Among the KL folks, this is considered one of the city’s most legendary versions of char kuey teow.
You’ll find this gem at the vegetarian food court in Blue Boy Mansion, which sits at the ground floor of a seven-storey apartment block built in 1962.
FMT Lifestyle visited this pot on a regular weekday, and can confirm that while the food court sits in a quiet corner of Bukit Bintang, it quickly fills up during lunch hours. Before long, almost every table has a plate of the famous char kuey teow.
While the eatery is owned and operated by Chinese folks, this char kuey teow stall is run by Vijayan Narayan, fondly known as Ah Wa. Born and bred in KL, Vijayan started working here when he was just 15. Fun fact: the 62-year-old is fluent in Cantonese!
Speaking in Cantonese, he shared: “In the ‘70s, I came here to wash dishes and work. The aunties here did not know Malay and I didn’t know how to speak Cantonese. So it was like a chicken trying to communicate with a duck.”
He shared that working with them and learning bit by bit, it took him two years to master the language. “Now, I can talk about anything in Cantonese,” Vijayan revealed. In fact, the Chinese regulars here automatically speak to him in their mother tongue, while the Indian customers converse with him in Tamil. Talk about multiculturalism!
Crafted from his own recipe, Vijayan’s char kuey teow steals the spotlight. He stir-fries each portion individually in just a few minutes, serving it piping hot on a plate with banana leaf.
After giving it a try, FMT Lifestyle can confidently say this char kuey teow is legendary for a reason. Even someone accustomed to the traditional pork lard in their char kuey teow will be pleasantly surprised.
The wok hei – that smoky, charred aroma that defines a great plate of char kuey teow – is perfectly achieved here. His blend of soy sauce and chili paste creates the ideal balance of spice and sweetness. Eggs, beansprouts, mushrooms, greens, and vegetarian fish cake give it that extra bite, completing each delightful serving.
Customers can also request egg noodles to be added to the dish, or just plain mee goreng as an alternative to kuey teow.
“I’ve been making this dish for over 40 years. I’ve seen these customers as kids, and now they come here as working adults,” he said.
“People trusted me, tried it, and once they liked it, they kept coming back. Even people from overseas have come to try my char kuey teow. So now, I can say I’m world famous,” he added with a smile.
While this is without a doubt the star attraction, the food court has plenty of other vegetarian options, including nasi lemak, popiah, lobak and chee cheong fun – all absolutely delicious.
The nasi lemak is a must-try, especially the sambal, which packs a nice kick. It is served with a vegetarian sotong sambal, a rich and delicious vegetarian chicken curry (yes, vegetarian) with plenty of potatoes, lady fingers, and vegetarian anchovies. Mostly made with tofu, soy, or mushrooms, this dish is truly satisfying.
So, whether you’re vegetarian or not, this place is a must-visit to truly experience flavour town – and definitely don’t miss the iconic char kuey teow by Vijayan.
Blue Boy Vegetarian Food Court
Lorong Pudu 4
Jalan Tong Shin
Bukit Bintang
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 8am-4pm