Gurney Drive Hawker Center Muar Chee

While wandering through the Gurney Drive Hawker Center, I chanced upon the Muar Chee stall (stall number 55) I remembered fondly from years past. Drawn by nostalgia and the unmistakable sight of the lady deftly snipping glutinous dough and tossing it into golden crushed peanuts, I placed an order.

What arrived was every bit as satisfying as memory recalled. The glutinous rice flour pieces were warm and soft yet resilient, offering that ideal balance of chewy fluffiness without becoming overly sticky or dense. Each piece was coated generously with fragrant ground peanuts and a touch of sugar, sticking just enough to create the right bite, without clumping.

It’s easy to overlook the effort that goes into making good Muar Chee. The dough must be made from glutinous rice flour, mixed and kneaded to just the right consistency—not too wet, not too dry. Then there’s the constant attention required to keep it warm and pliable, often over gentle heat, so that it remains supple while being cut. Each order is hand-sliced to size, then tossed repeatedly in a peanut-sugar mix, often with a splash of oil or shallot oil to bring it all together.

This humble snack may look simple, but it’s a result of careful timing, texture control, and that hawker’s sixth sense honed over the years of experience. At just a RM5 for a serving, it’s a labour of love that melts in your mouth—chewy, nutty, subtly sweet—and still, to me, one of the most comforting bites you can have at Gurney Drive.