Foon has been in the food business for over 20 years. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Along the lively stretch of Jalan Batu Ambar in Taman Kok Lian, Kuala Lumpur, the aroma of freshly made noodles greets passers-by every morning.
Tucked among rows of humble eateries, the Handmade Pan Mee stall stands out for its simple promise: a bowl of comfort food made with a family recipe.
Run by Foon Siew Kuen and her husband Yap Soon Chai, the stall has quietly earned its reputation among locals as the place for handmade noodles.
Every bowl here tells a story of patience, love and family legacy.
“It’s my father’s recipe,” Foon said with a smile.
“He used to run a restaurant when I was young, I grew up watching him cook and learned everything from him.”
Foon has been in the food business for over 20 years.
The ‘pan mee’ is made using handmade noodles.
Before moving to Jalan Batu Ambar four years ago, she operated her stall in Taman Wahyu, some 5km away, for more than 15 years.
The relocation, she said, was not easy but her customers followed her.
Many of them still travel from Taman Wahyu to enjoy her pan mee, saying the taste has remained just as authentic as it was years ago.
At Foon’s stall, everything is made fresh daily.
The dough is rolled, cut and cooked on the spot, giving the noodles that perfect chewy texture and bite.
Signature dishes, the dry chilli pan mee, lo pan mee and lala mihun are crowd favourites.
The dry chilli pan mee, especially, packs a punch with its fragrant crispy anchovies, minced pork and homemade spicy sambal.
On weekends, things get more special.
Diners can add large prawns to their meal, a treat that draws both regulars and new customers eager to level up their usual orders.
“We started offering large prawns, which we bring from Perak, on Saturdays and Sundays,” said Foon.
The couple’s teamwork is what keeps the stall running smoothly.
While Foon focuses on cooking and perfecting her recipes, Yap handles customers and checks every bowl before it is served.
Operating from 6.30am to 2pm, Handmade Pan Mee caters mainly to the breakfast and lunch crowd, mostly office workers and nearby residents.
The stall closes on Wednesdays.
