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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright June 2023
If you thought eating durian with pulut, santan, salt, and sugar was wild, wait until you discover the Taiwanese trend of serving it with ramen. It's astonishing to witness my favourite fruit being consumed in a durian shell alongside ramen in faraway places like Taiwan.
The Malays have been famously known to combine durian with glutinous rice, mixed with santan, salt, and sugar, and enjoy it as a dessert, often accompanied by a cup of black coffee. Sometimes, this unique concoction even serves as a main meal, leaving their stomachs bloated to the point of discomfort.
In a town outside Melaka, a cendol vendor decided to push the boundaries of creativity by adding glutinous rice and a massive chunk of musang king durian to his offerings.
This inventive twist became a hit, attracting countless urban dwellers seeking an adventurous experience on weekends. Young and "crazy" individuals would drive their fancy sports cars from Kuala Lumpur to indulge in this trendy cendol stall because it became the "in" thing to do.
If you have the means and a sense of adventure, consider taking a flight to Taiwan and trying the unconventional combination of ramen with durian.
However, if the journey is beyond your reach, you can visit Menya Shi Shi Do, a restaurant located in Petaling Jaya, where they offer Durian Ramen.
According to reports, the ramen is served inside a durian shell and topped with a piece of durian. Nevertheless, it seems that the fusion of durian and ramen may not appeal to everyone's taste buds.
One reader, as reported by World of Buzz, expressed strong disapproval, stating that the creators of this dish deserved a place in the depths of hell. Another commenter complained that the ramen shop had transformed into a meme shop, suggesting that it may be better to have Kanbe instead.
Despite these mixed reviews, a Taiwanese restaurant remains undeterred in their pursuit of serving ramen in durian fruit shells. According to Malay Mail, Shan He Tang Lamian restaurant has announced that this unique dish will be available starting from June 22.
However, due to technical difficulties, they can only serve 20 bowls per day—ten in the morning and ten in the evening.
Each bowl of this extraordinary ramen is priced between NT$680 (RM102) and NT$780 (RM117).
I must admit that witnessing such extraordinary uses of durian, which were unimaginable in the 1950s when my grandparents complained about its affordability, is truly remarkable.
My late grandfather, who passed away in the late '50s, believed that the price of the durian would skyrocket when the Chinese started consuming it. Today, his dream has become a reality, although he never had the opportunity to witness the Chinese enjoying durian with ramen.
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