Labu Labi Cafe Smoked Lamb Ribs

The mountain roads leading to Fraser's Hill and back are a haven for motorcycle and bicycle riders. The steep climbs, equally steep descents and tight corners are a great way to get your heart pumping and for building up a big appetite. A short while back, I found myself tackling the sweeping twisties in the early morning from the Selangor side, only to find myself in the foothills in Pahang near noon, just in time for an early lunch. That's how I came upon Labu Labi Cafe.

I needed a strong cup of coffee. A quick search on my phone showed Labu Labi Cafe on the outskirts of Raub so I rode over. I arrived as the place was opening up and got to chatting with the proprietor about the intricacies of smoking and grilling meat. He has a wood-fired smoker out front which he uses for certain special dishes.

My iced latte showed up quickly. I was in for a surprise - out here in a small town known more for the redolent whiff, some say stench, of durian, was a really good cup of coffee. Strong and clean flavors all around from the Colombian and Sumatran beans.

On the recommendation of the proprietor, I tried the smoked lamb ribs (RM37). The meat was juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender; apparently the owner smokes the ribs in a proper smoker for 6 hours to cook it slowly, making the meat tender and getting the wood smoke into every morsel. I'm usually not a fan of greasy lamb fat yet I enjoyed the mesquite and oak flavors.

Good chunky mashed potatoes and good brown sauce too, but I wished the salad had a vinaigrette dressing instead of mayo to cut through the fattiness of the lamb.