Aunty Franklee - Stewed in 23 herbs and spices, chargrilled turmeric chicken, beef ribs, lamb ribs

Aunty Franklee, Melbourne CBD

Aunty Franklee

You don’t see bak kut teh in restaurants very often here, but Sugarbun has been happily pumping out claypots of the pork-based herbal soup for the last three years. Twins Francesca and Fiorn Lee are still the owners of its reincarnation, Aunty Franklee, which features fresh wallpaper and a new menu. Their signature bak kut teh is still, of course, on the menu.

Aunty Franklee - Borneo Milk Tea w coconut sugar, red tea, evaporated milk ($3,80), Pear and White Wood - Slow brewed w goji berries, dried longan, dates ($4.10)
Borneo Milk Tea w coconut sugar, red tea, evaporated milk ($3,80), Pear and White Wood - Slow brewed w goji berries, dried longan, dates ($4.10)

The interesting drinks selection includes lemon barley and borneo milk tea. Most of us try the sweet but refreshing Pear and White Wood drink with goji berries, longan, dates, black and white fungus and a large segment of pear floating inside.

Aunty Franklee - Old Fashioned Bak Kut Teh w multigrain rice and tea egg ($18.90)
Old Fashioned Bak Kut Teh w multigrain rice and tea egg ($18.90)

Aunty Franklee - Dry Bak Kut Teh - Pork - Smokey ribs, belly, meatballs, okra, lotus root, charred and glazed in garlic, soy and chillies ($22.60)
Dry Bak Kut Teh - Pork - Smokey ribs, belly, meatballs, okra, lotus root, charred and glazed in garlic, soy and chillies ($22.60)
Aunty Franklee - Dry Bak Kut Teh - Let's Meet Up - Smoky pork rib, pork belly, pork meatballs, beef rib, lamb rib, okra ($20.90)
Dry Bak Kut Teh - Let's Meet Up - Smoky pork rib, pork belly, pork meatballs, beef rib, lamb rib, okra ($20.90)

The soupy, and also the less common dry variety of bak kut teh, are as good as ever. It’s a Hokkien and Teochew dish most often found in Malaysia and Singapore. The strong herbal flavour of the soupy version may not be to everyone’s taste, but coming from a Hokkien-Malaysian background, the broth brings me memories of winter days being warmed up by bowls of rice soaked in soup, pork spare ribs and shiitake mushrooms. Chinese doughnuts are usually enjoyed alongside bak kut teh; we order some to soak in some of the tasty liquid. The dry bak kut teh still has the punchy, caramelised flavours we remember from Sugarbun, and is still my preferred option of the two.

Aunty Franklee - Soft shell crab gado gado salad ($13.90)
Soft shell crab gado gado salad ($13.90)

Aunty Franklee - Stewed in 23 herbs and spices, chargrilled turmeric chicken, beef ribs, lamb ribs
Aunty Franklee - Stewed in 23 herbs and spices, chargrilled turmeric chicken, beef ribs, lamb ribs
Stewed in 23 herbs and spices, chargrilled turmeric chicken, beef ribs, lamb ribs

The soft shell crab gado gado salad is a little light on the crab and too heavy with the peanut sauce, though this is forgotten once we tuck into the grilled meats. All the meats are stewed in 23 different herbs and spices before being chargrilled. We sample the beef and lamb ribs, which are all tasty, but I particularly love the crispy-skinned and juicy turmeric chicken.

Aunty Franklee - Mother Hen Soup w mushrooms and chicken, multigrain rice and tea egg ($14.90)
Mother Hen Soup w mushrooms and chicken, multigrain rice and tea egg ($14.90)

Perhaps surprisingly, the table’s favourite was the Mother Hen Soup. A simple concoction of mixed grain rice and a tea egg, swimming in a chicken and mushroom broth, it’s comforting and flavoursome, and the herbs are not as full-on as the soupy bak kut teh.

Not only does Aunty Franklee have good bak kut teh, but you can get it in your belly as late as 4am in the morning.

Disclaimer: I was invited to Aunty Franklee as a guest, however, opinions expressed here are purely my own, and are based on my experience at the time

Aunty Franklee
205-207 Russell St
Melbourne CBD, VIC, 3000
(03) 9650 4336
www.auntyfranklee.com
Aunty Franklee Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

2 Comments
  • Peggy Lee
    Posted at 19:29h, 22 January Reply

    Very bad services and attitude ! Just arrived the shop to meet 3 friends in 3 second and still thinking if want to having dinner at their shop ..who knows one of the waitress was rude to ask us leave by not standing there ! So dissatisfaction her tone !!!!

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