Kuay Chap or Guay Jab or Guay Jap (google this one for a fun “did you mean” suggestion), is a popular dish in South East Asia that originates from the region’s Teochew emigrants.

I remember sharing Kuay Chap with my mother on one of our many trips to Cabramatta as a little kid. It had big flat rice noodles in a soya sauce soup, random pig inside parts, not so random pig outside parts and blood jelly. I would eat the giant, almost impossible to chopstick noodles with the braised pork belly parts and the blood (looove the blood) while she would eat all the offally parts.

Kuay Chap $7.90

Kuay Chap $7.90 - Lunch Only

Unfortunately, our long adventures to Cabramatta now always ends up at one of the popular Vietnamese restaurants or at Vinh Phat for yum cha. Ms. Taste tells me off whenever I suggest the food halls (“we didn’t drive all this way to eat food court”). So when we were in the Surry Hills area, I am pleased when she suggests we head down to check out Spice I Am’s lunch menu, which offers both Kuay Chap and Boat Noodle.

Spice I Am’s Kuay Chap has its noodles neatly rolled up for improved usability. There was no offal to be seen, only regular pork bits, fried tofu, a boiled egg, some bits of blood jelly and a few crunchy pork crackle bits. The soup had a rich, slightly salty flavour.

Boat Noodle is another favourite of mine. Contrary to its name, it does not contain a boat, nor does it come served in a boat. My theory is that it is supposed to be blood noodle, but got changed in translation to increase its appeal. The blood jelly and a handful of the usual bunch of fragrant thai herbs and spices are blended together and then slowly added to a beef stock which has been stewing for many hours. The stock cooks the gory looking mixture and lightly thickens the soup, creating a super tasty place to put your noodles.

Boat Noodle $7.90

Boat Noodle $7.90 - Lunch Only

Spice I Am’s Boat Noodle has a thin rice noodle, topped with sliced beef and finely chopped celery. The soup was not too thick, slightly garlicky and very spicy (as with most dishes on the menu). Not usually a fan of celery, Ms. Taste said it provided a nice contrast to the spicy soup.

Spice I Am

Spice I Am

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Opt for one of the alfresco tables to cool off from the 'heat'

A word of warning to those who have never been: Spice I Am doesn’t take bookings and has very few tables. I’d advise to arrive as close to opening time as possible in order to secure a table. Lunch times are usually quieter.

Spice I Am
90 Wentworth Avenue
Surry Hills NSW 2010
http://www.spiceiam.com/eatin-takeaway/index.asp

Tuesday – Sunday
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM