Ng frying up Bintang Sue’s famous spicy fried rice.
A stall selling Chinese food in Damansara Uptown, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, has developed a loyal following after three decades in business.
Bintang Sue still sees many hungry diners willing to endure humid evenings at the crowded hawker centre.
Currently run by Susan Ng with her sons David and Ivan Sibriakoff, the stall was inherited from her parents.
David explained that many of their family members had married Muslims and converted to Islam, including Ivan.
Clockwise, from left) Spicy egg fried rice, ‘kuey teow’ beef ginger and salted egg fried squid. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
This meant that the business needed to adjust its recipes.
“It wasn’t a difficult choice to switch to pork-free versions of our food,” said David.
Bintang Sue is known for its Chinese-style hawker dishes.
One of its signatures, the Spicy Egg Fried Rice (RM10) comes packed with wok hei.
Each grain is slightly charred yet fluffy, with the kind of spice that builds heat gradually.
The Kuey Teow Beef Ginger (RM12) is a warm and comforting dish for a rainy day.
Then there is the Salted Egg Fried Squid (RM20), golden and crunchy on the outside and chewy inside, that has become a family favourite for sharing.
Ng said the reason Bintang Sue had survived three decades was because they have always served what customers wanted.
“Customers want good food, so we always make sure to deliver high quality food.
“That’s why they always come back,” she said.
Lively hawker atmosphere with customers tucking into their food.
A loyal customer, who identified himself only as Remy, 44, said he had been visiting the stall for many years.
He was accompanied by his wife and said they had been coming for meals at the stall back when they were still dating.
“Now we come here every weekend, sometimes with our kids, to have family meals,” he said.
Despite now living in Putra Heights, Remy and his family still travel all the way to the stall for their meals.
For David and Ivan, sustaining the family business has not been without challenges.
They said Damansara Uptown, with its trendy cafes and modern eateries, is a competitive area to run a hawker stall.
The brothers believe their approach of making thoughtful adjustments to the dishes helped them gain more customers.
They said they also have kept prices affordable despite inflation, so regulars did not feel priced out.
Ng and her sons also greet customers like family, giving a personal touch to their dining experience.
Located at Lot 1068 of Uptown Hawker Centre in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, the stall opens from 6.30pm to 11.30pm daily, except Tuesdays.
