchiness, but much reuse of the cooking oil has imparted a dull flavour to it. The quantity of potato fillings is also too little for my picky palate. Rating: 3/5
KAMPUNG KRAVERS, LG, SUNWAY PUTRA MALL, KL
Kampung Kravers has outlets in Sunway Putra Mall, Empire Shopping Gallery, Nu Sentral and Atria. It proves it’s the master of innovation with its varieties of puffs: chicken, lamb, sardine, chilli tuna, sweet potato, apple custard, durian and chempedak. And they’re available as Regular size or XL. I try the chempedak puff and chicken puff. The flavours of the chempedak puff are both familiar and unfamiliar as the mashed fruit tangos with the thin crust like an odd couple. But I like it! Ditto for the curry puff. Rating: 4/5
UNCLE LIM’S CAFÉ, LG, IKANO POWER CENTRE, PJ
This kopitiam-style café is noted for its local fare such otak-otak, nasi lemak, roti bakar, assam laksa and kwey teow soup. Recently, it added curry puff and ayam garing with chips to its menu. I am disappointed that while the café’s website shows photos of curry puffs that are densely packed, those that are served to me are one-quarter hollow! Luckily, the fresh and lively taste of the fillings manages to secure the café a spot on this list. Rating: 3/5
Makcik Ina Karipap, Jalan Pandan Laman, Kg. Pandan Dalam, KL
Makcik Ina operates from the front porch of her house which sees a queue most of the time. Apart from selling freshly fried potato puff, sardine puff and beef puff, she also offers an assortment of kuih-muih such kuih bingka ubi, kuih ketayap, kuih lapis, kuih kodok and many more. When I devour her petite potato puff, I realize that its crust is thinner than usual and the soft curry-flavoured fillings exude surprising depth of flavour. Rating: 4/5