Simply the BeSS: The sensational street treats of Subangs SS15

By The Level & FMT

When it comes to that busy, choked-up part of PJ that never sleeps called Subang, its residents often end up in an unending debate over where the heart and soul of Subang lies. Some people say that Subang Parade is the centre of Subang, while some say it’s the famous Asia Café food court; most people, however, say it’s actually the traffic jam. Either way, everyone knows that there’s something special about SS15.

Yes, the business park centered around INTI, Taylor’s and Metropolitan College is the busiest and most happening place-to-be for Subangites. I personally dislike how dense the place can be at peak hours, not to mention the suey drivers who pull over wherever they feel like, just so they can pop by an ATM – but despite all that, there’s a gem on the fringes of SS15. A gem that only true Subangites would appreciate the authenticity of.

No, no, we’re not in cahoots with Joe Flizzow and his Sime Darby campaign – we just honestly think that his place is THE place for tea time (so does everyone else!), old-school Subang style!

The major attraction here: tea time snacks. Yes, the variety of tea time snacks here is astounding, and attracts crowds from far and wide. You’ll have to stand in long lines to get your share of the lovely, greasy, unhealthy heap of genuinely Malaysian treats – and it’s totally worth it! Here’s what we experienced during our recent visit to SS15:

Parking
True to its reputation, the parking at SS15 is nothing short of hell on earth. You have to wait at least 15 minutes to find a proper lot – and there are a lot of people who don’t bother, which probably makes the MBSJ one of the better funded city councils in Selangor. Park illegally at your own risk – the MBSJ will be more than happy to tow your car away. Unless you have a thing for RM300 teatime snacks, we wouldn’t recommend it.

Rojak
What we’re about to say will probably raise the hackles of Penangite foodies, but – the rojak here is more kaw than any rojak I’ve ever tried in Gurney Drive. Not surprisingly, SS15 rojak is the bestseller among all of the tea time snacks available. The cucumber is fresh, the kueh is crispy, and the gravy is the milkiest you’ll ever get from a rojak stall.

Look at that beauty. The taste of the gravy is a perfect mix of sweet and salty, with a generous milky taste to make your taste buds tingle in confusion and ecstasy. The hard-boiled egg adds even more oomph to the taste. For a tea time snack, this dish is borderline pricey though, with a starting price of RM5 for a basic rojak set – but for just another ringgit, you can add squid! Now that’s value for money!

Cendol
Cendol is another crowd favorite at this lepak place. The cendol (for those of you who don’t know – and why the heck don’t you?), is basically coconut milk, shaved ice, gula melaka, and green grass jelly. While corn is sometimes part of this perfect summer snack, RM2 nets you the basic cendol experience here – which will have you searching for enough change for another bowl as soon as you’re done. If you’re up for a twist, you can add another RM1 for pulut, which is glutinous rice. There may be other tastier cendols, but what’s better than flushing down your rojak with a bowl of this baby?

Vadei
This Uncle, with a stall squeezed between the cendol and rojak stands, sells awesomely good vadei, as well as other fried sweet and savory snacks. But the king is, of course, the vadei. The fried vadei is soft, tender, and spicy on the inside. If you’re up for the snack of champions, the Uncle will always put in one small chili padi for one piece of vadei – but only if you’re up for it, and you’d better be sure. The price per piece of vadei is RM0.60, but it gets cheaper the more you buy. People who queue up for cendol will most certainly swing by the vadei Uncle for a bite of spicy, crispy, oily goodness during their tea time outing.

Seats
This is probably the biggest problem about this place aside from the parking: seats are very limited. Patrons don’t seem to mind though, as many would even squat and eat by the drain just for the zesty, delicious treats – particularly after Friday prayers. You can often see the longkang-lined road near the stall filled with people enjoying their cendol under the shade of trees. If you don’t have a problem with a little extra ‘aroma’ to accompany your meal, then these snacks are for you to enjoy.

Overall, we give this place a 7.2/10. If you disagree and feel that this is not a valid lepak spot, then tell it to the hundreds who queue to enjoy the food there every day. It’s just something uniquely Malaysian, and there isn’t a true-blue Subangite who hasn’t done this at the cendol stall. So for all you adventurous foodies out there, this is the place to be if you’re in Subang – not overpriced food courts and empty cafes. The true heart and soul of Subang Jaya, available from 12pm to 6pm.

First published in FMT’s youth portal, www.TheLevel.my

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