Today, I revisited the Food Place food court, located at Pavilion Mall. The food court is located beside the Oriental Kopi Restaurant. It is time to try another stall.
This time, I ordered Hakka Mee from the Yi Poh stall for RM13.90 per bowl. The dish features a generous assortment of seafood stir-fried in a savoury Chinese-style sauce and served with a bowl of steamed white rice.
The bowl consists of Springy egg noodles, minced pork, Char siu (barbecued pork), Fresh chopped spring onions and a bowl of peppery pork broth garnished with coriander and spring onions, served separately to cleanse the palate between bites.
Unlike many dry noodle dishes, Hakka Mee is intentionally light. The sauce coats the noodles without drowning them, allowing the natural wheat flavor and chewy texture to stand out.
Hakka Mee traces its roots to the Hakka people, whose name literally means "guest people." They are Han Chinese who migrated repeatedly throughout Chinese history before many eventually settled in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. Their cuisine is known for being hearty, practical, and making the most of simple ingredients.
The noodle dish is believed to descend from Dabu (Tai Pu) noodles from Dabu County, Guangdong, one of the cultural heartlands of the Hakka people. As Hakka immigrants arrived in Malaya during the 19th and early 20th centuries, they adapted the recipe using locally available ingredients.
Over time, Malaysian Hakka Mee developed its own identity:
- Kuala Lumpur and Pudu became famous for old-style Hakka Mee topped with minced pork and char siu.
- Ipoh versions are generally lighter in seasoning, emphasizing the texture of fresh egg noodles and fragrant pork.
- Some regions add mushrooms, pickled vegetables, or fried shallots, but the core combination of noodles, minced pork, and char siu remains the hallmark of the dish.
Overall, Hakka Mee is one of Malaysia's iconic Chinese noodle dishes. It showcases the Hakka philosophy of turning humble ingredients into a satisfying meal, and despite its simplicity, it remains a favorite comfort food throughout the country.
