Guest Blogger, Uncle Soon Guan: Restaurant R & R, Kuantan
[Kuantan]
Uncle Soon Guan (SG) became a Chartered Accountant to avoid inheriting his father’s business as a noodle vendor which gives only a tough life.
He grew up with operators of all kind of street food (his father’s friends), which has given him an extensive knowledge and love for the subject.
During Chinese New Year 2009 we spent a few days at Hyatt Kuantan and ate Malay food as Chinese food places were closed. Using The Star Food guide we went to Restoran R&R at 54 Jalan Besar and Satay Zul at the Jalan Teluk Sisek and Jalan Alor Akar intersection.
Jalan Sisek starts from Hyatt Kuantan at Teluk Chempadak, the most popular beach in Pahang. It meets with Jalan Besar in town. Shophouses along Jalan Besar are pre-war two storey shophouses of more than 80 years old, all of which still have thriving businesses.
This Malay restoran is more than 11 years old. It was opened by a couple who previously worked in Kuala Lumpur in totally unrelated trades. Rahman was in hospitality whilst Rabina, in language. The restaurant’s name takes after their names. Voted as the only Malay eatery in Kuantan with the highest 3 star by The Star Food Guide they must have employed the best Malay tukang masak ( cook in Bahasa Malay ) in Pahang.
On our first day we lunched on Malay authentic food and their daily spread features more than 30 dishes. We tried curry tenggiri, cow tripe with bamboo shoots in curry, beef liver, daun manis ( used in pan mee ), curried eggs and ox bony meat in clear soup. The soup was hot and the longer it stewed it tasted better. The eggs were not hard boiled but were cracked into the boiling curry to cook. That way it absorbed more of the curry flavor.
As it was the breakfast that we wanted to target, we return the next morning but not early enough at 8.30 am. They open at 7.45 pm but because of the locals’ preferred takeaways, one of their specialty Laksa Pahang was sold out. We tried Lemping Nyiur, Nasi Kerabu and Pulut Uban.
Lemping Nyiur
This is a fluffy savory coconut pancake shaped like roti canai and pan fried in the same manner. It cost a RM1 apiece. Other ingredients are egg and flour. A traditional breakfast fare in the East Coast kampong, it is eaten with sardine sambal like many other dishes due to the abundance of fresh fish from the sea.
Nasi Kerabu
In R&R Restoran, apart from the wok fried grated coconut, there is raw beansprouts garnished with chopped coriander which give the dish a crunchy texture and healthy freshness.
Pulut Uban
Another traditional breakfast fare available at Restoran R&R is Pulut Uban. It is steamed glutinous rice covered with grated coconut in a small pyramid shape, eaten with a few types of fried and salted fishes. This is another inexpensive savory breakfast item not found in Kuala Lumpur.
With another dish of beef rending which we saw hot in a wok, a piece of kueh and two coffee the total bill for a breakfast for two came to RM9 only. At the hotel the buffet breakfast would easily be ten times this amount. So, in such bad economy, do seek out good street food as not only are we contributing to our fellow Malaysians’ businesses, it ease pockets too 
-SG
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Tags: guest blogger, Kuantan, R & R, restaurant reviews, Uncle Soon Guan
hope your daughter has a fantastic birthday!
February 5th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
dear Uncle Soon,
thank you for your review concerning our restaurant,
i really appriciate it.
hope you’ll come again and try some other menu’s that we have.
regards,
rabina omar
(r&r kuantan)
February 6th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Rabina, R & R
You may want to download a copy of the blog to display in your shop. Good food deserves recognition. Keep up the good work. In such economic times we all play a role to help our fellow men. You could do yours with good food at affordable price. TQ.
February 14th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
woww…thanx for the review.. went there for lunch today, but it was closed la…. sob..sob..
February 14th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
sorli misz cloud ( like this better )I did not report on days closed. wonder why leh? strange to close on Saturday or is it weekend Friday and Saturday in East coast?
February 25th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
R&R business hours is from Monday to Saturday from 7.30a.m to 4.45p.m and closed on Sunday.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hello Rabina, good for you to inform on the opening hours. Did you down load the write up to display in the shop?
Eateries like yours play an important part in the recession where good and reasonably priced food is made available.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Uncle Soon Guan,
Rabina merupakan kawan baik saya dan sehingga kini kami masih berhubung. Saya telah merasai masakan di R & R, memang sedap.
Semuga Rabina dan Raman terus berjaya.
KBG, Penang
May 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Terima kasih Mr Chuah kerana sudi bercuti ke kampung halaman saya. Memang banyak tempat menarik di Kuantan dan makananpun sedap. Harap Mr Chuah akan terus bercuti ke Kuantan lagi dan mungkin boleh singgah ke rumah saya…
May 7th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Your invitation is accepted. Am staying in Hyatt Regency Kuantan 13-15 June,wonder if u r back. This time we want to check out Yong Tow Foo in Sg lembing as well. If a family member can show us some great seafood place in Kuantan or its surrounds, it will be good. The food guides are silent on seafood in Kuantan. My best wishes to you and your family.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Thanks Mr Chuah. Yes, I have a plan to balik kampung during school holiday but maybe on the June 6. BTW, you should try ikan bakar at Tanjung Lumpur; sata and otak-otak at Pak Din’s stall, also at Tanjung Lumpur.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Is there a telephone number I could call? Was wondering whether R&R does outdoor catering?