Singapore may have the UNESCO title (hawker culture was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020), but Malaysian food courts are no less vibrant and historic – acting not just as places where one can get affordable and tasty food, but also community hubs where people from all walks of life mingle and socialise. 

One such spot in Petaling Jaya is the PJ Old Town Food Court. Located close to the PJ Old Town Wet Market, the food court was established in 1960, making it older than modern Malaysia. 

The space is no frills, with simple plastic tables and chairs – the kind that you have to clamber over, since they’re welded in place. The rectangular layout features an open air space in the middle housing the drinks station, and the food court itself is neatly divided into sections selling Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisine. It is common to see all races here eating together – now that’s the spirit of muhibbah!

Top Picks

There are dozens of stalls here offering a variety of offerings to choose from. Lunch is busy as there are many office workers in the area, but some stalls open for dinner as well. I have yet to try all of the shops, but here are my some of my favourites:

YONG TAU FOO AND FRIED CHICKEN FROM GERAI SEONG KEE

For tasty Hakka Yong Tau Foo (assorted items stuffed with fish paste), you can’t go wrong with Gerai Seong Kee, one of the stalwarts at the PJ Old Town Food Court. Grab a chit from the stall and tick the items you want.

Customary orders include the fried foochok, taufoopok (beancurd), and sui gao (fried dumpling). You can also have them in a clear soup, in addition to items like stuffed brinjal, chilli, and okra. The fish paste has a nice, bouncy texture and good flavour. All items come served with chilli and sweet dipping sauces.

Aside from yong tau foo, another must order is the fried chicken wings. Crunchy and golden, the skin is salty and umami with ah int of curry powder, while the insides are piping hot, tender, and juicy. Despite eating several pieces, I did not feel like it was greasy at all. We easily polished off the 12 mini wings without feeling like we’d throw up: the mark of awesome chicken wings. There is a minimum order of two pieces per order.

The stall serves other Hakka dishes as well such as char yoke (deep fried pork belly marinated in fermented beancurd paste) and pig’s trotters braised in vinegar.

*Gerai Seong Kee is closed on Tuesdays.

SATAY FROM GERAI SATAY CINA THOO YUEN

This stall is located just next to the Yong Tau Foo and is manned by an elderly husband and wife. Besides the conventional chicken and mutton, they also serve pork satay, which is rarer to see. Unfortunately it was not available during our visit.

Uncle grilled our orders over a small charcoal fire, giving it a lovely char and smokey taste. The portions are rather small, but they make for perfect bite-sizd snacks. While the chicken wasn’t that great, the mutton was done superbly, with a slightly chewy texture and just the slightest hint of gaminess, with a good balance of lean and fat.

*Gerai Satay Cina Thoo Yuen is only open Fridays to Sundays, from 11AM – 5PM.

CENDOL FROM KEDAI MINIMUM WENG KEE / AUNTIE PEGGY’S ICE KACANG & CENDOL

Weng Kee and Auntie Peggy’s are legendary stalls here – just look them up on the net and you’ll find tonnes of positive reviews and nostalgic reminisces. Operating since 1961, they are famous for cendol and Air Batu Campur (ABC). The perfect sweet ending to compliment your main meal.

Unlike places where they serve the dessert in a bowl, the cendol comes in a tall glass, with the pandan-flavoured jelly and red bean forming the base before it is topped with a mountain of shaved ice and drenched in palm sugar and condensed milk.

You might think it would be difficult to eat, but it isn’t. Once the ice melts it morphs into a cool and refreshing drink that you can sip up through the wide straw. It’s not cloyingly sweet and boasts a nice mix of textures and nuanced flavours: you get the rich and thick caramel taste from the palm sugar, the light creaminess from the condensed milk, as well as the dense bite from the red bean and chewiness from the cendol.

*Weng Kee / Auntie Peggy’s is closed on Mondays. Stall hours are from 8AM – 4PM.

PJ OLD TOWN FOOD COURT (MEDAN SELERA PJ OLD TOWN)

Jalan Othman, Pj Old Town, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Opening hours: 7AM – 11PM