August 5, 2010

Sg. Liang Beef Kueh Tiaw

Whenever local travellers are tired after driving past K.Belait in Brunei thye usually make it a point to  rest at a little wooden Chinese run food cum residential shop. It serves local kopi and teh and a selection of cakes (colonial style) and buttered toasts. What is very unique is its braised and excellent tender beef piled on top of dark soy sauced fried kueh tiaw. I understand that many people are quite addicted to this special dish and I do recommend it.

The name Hup Hiong means "together fragrant" and the shop was started in the early 50's by the present owner's father when Sg. Liang was just a collection of kampong houses and a surau at a junction to Labi. The wooden structure remains the same till today.


Two marble tables with white painted legs adorn the wooden floored shop. When you walk into the wooden shop you feel as if you are at a border or cowboy town. But this place is really clean and you can make use of its good washroom at the back. A lovely sandy stream flows behind the shop.


These shelves are of 50's vintage. You can see that the shopkeeper is very neat .


Here an array of cakes and biscuits are available for customers to choose to go with their tea or coffee. Glass sliding doors keep the flies and dust away. You can enjoy a vintage style paper wrapped muffin. I am quite sure that the father of the present owner had learned how to make cakes and muffins from the colonials who explored and founded Sg. Liang.


A huge HD TV is at a corner for customers and family to watch. Lots of nice Taiwanese programmes here.


Dark sauced kueh tiaw with a fried egg (bull's eye) and braised beef. You can get fork and spoon. But if you ask for chopsticks that will be what you get. You are not given a spoon with the chopsticks. This is very traditional Chinese way of serving. In most places present day Chinese shops give both chopsticks and spoons to the customers.


Its famous Kopi ( made with an inch high of condensed milk) . So do not stir all of the milk.



Marble table top showing its age....and its genuineness. And it is really cold to the touch.

Taking a last look at this border town type of coffee shop - do not be misled - you will enjoy a good chill out time as the proprietors are very gentle and kind people who enjoy serving tired travellers with a smile.




12 comments:

Steve said...

where is the actual location? I will love to stop by on my next trip. I should ask for your advice before I went for my "north Borneo" trip. stupid...

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

sg Liang, I wonder if it is named after Robert Liang's ancestors.

Daniel Yiek said...

marble top!

Sunflower said...

Passed by Sungai Liang numerous times never thought about finding somewhere to eat there.

Chow kway tiaw to go down with a cup of Kopi oh with condensed milk, mmm.... that brings back memory of numerous breakfasts at home.

That marble top table is a classic don't think many are made anymore.

Bengbeng said...

reading this post post makes me feel like going on another outing soon...

Ensurai said...

Dear Leh Charng...
Yes...the turning you missed is Tanjong Maya before Tutong and you have to look out for the Power Station...
Yes...next time I may tag along too ...just a few days...but not 12 days!!hahahahaha I will have to drive in the front ...

Ensurai said...

dear Ann
Sg. Liang and other Brunei names are very very interesting and unique because of their special language. e.g. Labi labi is so nice and Belait is nice too....nope I think Liang here means something else...

May be some Chinese by the surname Liang would like to say the place is named after them...kekekek

Ensurai said...

Dear Daniel...
Hope you can make a trip to Brunei...lovely and quaint places like this for you to discover...and smell those historical smells!!

Ensurai said...

Dear Sunflower
Marble tables are now massed produced in Langkawi and Kedah...and the marble is of a different quality. These old solid marble are quite rare too...I am sure these two tables will remain with this lovely family for generations!!

CKT does go well with kopi susu....especially if the CKT is fried with lots of pepper.

Ensurai said...

Bengbeng
Visit the Sultan of Brunei for Raya and shake hands with him. You will get a unique reception....and a memorable one too....may be SPS can have one planned....

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Robert Liang is a Kelabit, he is the director if Immigrations, Sarawak. i thought you or your husband might know him.

Ensurai said...

Hi Ann
I believe there are two Robert Liang or one could be Robert Laing (a Kayan). Sure hubby knows RL the Head of Immigration. But may be there is a possibility that Sg. Liang is named after some Kelabits!! You never know about these connections. TQ. What does your anthropologist brother say?

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