Zi Char - Dynasty Fried Porridge

Zi Char - Dynasty Fried Porridge
30 Foch Road #01-02

https://www.facebook.com/Dynastyfriedporridge/

Claypot Loh Shu Fun / Silver Needle Noodles (SGD $5.50)

Authentic Malaysian Ipoh Dishes

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 6
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $18 per person.


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Established since December 2015, Dynasty Fried Porridge is a Malaysian Ipoh zi char stall. Specialising in their namesake, Dynasty Fried Porridge has a small but consistent menu of signature dishes that keep regulars returning for more. Liberal use of aromatics like pork lard means their dishes are definitely unhealthy, but pack good flavour.

Ambience at Dynasty Fried Porridge draws upon the spacious, open, bustling coffee shop it's located in. The place is usually crowded and buzzing, even with safe distancing guidelines due the COVID-19 pandemic. Brightly lit with sturdy furnishing, the place is usually packed with drinkers. I understand it's usually best to call ahead to place orders, as some dishes require advance orders.

Service at Dynasty Fried Porridge is transactional but efficient. Orders are fulfilled quickly, though it's sometimes difficult to make side requests after your meal is served, as staff take really long to carry them out. Staff display cursory product knowledge on the dishes, usually defaulting to standard recommendations. Cleaning up is performed by the coffee shop personnel, who turn around tables fairly quickly.

Food at Dynasty Fried Porridge is Malaysian Chinese zi char cuisine. With their liberal use of pork lard, dishes with heavy sauces or gravy tend to be packed with flavour. Specialities naturally revolve around fried or sauce items, don't expect clean-tasting here. Portions are sized for communal group dining, and should be shared. Prices are comparable to other zi char places, budget about SGD $18 per person.


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Dynasty Fried Porridge Facade

Dynasty Fried Porridge Menu

Dynasty Fried Porridge Signature Dishes

The Stir-Fried Qing Long Cai / Garlic Chives (SGD $12) has crisp crunchy qing long cai / green dragon vegetable / garlic chives, tossed with garlic. Bright and fresh, with clean-tasting earthy grassy herbal vegetal sweet flavour. Good!

Stir-Fried Qing Long Cai / Garlic Chives (SGD $12)

The Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Leaves With Garlic (SGD $9) features tender soft sweet potato leaves and stalks, tossed with garlic. This lends a robust spice herbal note to the vegetal earthy sweet bitter flavour of the vegetable. Crispy bits of pork lard make this decadent. Good!

Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Leaves With Garlic (SGD $9)

The Salted Egg Squid (SGD $15) has bouncy chunks of squid coated in a thick salted egg yolk and curry leaves batter. The batter is light and crisp, cleaving tightly to the squid, lending it robust salty savoury spice flavour. Good!

Salted Egg Squid (SGD $15)

The Nan Ru Rou / Red Fermented Beancurd Fried Pork (SGD $17) features strips of chewy moist pork belly, coated in red fermented beancurd paste. This gives it a distinct earthy herbal savoury flavour, which may be an acquired taste as it's rather strong. Served with a sweet spicy chili dipping sauce on the side.

Nan Ru Rou / Red Fermented Beancurd Fried Pork (SGD $17)

The Shrimp-Paste Chicken (SGD $10) has chicken winglets coated in a crisp shrimp paste batter, crunching lightly when bit to reveal the piping hot, juicy tender chicken meat within. Has a light savoury salty spice flavour. Good!

Shrimp-Paste Chicken (SGD $10)

Loved the Chai Poh Egg Omelette (SGD $8), which was so fluffy pillow soft, like a cloud. Studded with crunchy bits of preserved radish / chye poh / chai poh, which lends a salty note to the eggy sweet savoury smoky flavour of the egg omelette. Highly recommended!

Chai Poh Egg Omelette (SGD $8)

Yes, the Malaysian Black Mee (SGD $6.50) is actually the Kuala Lumpur style Hokkien Mee. The thick Fujian noodles are generously coated in a gravy of dark soy sauce and pork stock, giving them a slippery smooth feel with a soft bouncy chew to texture, and a robust salty savoury flavour. Garnished with crisp choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage, tender pork loin, crispy pork lard, and bouncy deshelled prawns / shrimp, all of which predominantly taste of the rich gravy. Good!

Malaysian Black Mee (SGD $6.50)

Malaysian Black Mee

The house Signature Famous Fried Porridge (SGD $7) has a thick gloopy texture, offset by the crunchy bits of fried pork lard. Filled with tiny pieces of chewy pork loin, crisp spring onions, and crunchy fried shallots, the rich fried porridge has a deep smoky savoury salty meaty mineral flavour that is an acquired taste. Unique and yummy. A 1-day advance order is required. Good!

Signature Famous Fried Porridge (SGD $7)

Signature Famous Fried Porridge

Loved the Claypot Loh Shu Fun / Silver Needle Noodles (SGD $5.50). This features a claypot of slippery chewy loh shu fun / silver needle noodles, bouncy fish cake, crisp choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage, juicy deshelled prawn / shrimp, and a wobbly soft boiled egg, in a deep soy-based gravy. And pork lard. Mix everything together, and you get a wonderfully tasty bowl, big savoury salty sweet flavours here. Highly recommended!

Claypot Loh Shu Fun / Silver Needle Noodles (SGD $5.50)

Claypot Loh Shu Fun / Silver Needle Noodles

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