Located in Damansara Jaya, Boon Signature Roast Pork has interiors that are as simple as they come – exposed concrete walls and floor and wood-topped tables; a traditional Chinese wooden plaque at the back of the restaurant completes the eatery’s nostalgic ambience. The restaurant is capable of sitting only a handful of customers so expect large crowds come lunch time and weekends.
A must-have here is the siew yuk rice – steamed Japanese pearl rice topped with tender siew yuk that’s marinated with five-spice powder and other ingredients, and roasted in a charcoal-fed Apollo oven. Co-owner Boon Cheam is the mastermind behind the siew yuk – think flavourful slabs of melt-in-your-mouth pork that’s only made better with a crackly skin; it’s a recipe that Boon has perfected over many attempts. Flavour-wise, five-spice powder rub greatly diminishes any traces of porky odour, so what you get is siew yuk that’s aromatic with just the right level of saltiness.
For something different, you can have your rice with char siew and roasted chicken, both of which are also well-executed. If you fancy noodles instead, grab a plate of dry wantan noodles and top it with any (or all) of the three proteins; but be warned, the dish is extremely addictive (we went for seconds and considered getting a third portion to share!). If you don’t mind splurging, an ibérico pork version of the siew yuk is also available but during weekends only, so come early if you want a piece.