Neighbourhood cafe focuses on familiar, satisfying flavours
Settling on “Bear”, a long-time personal nickname, felt like the natural choice for a restaurant.
“People have always called me ‘Bear’, and my family is known as the ‘Bear Family’,” said Ng Kien Khai, adding that the concept was something he and his wife embraced when naming their Subang Jaya cafe.
Tucked within the USJ11 neighbourhood in Selangor, The Bear Hug is a cafe shaped by lived experiences and food.
Ng said venturing into the restaurant business felt like a natural path, having grown up helping at his parents’ simple eatery in Klang.
“I learned how to make dishes by the age of 14, before eventually becoming a cook in the family business,” he said.
Ng later honed his skills in large-scale kitchens, including banquet restaurants serving up to 150 tables at a time – an environment that demanded speed, precision and consistency.
“That was where I really learned discipline,” he said.
Despite his culinary background, Ng stepped away from the kitchen and spent 17 years in the corporate world.
“At 40, I returned to college and earned my diploma in business management.”
Still, his passion for cooking eventually drew him back into the food-and-beverage industry when an opportunity arose to take over a small cafe that previously operated as a bakery.
Operating part-time in the evenings, Ng gradually expanded the menu before deciding within weeks to take over the business.
The Bear Hug opened its doors in July 2024.
Among the highlights at the cafe is the Baked Cheese Rice with Fried Chicken Chop – a hearty dish featuring chicken that is crisp on the outside yet tender within.
The same fried chicken is also featured in the Chicken and Waffle with Eggs paired with honey for a sweet-savoury contrast.
Another standout is the Superior Soup La Mian with Fried Perch Fish – a comforting dish rooted in home-style flavours.
Its light yet flavourful broth complements the noodles without overpowering them, while the fried perch is notably soft and delicate. At first glance, it could easily be mistaken for fried chicken.
Adding a crunchy texture to the dish are fried enoki mushrooms.
Other signature offerings include Poke Salad Grilled Chicken Chop, Seafood Ginger Spring Onion Kueh Teow, Pineapple Cheesy Chicken Chop, Aglio Olio with Grilled Chicken Chop and Pink Sauce Smoked Duck Spaghetti.
The smoked duck, with slight gaminess, was succulent.
The pink sauce coating the spaghetti strands, according to Ng, is a blend of carbonara and bolognese sauces in a 70:30 ratio.
“I just cook what people enjoy eating,” he said.
The BEAR HUG RESTAURANT & CAFE, No.10, Jalan USJ11/3J, USJ11, Subang Jaya, Selangor. (Tel: 016-278 6687) Business hours: 11am to 9.30pm. Closed on Mondays.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
