Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Mi Cong Yin (Scholar’s Noodles) – The famous pork noodles shop in Ipoh Garden South; a household name for more than a decade now. Previously, they were operating at a corner coffee shop at the other end of Scotch’s Pub.

“Sigh … I’m running out of ideas on what to write when I am back in Ipoh.”

“How about the Cong Yin Fun (literally translated to Scholar’s Noodles) in Ipoh Garden South?”

“Hmm, you know I have this thing against soupy noodles!”

And yet, I relented one sunny Sunday morning. And found myself at ease with a bowl of sumptuous pork noodles that might have come a little too late. Read on to find out WHY this is still the most famous pork noodles brand in Ipoh, and more on their first branch outside of Ipoh! Read the rest of this entry »

Shoyu Ramen (Regular for RM25/USD8), Kara Miso Ramen (Regular for RM27/USD9) and the freebies thanks to Worthy Book‘s vouchers –  Gyoza with Pork Filling and Cha Shu (Roasted Pork Slices)

In a blink of an eye, Hokkaido Santouka Ramen has braced (more like breezed) through a tumultuous year filled with challenges from various ramen stalwarts mushrooming all over Klang Valley. The recent additions of Menya Musashi and Gantetsu at Eat Paradise @ Isetan, One Utama further entrenched this ramen frenzy all the way from the land of the rising sun.

But of course, our good neighbour down south (Singapore) has already been severely affected by the ramen wars (Read my review on Ippudo if you will). Since Santouka’s grand opening on 29th July 2011, the outlet has remained unfazed by the adjacent Japanese food joints (Suki-Ya’s still booming!) in Tokyo Street @ Pavilion, and clearly Marutama‘s not a strong contender either.

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A potpourri of robust flavours; slivers of filleted black tilapia fish, pickled cabbage, dried red and green chillies from China and fragrant cloves of garlic boiled in a broth that was savoury, tangy and slightly spicy at the same time.

Ever since the ‘demise’ of the last remaining Szechuan restaurant in Ipoh, this city built from the glory days of tin mining has since been left in the lurch; a town devoid of authentic, ethnic Chinese cuisine that stretches far beyond the Cantonese, Hakka and Teochew categories.

After a relatively satiating dinner at Canton Palace the night before, we spied with our little glutton eyes a striking red signboard of a restaurant named Zi Long Restaurant (translated to Purple Dragon … but sadly, not “Barney” as we all know it! ).

Their specialty? Szechuan cuisine. And VERY close to the real feast served in China. Read on to know why.  Read the rest of this entry »

A Chinese Feast unlike the casual ‘dai chow’ restaurants; cooked by a chef from Hong Kong @ Canton Palace Restaurant & Lounge

Opened since 4th of July 2012 (Freedom?!), Canton Palace is a new restaurant in Ipoh Garden East that is a joint venture between three partners with minimal experience in the F&B industry, yet proving to be an inspiring breath of fresh air; combining dishes that showcase the flavours of Hong Kong and exemplary service level.

Crispy Aromatic Duck (1/4 portion for RM15/USD5) wrapped like how you would devour Peking Duck, yet including shredded meat of a crispy, deep fried duck drumstick, and stalks of cucumber resting on a bed of sweetish, hoi sin sauce.

Modern Chinese cuisine with a splash of fusion written all over the UK-inspired menu (the chef apparently has a working stint over in the country back then), read on to discover this invigorating cross between authentic and contemporary Chinese dishes.  Read the rest of this entry »

Always pleasant to find baskets of freshly-steamed dim sum on the table to grace the morning with …

Dragon Gate Dim Sum. Corny? Bombastic? Or plain ingenious?

For slightly less than a year, Dragon Gate Dim Sum Restaurant has been operating at this slightly quieter corner of Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara. (Map to come at the end of post). To no fanfare or barrage of brickbats, albeit the unmistakably-oriental branding and relatively prime location.

Shanghai Fried Rice Sheets with Shrimps (RM6/USD2) – Something you’d be hard-pressed to find in conventional dim sum outlets

Spearheading this Dragon Gate movement would be the dim sum ‘si fu’ (master) hailing from his stint in the kitchens of Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, and one whom has learned the ropes from a dim sum maestro from Hong Kong.

Ironically, chef Cheah comes from Ipoh too.

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CRUNCHY GRAVEL  (RM9.60/USD3.20) – Almost like the (Banana)Split, but not quite. They do have a Banana Boat/Split variety with a split banana (duh!), cornflakes, Coco Crunch, cherries, crushed peanuts and chocolate sauce.

For 21 years (a reasonably lengthy period for myself, and I’m sure some of you readers were not even born yet!), an ice-cream lounge has set foot in Ipoh Garden and has not budged an inch since then. The setting; featuring an ambient, almost dreamy-like interior with a brush of nostalgia, soft lighting and paraphernalia infused with a lingering sense of old-school feeling; has successfully lent the cafe an irresistible charm.

So effective was this combination of elements that you’ll always be assured of the same wave of feelings washing over you as you step into a lounge like how it has always been since the 90′s.

Sidewalk Ice-Cream Lounge @ Ipoh Garden

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Chicken In A Basket (RM9.90/USD3.30)

17 years. If you were born in 1995 and can appreciate the perilous journey you went through childhood and adolescence, then you’d have a much better gauge of Beacon Point’s equally arduous yet admirable tenure as one of the longest-standing cafe in the town of Ipoh.

This is not the first time I am penning my thoughts on Beacon Point. You can read my previous review HERE.

After countless mishaps in the forms of new bistros, cafes, fusion wannabes and everything in between, still, the tried-and-tested establishments always work wonders to the tastebud, and satiating expectations.

FMS has since closed for renovations for a good 5 years now. Rendezvous has given way to an endless ‘onslaught’ of so-so cafes (though I have to admit that Eastern’s Brasserie was pretty good), while Miner’s Arms is no longer the ‘fine diner it used to be; when they used to serve an exemplary oxtail soup in the 80′s.

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