Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery canteen

The bustling canteen ensconced behind the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery is no secret to the working crowd around Jalan Ampang. Taking centre stage is the chap fan counter, which overflows with at least 50 vegetarian standards such as stuffed tau fu pok, vegetable curry, faux char siew and ‘chicken’ drumsticks fashioned from fried beancurd skin. You don’t have to subsist on just vegetables and mock meat. There are stalls on the side hawking wantan mee, curry mee, doughnuts, barley water, fruits and red bean pancakes that we can’t get enough of. Everything is self-service, and you sit cheek by jowl with others on a long bench. The temple is very serious about their food philosophy: No white sugar, preservatives or MSG – they only use brown sugar in their cooking. Don’t miss the excellent lei cha every Friday.