Soong Kee Beef Ball Noodle @ Setapak

Hearty Beefy Noodles and More…

An eatery that has withstood the test of time, more than 6-decades to be precise, in the heart of our metropolitan city where it all started has Soong Kee Beef Noodle extending their branches to the latest location in Setapak. Started in 1945 by Mr. Soong Kee himself after World War 2, business may not have started out great but it has now become a bowl of legend from constant support of beef noodle lovers from everywhere.

Renowned for their beef noodles, Soong Kee pride themselves on serving a variety of noodles with their robust dark rich beef sauce along with a piping hot bowl of beef broth with beef slices, tripe and beef balls. We paid a recent visit one weekend for lunch at the Setapak outlet. Despite the area being packed with many eateries, Soong Kee still manages to stand out as a popular option for the many locals living in that area.

The Setapak branch is spacious and designed with a classic minimalist theme of bright and clean dining comforts. Walls dressed with history of how it all started along with their brand logo, Soong Kee is an eatery where one knows that good food is enough to warrant constant visits.

The menu, besides their signatures, now offers additional street food favorites that cater to non-beef eaters like wanton noodles, curry mee, dumplings, steamed chicken and more.

Drinks to quench the thirst:

Honey Lemon (RM4.00), Loh Hon Guo (RM2.00), Ribena Lychee (RM4.00), Kopi-O (RM2.50) & Barley Lemon (RM2.50)

Diners get options of Soong Kee’s Beef Balls Noodles (RM8.90) served dry or soup as well as option of their original Hakka noodles or thin meehoon. We tried the four combinations and found ourselves enjoying the dry version with thin meehoon as our top favorite followed by the Hakka dry version.

The sauce is what elevated the noodles to new grounds of flavours. Dark minced beef and pork, slow braised to yield that tender and rich beefy goodness. Coupled with their signature house made bouncy beef balls, this is what draws diners from near and far for a hearty bowl of beefy goodness.

Beef Tripe Noodles (RM8.90), another version of their signature is specially concocted for tripe lovers. While the Hakka noodles remain a constant favorite, the meehoon came as a surprising factor that takes on the sauce so well.

A bowl of clear beef broth has smooth fresh beef and boiled beef slices along with chewy tripe slices and Soong Kee’s beef balls. The subtle sweetness of the broth is delicious, providing a nice contrast to the dark rich minced sauce on the noodles.

We also tried their Char Siew Wonton Mee (RM7.90), a decent plate of springy wanton noodles nicely flavoured and aromatic with the quintessential char siew slices and some blanched greens. The soup wantons are decent as well.

The Chicken Curry Mee (RM9.90) has become a crowd favorite with its generous bowl of noodles of your choice topped with poached chicken pieces, beansprouts, beancurd puffs and fresh mint. The curry gravy is not overly thick thus making the gravy easy to enjoy without the cloying richness. The spice balance is nice and gave the curry its moreish note of satisfaction.

I am never one to order just noodles without any add-ons of ala carte and the Five Spice Tendon (RM13.00) is a good choice. That long hours of braising rendered soft gelatinous beef tendons that has absorbed the five spice aromatics well.

We also couldn’t resist ordering a bowl of Beef Slice (RM10.00) soup simply because we really enjoyed the smooth tender fresh beef slices a lot. Goes exceptionally well with their house made chili sauce. 

Dining with kids, it was only logical that we added on both version of Fried and Soup Dumplings (RM6.50/5pcs). These were plump and nicely flavoured with minced meat. While the soup dumplings are yummy, the fried dumplings are even better.

Steamed Chicken (RM10.00) showcased a firm and tasty chook steamed well and smothered in light soy sauce gravy finished with sprinkling of scallions.

Last but not least, one will find many diners ordering a plate of the Poached Vegetables (RM5.50) of the day that is smothered in their signature minced sauce.

Soong Kee has continued to carry on their legacy in serving a bowl of beef noodles that has withstood the test of time. The restaurant at this location was closed recently due to the global pandemic situation but has now reopened for dine-in and takeaway. It’s a place where comfort slurping prevails, and one can always expect hearty flavours of satisfaction.

Soong Kee Beef Ball Noodle

22A, Jalan Danau Niaga 1,

Setapak,

53300 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603-4141 8124 / +6016-924 0507

Website: https://soongkee.oddle.me/en_MY

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soongkeesetapak/

Business hours:

Mon – Fri:    Lunch 11.00am to 4.30pm | Dinner 5.30pm to 9.30pm

Sat & Sun:   Lunch & Dinner 11.00am to 9.30pm