Today I visited the Food Place food court, located at Pavilion Mall. The food court is located beside the Oriental Kopi Restaurant.
This time, I ordered passion fruit pickled veges fish mihun soup from the ZDY Express stall, which cost RM19.80 per bowl.
This bowl of passion fruit pickled vegetables fish mihun soup looks bright, light and refreshing. The soup has a golden-orange colour with a glossy surface, showing that the broth is rich yet not too heavy. The thin mihun sits beneath slices of soft white fish, while vegetables like bok choy and Chinese cabbage add freshness and crunch.
What makes this soup stand out is the combination of passion fruit, pickled vegetables and a light spicy kick. The passion fruit gives the broth a fruity sweetness and tropical aroma, while the pickled vegetables bring a sour, fermented taste. There is also a mild spiciness in the soup, likely coming from the pickled vegetables themselves, as many preserved vegetables are mixed with chilli during the pickling process. This creates a layered flavour that is sour, savoury, slightly sweet and gently spicy all at once.
The fish slices look soft and delicate, allowing the soup to remain the main highlight. The thin mihun absorbs the broth easily, so every bite carries the flavour of the spicy-sour soup. The vegetables also help balance the richness, making the dish feel lighter and more refreshing.
Traditional fish bee hoon soup has roots in Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking, especially among Teochew communities. It is usually made with fish stock, sliced fish, bee hoon and vegetables. Over time, many modern versions started adding ingredients like pickled vegetables, tomatoes, sour plum or passion fruit to create more unique flavours.
This passion fruit pickled vegetables fish mihun soup is special because it combines the comfort of traditional fish soup with a modern fruity and spicy twist. The sourness from the pickled vegetables, the sweetness of the passion fruit and the slight chilli heat work together to make the broth more addictive and appetising.