Return of the Goose
Ever since I first ate roast goose in Hong Kong I’ve wanted to try it again. I soon found that in South Africa, UK, Mexico and other places I lived, it was either hard to find or cost a fortune. However, when we moved to Malaysia, a Chinese friend of mine told me about a place in Kuala Lumpur that serves the best roast goose in Malaysia and where I could fulfil my dream without breaking the bank.
The place he recommended is near Jalan Pudu, which unfortunately has a well-deserved reputation for nasty traffic jams. I tend to avoid the city unless absolutely necessary, so my desire for goose went unanswered for a few years. Until last week.
When our friends, Dave and Sue, arrived from the UK for a holiday I saw my chance. Sue is every shopkeepers’ dream and loves nothing more than wandering for hours searching for knick-knacks to buy. Dave, on the other hand, hates shopping with a passion normally reserved for visits to the dentist. And he views knick-knacks as unwanted weight in his suitcase.
I saw a solution that combined Sue’s need to shop with Dave’s dislike of it and, more importantly, which allowed me to eat goose. We dropped off Sue and my wife, Lesley, at the Sungai Wang Shopping Mall in the centre of Kuala Lumpur city, and went hunting for geese.
The recommended goose stall was in Jalan Seladang, which is off Jalan Pasar, which is itself off Jalan Pudu. I planned our trip so we went on a public holiday. Traffic was all but non-existent and parking was abundant. We soon found the Chen Chen Goose Stall. My tummy rumbled in anticipation.
Chen Chen Roast Goose
The stall is basic, with emphasis on the food. Set up for outside dining, there is no air-con, but a constant breeze kept us relatively cool. We ordered our food and grabbed a table. Our food was served even as we reached our table! Fast food indeed.
The meal comprised two bowls of yellow rice, one plate with a large goose leg and additional meat, some veggies, soup and two sauces. Neither of us is a fan of veggies so I can’t comment on them.
Ah! The goose was superb. Its dark meat was succulent, while not being overly fatty. Its rich flavour was enhanced by two lovely sauces, made using ‘secret’ recipes. My favourite was a translucent yellow plum sauce. Yummy.
The atmosphere was great, despite sitting a few feet from the gutter. The whole experience had a delightfully authentic roadside stall atmosphere. We were surrounded by local people who had come with one purpose – to enjoy awesome food. This was the home to the best roast goose in Malaysia!
The staff were efficient and friendly. The owner soon introduced himself and kindly joined us to answer some questions.
Cooking Roast Goose for 40 years
Known as Fook by friends and family, Mr Chong Foo Chuan, took over the goose business when his father retired. Chong senior taught Fook how to roast the goose ‘properly’, to ensure that it maintains its juiciness while having a crispy skin.
The family named the stall after Fook’s mother, Chen Chen, when it was started 40 years ago. With two of his children helping, this is now a third generation business. Other family members work at the stall as well. Fook needs the extra help as the stall serves food 364 days a year to eager diners. The only day they are closed is the first day of Chinese New Year.
On a standard day, the Chen Chen Roast Goose stall caters mainly to the lunch crowd made up of local office workers. But their busiest times are Sundays and public holidays, so we were fortunate to get a table.
The menu is varied, with pork and poultry on offer. They offer roast and suckling pig to order. On a typical day, they serve around 30 poultry items, including geese and locally reared ducks and chickens.
The geese come from China as Malaysia is not the ideal place to rear the high-quality geese that Fook insists on. At Christmas, he also brings in frozen turkeys from the US to mark the festive season.
If you want to eat roast goose in Malaysia, look no further than the Chen Chen Goose stall. Even if, for some strange reason, goose is not your favourite poultry dish, try the stall anyway. It’s worth the trip for the ambience, the food and friendly staff.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chen-Chen-Hong-Kong-Goose-Duck-Chicken/199366366765024
If you want to join us on our travels after we left Malaysia – check out our adventures in Mexico: WonkyCompass.com