For classic Chinese dishes, you should visit Sek Yuan Restaurant on Jalan Pudu. This renown Cantonese restaurant has been around since 1948.
It is famous for its signature dish like the Pipa Duck, which you must order 2 days in advance!
Their food is unique, and you can savor delicious food that is authentic, yet low in MSG too! See what else we like about Sek Yuan Restaurant below!
Table Of Contents:
About Sek Yuen Restaurant
Sek Yuen began as a pushcart selling wanton noodles to hungry workers. Back when the nation was still in its early development stages.
Established 75 years ago, before independence, the family business grew beyond expectations.
The three founding brothers Phang Chew Kan, Phang Shue Tang and Phang Meng Yun moved to a permanent shop lot. This is where Sek Yuen remains today.
Currently, the restaurant spans five storefronts with a maximum capacity of 800 guests.
The staff is a mix of old hands and newbies but they all have a penchant for good food and impeccable service.
At its peak, Sek Yuen employed around 150 staff members to prepare food in three kitchens. Two are for daily use, while the other serves as a contingency kitchen in case orders overflow.
Phang Yew Kee (second-generation family member after the founder) now oversees day-to-day operations.
Ease of Parking At Sek Yuan Restaurant
Don’t bother parking in front of Sek Yuen, because there’s no street parking there. Instead, drive past Sek Yuen and take the first left to enter the back alley filled with parking.
Or catch the LRT train and get off at the PUDU LRT stop. From there, Sek Yuen is only a 5 minute walk away.
Ambiance At Sek Yuan Restaurant
The ambiance and dining environment at Sek Yuan is of a typical Chinese restaurant. Complete with round tables in red tablecloths and wooden chairs.
There is good ventilation with ceiling fans for most of the restaurant. And the newer shop lots have air conditioners.
Oriental red lanterns enhance the nostalgic atmosphere here. Green side beams provide a vivid contrast to the otherwise oriental décor.
Black and white photos of the founders and key events adorn the walls.
On the whole, the interior is spacious with tables well-spaced apart.
Service At Sek Yuan Restaurant
Recognizing that age isn’t a barrier, some of their waiters are past retirement age. The older male waiters tend to be friendlier, while some of the female waiters can seem a bit aloof.
Nevertheless, the service is generally polite and the food is served within 15 to 20 minutes after the order is placed.
Food At Sek Yuan
We like that the food at Sek Yuan Restaurant is uncomplicated yet full of flavors. The expansive menu includes 29 vegetarian dishes and curries too.
Pre-Order Dishes At Sek Yuan Restaurant
Pipa Duck is an incomparable dish. It gets its name for its resemblance to the pipa, a classical Chinese stringed instrument.
The skin is crispy, and a thin layer of melt-in-your-mouth fat clings to each succulent bite. The meat doesn’t have that dreaded gamey texture.
Roast Crispy Suckling Pig was divine. The meat from the week-old pig was rich in flavors and complemented by the thin, crispy skin.
Crispy Fried Roll with Dried Oysters, Salted Egg and Shrimp is another pre-order dish that we like. The inside is bursting with the taste of seafood. While the creaminess of the salted egg lends a unique texture.
Non-Pre-Order Dishes At Sek Yuan Restaurant
The humble Fried Egg with Tomato deserves a mention. As the fluffy, light egg has the sweetness and tangy taste of the softened tomatoes.
Pumpkin Tofu is a vegetarian delight shaped like a dessert pudding in a golden broth. The tofu is tender and has accents of pumpkin, while the pumpkin broth adds to the versatility of the fruit. This dish will win over even the biggest carnivores!
Braised Pork Belly with Salted Fish has a fragrant aroma of premium salted fish. It is a mouthwatering dish. The tender pork belly with its jelly-like fats soak in the flavorful braised broth.
Stir Fried Chicken with Ginger and Scallions brings back memories of mum’s cooking. The fried squid with salted eggs is crispy and flavorful and a real treat.
Pricing At Sek Yuan Restaurant
Surprisingly, the prices at Sek Yuan are reasonable and the portions are decent.
Depending on what you order, you can get a meal for 4 people for under RM200.
Conclusion
Sek Yuan is one of those places where the ambiance is secondary and the food is the main highlight.
Indeed, the food is memorable. As a bonus, there is ample seating and air-conditioning too.
So, they have many regulars who flock here at lunchtime and on weekends. Sek Yuan is also one of our favorite venues for Chinese food!
- Location: 313, Jln Pudu, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
- Opening Hours: 11am–2:30pm, 5pm–9:30pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact: +603-92229457
