By Ling Hui
BINTULU, March 19: Once you’ve had a taste of the highly recommended deep-fried chicken feet from Spring Garden Cafe at Shahida Commercial Centre, you’ll find it brutally hard to stop.
Despite its simple appearance, the dish is a harmonious blend of savoury umami notes from the marinade and seasonings, complemented by the crispy, caramelised golden-brown exterior and tender, succulent meat inside.
Depending on supply, large chicken feet served at this cafe cost RM1.50 each, while the smaller ones are charged RM1 each.
According to Ting Ling Yien, the sister of the kitchen chef and manager of the cafe’s beverage station, almost all of their patrons come for chicken feet.
“Every day, we open at 5pm and close at 3am the next morning. On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, the waiting time is usually longer,” she told DayakDaily yesterday (March 18).
She also introduced their best-selling drink—homemade herbal tea, or ‘liang teh’ in Chinese, which is only RM8 for a 1.5-litre bottle and RM10 for a 1.75-litre bottle.
Meanwhile, Ting’s son, Wong Siew Kai, said the cafe is currently run collectively by four generations of his family, including his grandmother, uncle, mother, himself, his siblings, and even his niece.
He said their cafe was previously situated in front of the Tua Pek Kong temple, and the Ting family, Foochows hailing from Bintangor, Sarikei, has been selling the same chicken feet dish for over 30 years in Bintulu.
Lastly, the cafe is also known for its cheeky tagline where you will be bid farewell with a heartful “Thank you, boss!” after payment. — DayakDaily
