Bak Kut Teh @ Nan Ko Bak Kut Teh, Taman Merdeka Permai, Melaka

 

No trip back home is complete unless this hearty porky soup is on the menu. So during a trip visiting my family, I was invited by friends of my father to have lunch with them. I am not sure what I did to deserve such great company, but pork and soup never hurt anyone!

Old school!

Bak kut teh is one of my go to comfort foods for me and for many of us out there. However, we usually associate this porky legend to Klang. So when they told me they are bringing me somewhere in Melaka, which is where my family was originally from, I was very intrigued. Located in the suburbs of the historical town, Nan Ko Bak Kut Teh or Nan Ko in short, is a bit out of the way and a car ride is needed. Despite that, this place was packed on a Wednesday afternoon, which says a lot as many are coming over here during their lunch break between work. 

Assemble!

As you might have guessed, the main star is is the bak kut teh and they come in 2 varieties. Namely the classic one with a herbal broth and the other dry version which is closer to a spicy grilled hot pot dish. A portion of the soupy stuff stood at RM 17 per portion while the dry version was for RM 18 per portion. Since there were about 7 of us, we got 4 portions of the classic stuff and 1 portion of the dry one. To round out the meal we got ourselves some blanch vegetables that was for RM 9 and a plate of chicken feet for RM 8.

Unrivaled

Despite being away from bak kut teh country that is Klang, this shop can really pack a punch and probably rival some of the shops there. Coming in piping hot, the dry bak kut teh as a sight to behold. Glossy thanks to the glaze made of dark soy sauce and various herbs and spices, it has that distictive caramel smell coming off the bat. Loaded with dried chillies, garlic and dried seafood, this was a flavour explosion that is quite overwhelming. So much so that the rice was a good companion to temper the intensity. the pork chunks were also pretty good. With the combination of the fatty belly, ribs, trotter, and lean loin bits, there was a combination of textures that allow for a balanced experience which is very welcomed. 

Original classic

Of course, you cannot beat the original classic. The soup had a very nice herbal aroma to it. With strong flavours thanks to acacia and garlic, it had this floral yet savoury taste covering the entire claypot. The contents was the classic combination of lean and fatty parts, alongside tofu, soy bean puffs and bean curd sticks. A protein booster, this meal clearly is. It is not as intense as the dried cousin but still very enjoyable. It should be noted that you can have a special order for certain pork parts if that is your liking. So we also got 2 portions specifically for the trotters. 

Holy cow! Or is it holy pig?

The trotters were huge and comically resembles what you may see in a cartoon featuring cavemen. The amount of fat was thick and incredible, giving the meat from this part a buttery element. The soup was the same as the original version but with a more bacon-like quality thanks to the fat. It has been a long while I had this side of the pig for a long time due the calories that it has. But hey I am on vacation and I cannot say no to the hospitality of friends from the family. That would be rude. 

Obligatory green stuff. 

The vegetables were decent and it is basically blanched Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. Nothing special but it does help balance out the meal. The chicken feet were surprisingly pretty good too. Soaked in a dark soy braising liquid it had a similar intensity to the porky treats that came before. I was not a fan of it not because of the flavour, but it was a messy eating encounter. Still good though and worth trying at least once. And for completeness, a serving of rice was for RM1.70. 

Front of the house. 

Despite the food being good, the best part was the company. Listening to your elders can sometimes be pretty daunting but it was nice to hear them share their old stories while gobbling down some pork and rice. Indeed bak kut teh can make any conversation many times better. So if you are somehow in this part of the historical city and you are craving for something hearty, then Nan Ko is your best bet. If you fancy a go, the address is as follows:

 2, Jalan Mp17, Taman Merdeka Permai, 75350 Melaka, Malaysia