If you have a hankering for Taiwanese noodles served in a comfortable setting, you might want to try Day One Day One, which specializes in handmade ‘chew chew’ noodles, so called because of their bouncy, al dente texture.
The brand, which has several branches around the Klang Valley, opened a shop in Puchong last year–but the few times I passed it, their… premium price tag (averaging around RM26++ for the sets) always held me back. I know that isn’t super pricey for a lot of people, but I’m not flush with cash (especially now that I’m freelancing lol), and that amount can cover the cost of two lunches (or three if I’m being frugal) lol.
It was a weekend and I figured what the heck, money is meant to be spent anyway–so the Hubs and I finally tried the place out.
The shop has a clean, minimalist interior, in hues of mostly white, grey, and beige. There is a long concrete slab on one end that acts as a bench. Artificial trees and dreamy pastel murals add a dash of colour. Servers are well-trained, greeting each customer with an enthusiastic “Welcome to Day One Day One!”
The menu is quite extensive. Aside from their noodles, which are paired with different sides such as with braised fried drumstick, roasted pork, and Taiwanese sausage, they also offer hotpot meals and rice bowls. Alluding to the Japanese influence in Taiwanese cuisine, there is a selection of dons as well, with dishes such as Japanese Katsu Curry Pork Chop Omelette rice, and Salmon Don Rice Bowl. Those looking for moreish munchies can opt for street food like fried mushrooms, fried tofu, chicken popcorn, Taiwanese tempura, and oyster mee sua.
It’s always good to try the house specialty on one’s first visit, so I ordered the Signature Braised Pork Chew Chew Noodles (RM18.90). Braised pork, or lu rou, is synonymous with Taiwanese cuisine. Although it’s usually eaten over rice, this pairing with noodles works great too. The set came with a side of pickled cucumbers to cleanse the palate, chilli oil for those who prefer an extra kick, as well as flavourful soup.
The chew chew noodles lived up to its name, being firm and chewy, with plenty of bite. The noodles are apparently made with free-range eggs and high-gluten flour, with no added preservatives. The braised pork, which featured finely chopped bits of pork belly, had a nice balance of sweet and savoury, thanks to the sugar and soy sauce marinade. It tasted, well, premium. I have been to Taiwanese restaurants where the lu rou uses cheap cuts, so you get these tough, gelatinous blobs of fat that aren’t rendered and are hard to chew. Day One Day One’s lu rou, however, is soft and melts in your mouth. Another star here is the soup. Although I’m not sure what it was, it had a natural sweetness to it, reminiscent of home-cooked lotus root soup.
The Hubs had the Taiwanese Crispy Chicken Chop with Chew Chew Noodles (RM26.90) which was essentially what I ordered, but with a side of boneless fried chicken, dusted with a spicy chilli seasoning and curry leaves for fragrance. The chicken was moist and juicy on the inside whilst offering a perfect crunch on the outside–and it was fried in such a way that it didn’t feel greasy or icky. Good stuff!
In retrospect, if I had known the seasonings would be similar with the chicken chop, I would not have ordered the fried oyster mushrooms. For RM8.90, you get a generous portion. Again, they don’t feel greasy even though they are deep fried.
To wash down everything, we got the Oriental Beauty Rose Tea and Honey Scented Black Tea, at RM9.90 each. I was expecting the honey black tea to be sweet, but the taste is quite traditional, with strong bitter notes.
All in all, the noodles at Day One Day One satisfied expectations. I like the attentive service, the quality food, and the cosy ambience, although I don’t think this will be a regular joint for my budget.
Our meal for two came up to RM80++. Note that they have a sales and a service tax totaling 16%.
DAY ONE DAY ONE NOODLES (PUCHONG)
52-G, Jalan Puteri 1/2, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor
Opening hours: 11.30AM – 9PM (Mon – Thurs), 11.30AM – 9.30PM (Fri-Sun).
Non-halal
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