KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 -- In the world of food, Sam Kan Cheong (Cantonese for "three shops") noodles are iconic. But what is its origin story?

Apparently these three shops in KL were famous for their flat pork ball noodles back in the 1950s, hence that was the name everyone associated the popular noodles with.

In terms of location, I remember stories told by my parents that it was located at the back lane of Kompleks Kota Raya. Every time we walked down that lane to get to Lebuh Pudu, they would point out those shops.

I'm not sure why they shut down. In later years, my family would go to Win Heng Seng in Imbi to get their pork ball noodles.

It was only much later in life that I found out there are many versions of the pork ball noodle...