Who says Bak Kut Teh is only peppery? This rich herbal soup in Medan: one sip and you're hooked
qponx
2026-03-06
Tired of the usual peppery Bak Kut Teh? This Medan eatery serves the authentic Malaysian style, boasting an insanely rich and dark herbal broth that will hook you from the first sip. At this no-frills, local favorite, you’ll find fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs and amazing value. For the ultimate experience, be sure to order fried dough sticks (Cakwe) to soak up the comforting, flavorful soup. It’s a must-visit for anyone who loves bold, hearty flavors.
Every time I talk about Bak Kut Teh with friends, we always end up arguing about this: which is better, the Singaporean white pepper style, or the more authentic Malaysian dark herbal style? 🤷♀️
Honestly, before coming to Medan, I was on team Singapore, but after visiting this place, 「BAK KUT TEH PORT KLANG 8A」, I... I've completely switched sides! This place is hidden on an unassuming little street in Medan, and the ambiance is just like one of those old roadside stalls. But it gets super crowded during meal times, filled with locals bringing their whole families to eat—you just know it's going to be good.
An Insanely Rich Herbal Broth
The moment the pot of soup was served, the intense and overpowering herbal aroma hit me straight in the nose. The soup is a deep, dark brown, a clear sign of the authentic Klang, Malaysia style[1]. Took the first sip, and wow, it's a completely different world from the light, peppery Singaporean version! The mellow sweetness of the herbs and the savory fragrance of the pork ribs blend together perfectly. A warm bowl of this feels like it awakens your entire body, super Comforting!
The signature Bak Kut Teh[2] is packed with ingredients. The pork ribs are stewed until they're incredibly tender, falling right off the bone with a gentle nudge of the chopsticks. There's also tofu and pork offal (you can choose whether to add it or not), which soak up the broth and are incredibly flavorful. The portion size is also impressive. We ordered a large for only 60,000 IDR[3], enough for two or three people to eat until they're stuffed. The value for money is truly Mantap!
Some Hits and a "Little Blind Box"
To be honest, this place wins purely on flavor, so don't have high expectations for the ambiance. It's a bit like a street-side eatery in China, where the main focus is on being delicious and affordable, not a place to come and chill[4].
We also ordered the Fried Pork Belly (Samcan Goreng), and well... it felt a bit like opening a blind box. Personally, I found the texture a bit too dry[5], but my friend who went with me loved it after dipping it in the sauce. So, this one really depends on personal taste.
Also, even though there's a Chinese menu, the young waiter barely speaks any Mandarin. We had to communicate entirely through pointing, gestures, and our broken Indonesian, Anjay![6]
For the Fans | Ordering Strategy & Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls
Girls, get your notebooks out and take notes!
- The Ultimate Way to Eat: You HAVE to order the fried dough sticks (Cakwe)[7]! Don't eat them dry. Throw them into the soup for about ten seconds, let them soak up all the broth, then take them out. One bite is pure bliss! Trust me!
- The Perfect Thirst Quencher: Skip the Coke and try their Luo Han Guo tea or chrysanthemum tea[8]. They're brewed with real ingredients, only 7k IDR a glass, and are refreshingly sweet and cooling—the perfect match for Bak Kut Teh.
- Ordering Tip: When you order the Bak Kut Teh, the staff will ask if you want to add pork innards. Just decide based on your preference.
- To Sum Up: If you're a fan of strong, heavy flavors and love a rich herbal taste, then this place is definitely for you! If you're looking for a nice ambiance and service, you might want to think twice, haha~
- The herbal broth is criminally rich, its potent aroma instantly awakening your senses. Pure comfort in a bowl!
- Loaded with pork ribs stewed until fall-off-the-bone tender, soaking up all that savory, flavorful broth [1].
- You HAVE to get the youtiao for dipping. Let it soak in the broth for a soul-stealing bite—a true local pro-tip [2]
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