Weekend Eats │ JOE WONG Bak Kut Teh

The First Weekend of Ramadan

It was the first weekend of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, and we ventured out to see if we could grab a bite to eat. Most eateries were expected to be closed until early evening, so we weren’t sure what we would find.

Our Default Bak Kut Teh Spot

Thankfully, Joe Wong Bak Kut Teh — our default Bak Kut Teh place for many years — was open. This has always been one of our most trusted spots, and we highly recommend it to anyone craving a comforting bowl of herbal goodness.

What Is Bak Kut Teh?

For those unfamiliar with the dish, Bak Kut Teh is a Chinese soup that literally means “meat bone tea.” Despite the name, there is no tea in the soup itself.

At its simplest, it consists of meaty pork ribs simmered for hours in a complex broth of herbs and spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, dang gui, fennel seeds, and garlic. Some versions include offal, mushrooms, choy sum, dried tofu, or fried tofu puffs. Additional Chinese herbs like yu zhu (rhizome of Solomon’s Seal) and ju zhi (buckthorn fruit) may be added to give the broth a sweeter, slightly stronger flavour.

Light and dark soy sauce are used during cooking, and the dish is usually garnished with chopped coriander or green onions, plus a sprinkling of fried shallots. It is almost always enjoyed with rice.

A Simple Meal, A Familiar Comfort

On a quiet Ramadan afternoon, this warm, fragrant bowl of Bak Kut Teh was exactly what we needed. Some traditions never fail to comfort — and Joe Wong remains one of ours.

Stay safe, and enjoy your meals wherever you are.

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📍 Location:

Joe Wong Bak Kut Teh - https://goo.gl/maps/iMrz2fkTryDjsUrt8