FIND THE EAST MALAYSIA’s LOCAL DELICACY LAI MANG BAK KUT TEH CARRIED BY THE 30 YEARS “NAM CHAI” @ SABAH
“Lai Mang Bak Kut Teh” or locally known as Ikan Blias is a kind of fish soup eatery famously taken & practised by the Sandakan’s locals since end 19th century, is being nowadays among the top delicacy eatery most wanted by the visitors when reached the state of Sabah (Sandakan Town) which all presented on respective recipes. But here right in town, we found and successfully recognised among the best recommended 30 years history “Nam Chai Restaurant” running by Thien family still serving their home recipes in manner, since year 1989.
The Sandakan, Sabah local originated Mr. Thien Vui Leong (born 1964), was the initial founder, together with his wife Madam Yap Lee Ha (born 1967) both are the recent immediate owners of this best recommended Lai Mang (Ikan Blias) Bak Kut Teh eating house “Nam Chai Restaurant Bak Kut Teh” in Sandakan town, Sabah all the while presenting their home recipe Lai Mang Bak Kut Teh and other signature menus to the locals & visitors on the same ground for the past 30 years. Also recently being assisted by their next generation eldest son Thien Tshun Vun (born 1989) and elder daughter Thien Li Ming (born 1992).
Founder Thien Vui Leong, who at his age of 55 years old currently, all the while having great interest in eatery & culinary/chefing initially stepped into the f&b industry since his 22nd of age in year 1986 worked as a kitchen assistant in a bak kut teh restaurant in Sandakan township, where he touched & experienced the field & recipes spent few years exposed in the career.
With Vui Leong’s vision to have his very owned eating house, added with the bak kut teh recipes on hand and foreseeing the market opportunity in the f&b industry allowed him in year 1989 at his 25 years old successfully established his restaurant named “Nam Chai Restaurant Bak Kut Teh” at Bandar Nam Tung, Sandakan began to introduce his very homemade pork & seafood bak kut teh selections to the locals. Later-on started to serve Lai Mang (Ikan Blias) Bak Kut Teh to the market, having great positive response from the public and finally after 30 years being recognised among the best in town by the F&B E-Media for year 2019.
In this Nam Chai Restaurant, the founder’s very first top recommended in menus surely will be their local delicacy “Lai Mang Bak Kut Teh”, which most wanted by all visitors. In-house soup base boiled in about 2 hours with pork offal mixtures (bones, meats & bellys), added into garlic & white pepper, then cooked mixed with their home recipe soup and finally boiled few minutes into local fresh sea Lai Mang Fish (Ikan Blias) which commonly on weight of about 300-400grams selected, and served hot in bowl sided with spring onions shredded will brings wonderful tasty bak kut teh soup taste and the fish’s freshness itself into mouth. Especially the Lai Mang Fish’s fresh & smooth meats texture in bites that you must try when reached Sandakan, Sabah.
Secondly will be the founder’s all time favourite choice, their “Pork Belly Bak Kut Teh” which like by most of the locals from the beginning. Pork belly cooked in the main soup base prepared in cubes cutted pieces, boiled with their both soup base mixtures (or in option of only with main pepper soup base), and finally served hot in bowl will brings excellent belly’s chewing meat bites texture into mouth that you really never regret after tasted here. The pork’s freshness taken perfect matching with their pepper bak kut teh soup base will be the best in town.
Another will be their famous “Big Prawn Bak Kut Teh”, which also among the restaurant’s daily top seller like by their regulars. Local fresh deep sea Ming Prawns commonly selected, prepared uncoated, boil-cooked in minutes with their both recipe soup base mixtures then served also in bowl with spring onions shredded will brings unbelievable prawn’s freshness and bites texture into mouth that you neither found better elsewhere other than Sandakan, Sabah.
Nonetheless, the owner Vui Leong also introduced the East Malaysia locals favourite “Meat Ball Bak Kut Teh” which seldom found in the west nations. Local homemade fresh pork meat balls made-mixed with dry cuttlefish boil-cooked in their bak kut teh soup base options, and finally served hot in bowl that you really cannot missed when stepped towards this 30 years leading Lai Mang (Ikan Blias) Bak Kut Teh eating house “Nam Chai Restaurant Bak Kut Teh” at Sandakan, Sabah.
NAM CHAI RESTAURANT BAK KUT TEH
Address: Lot 1,
Block D,
Bandar Nam Tung,
Ground Floor,
90712 Sandakan,
Sabah.
Business Hours: 10:00am to 2:00pm
6:00pm to 8:30pm (Daily)
(Closed on Monday)