KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Traditionally, crème caramel is a pudding made from a baked custard mixture of milk, eggs and sugar. It will be accompanied with a topping of liquid caramel.

The texture of the pudding is smooth thanks to it being slowly cooked in a bain-marie or a constant temperature water bath. Usually it is cooked ahead and kept chilled in a refrigerator before it is served.

All over the world, the pudding is called many names. In Spain and other Spanish speaking countries, it is known as a flan. The Japanese label it as purin that means pudding and you can find it sold at convenience stores.

Here in Malaysia, you can find it available in coffee shops especially Ipoh where it is simply called caramel custard. The tradition probably started out in Thean Chun, that iconic kopitiam everybody goes to for kai si hor fun (kway teow soup with shredded chicken). Later, many other coffee shops followed Thean Chun’s lead and started serving this dessert too.

You also have caramel custard stalls popping up during Ramadan bazaar. The dessert is a hit with many Malays who enjoy the sweet taste for buka puasa after fasting the whole day. Some enterprising stalls even offer fruit topped versions of the pudding minus the caramel.

Kedai Makanan Sing Kee Kitchen
61A, Jalan Desa Bakti
Taman Desa, KL
Open daily: 9am to 9pm

This place is a favourite stop-over for their BBQ roast meats and mixed rice dishes. As the owner hails from Ipoh, they also sell caramel custard. The texture is slightly firmer but it is still satisfying. The pudding is made daily so get it early before it runs out later in the day.

Annie1 Family Restaurant
20, Jalan SS21/58
Damansara Uptown, PJ
Open daily: 7.30am to 9.30pm

Famed for their Menglembu wantan mee and curry mee, this place also serves caramel custard similar to the iconic Thean Chun in Ipoh. The silky smooth egg-rich pudding can be quite sweet on its own. Balance out the sweetness by sipping the ice cold water served on the side. You also have homemade kaya served with steamed glutinous rice, an Ipoh breakfast favourite here.

Ara Vietnamese Noodles
45, Jalan SS22/11
Damansara Jaya, PJ
Open: 10am to 9pm. Closed on Monday.

Visit this Vietnamese eatery for their banh flan. This version of crème caramel was introduced to the Vietnamese by the French. Here it’s slightly firmer on the outside with a more melting centre. Ask for the rich tasting coffee syrup that will boost your caffeine levels and balance out the sweetness of this dessert.

La Mexicana
241B, Lorong Nibong
Off Jalan Ampang, KL
Open: 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm.

At this Mexican restaurant, order their Flan De La Abuela. The creamy melt in the mouth custard is based on their grandmother’s recipe. For this festive season, they are celebrating with a posada procession on December 11 and 16 where you can break the piñata and sing Christmas carols Mexican style. They also have a branch at 12, Jalan Telawi 5, Bangsar.

Ilaika
17, Jalan 20/13
Paramount Gardens, PJ
Open daily: 11am to 9pm.

If you prefer the more delicate Japanese purin that is served cold, try this select store that gets its supply from a Japanese chef. Previously from Nagasaki, he also makes superb baked donuts that are available at the store. Take note that the purin is not always available so call ahead to check if there are supplies.