Best Char Siew in Ipoh. Period.
April 20, 2011 | 14,607 views
Succulent. Caramelized. Crispy edges. Roasted sides. Melt in mouth. Do I get my points across now?
“Miss your Ipoh food reviews!”
Read that tweet earlier this morning, and that was like a jolt to the senses. Much like how it was raining dogs and cats in the middle of last night, complete with eruption of thunders and flashes of lightning. Not a very productive slumber, and I don’t foresee this rainy spell in KL to end soon …..
Back to the case at hand. I do think that I have been straying off the beaten path; progressively as time goes by since moving to PJ four months ago. Felt like ages, huh? But I understand that I have been distancing myself from this blog, the readers (especially from Ipoh/Perak) and time allocated for surfing, reading blogs and social networking have become more of a luxury now, compared to the previous times when these were merely pastimes.
If you could lay your hands on a whole slab of caramelized barbecued pork belly (Char Siew), would you have done so?
I admit my fault. I seek penance. And ladies and gentlemen (the true blue Ipohans, Ipohites, or whatever you choose to call yourself …), here’s where I think sells the BEST CHAR SIEW in IPOH …
Usually, we pre-order the roasted meats (chicken, char siew and siew cheong; aka mixed offal sausages) during festivities. For sure we would be walloping bowls of rice thereafter.
Now if that did not work, then try this;
Let’s say if this particular stall comes to KL. And compete against the likes of Meng Kee, Famous Seremban Favourites, etc etc (sorry, haven’t tried Toast & Roast or 747), then I am sure they can hold their ground and create waves of gastronomical proportions.
No joke, especially when Bercham Cheong Kee (pronounced as “Seong Kee” in Cantonese) does not only roast almost perfect Char Siew, but a mean Siew Cheong (those pork sausages with innards), and a commendable roast chicken too. Talk about deadly combo?
That’s how Mum saves time and cut the Char Siew into bite-sized pieces. This slab looks rather lean, but in reality, the pork was tender, moist and perfectly balanced between lean meat and melt-in-mouth layers of fat. You don’t even need the accompanying sauce, actually.
Look at that Happy Face. Or wait, I hope he did not have cruel intentions in mind … chopping a sausage with a sly smirk?!
Did I go overboard? Nah …. after repeated failed attempts at seeking for a Char Siew that’s comparable to some of the better ones in KL (sorry, can’t find a decent one in Penang … in spite of my love for Penang’s street food), Cheong Kee managed to impress again and again.
That does not mean that this is the end-all, be-all King of Char Siew in Ipoh. For I am sure there will be feedback from you guys. I expect even some fireworks; from fans and detractors alike.
Since I have experienced below-par Char Siew from Cheong Kee on busier days. But on the whole, if you wanna know where to satisfy your cravings for dark, caramelized, succulent and skilfully roasted pork, then you can’t go wrong with Cheong Kee.
There …. you don’t even notice the crowd, nor whatever they’re selling here. But come during peak hours (lunch only, by the way), or during festivities, then you will bear witness to their immense popularity.
Bercham Cheong Kee Restaurant
12-14, Persiaran Medan Bercham 6,
Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Opens for lunch.
GPS Coordinates : 4.636817,101.134696
Google Map to Cheong Kee
For other Char Siew options in Ipoh – Oversea Restaurant, Sun Yeong Wai, Bercham Wong Fee Kee
Oh my god.. I. am. coming. over. tomorrow. You are such a tease motorman…
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:35 am
Tomorrow? Haha …. wait, you mean you’re in Ipoh ah/
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me rarely makan at Bercham, will try to check this out…char siew looks just nicely proportionate
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:36 am
Indeed, this is one of the best in Ipoh, since I don’t like lean char siew with a reddish border.
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The char siew looks great! Thanks for sharing, Motormouth
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OK I just died.. hahahahaha
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:45 am
Don’t. Come back to life jor.
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really?? that good?? !!!! mouth watering already!
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Roast sausage!! I want!
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:55 am
Hey, actually I prefer their siew cheong more than the char siew. As not many places in Ipoh, or KL for that matter, serve them.
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omg ! i am already practically taking my chopsticks to take a chunk & land it into my mouth & let the whole thing melts slowly lah, hahahah………
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:54 am
Haha … that tempting huh? I know. I crave too. Sometimes to have that sticky and sweet chunk of half lean half fat char siew in the mouth …
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Oooo… I’m addicted to char siew!!!
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bercham ah.. quite far away from my place in ipoh..
now im even further that im in PJ.. lol..
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:48 am
I am in PJ also lah. But I still can go back periodically and eat the best of Ipoh street food.
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Mmmm, I sure love a good char siew!
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Yes.. I am going to visit this stall this weekends..
Had try one stall at KL before and the taste was the same description u have mention for this Ipoh stall..
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:45 am
KL a lot in fact. I am going to try that famous Toast & Roast soon, but somehow can’t find the time to do so.
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I think oversea restaurant char siew is the best in Ipoh…authentic.
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 am
Not bad indeed. But slightly pricier than this of course.
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wow this char siew dam unique! with a layers of fat hmmm I remember Shah Alam Sri Muda got 1 too . . . =D
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 23rd, 2011 at 11:46 am
Shah Alam? Any idea the name of the shop?
I once tried to find that famous sakura pork in Glenmarie. Then could not. Spring Golden or something.
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Is it? Been living in Bercham for so long yet had not realize the existence of this shop…must try it once I get back…
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Can’t blame you Jeff. Me neither. I only knew about this when Mum kept buying from this same stall during festivities. Roast chicken, char siew and siew cheong.
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I only know that very long ago, this shop is famous for the Chao Fun. I didnt know they sell char siew as well!! Thanks for sharing
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Very good indeed but do you know my best experience of fantastic char siew is (I mean “was” for it was quite a while back)? In Pudu Market KL they sell strips of char siew in a big flat tray with lots of gravy. They cut the strips to your request and weigh them and you can ask for as much gravy (well, not all of course) as you want! I really miss those.
But I am going to try this Cheong Kee soon.
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 27th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Oh in Pudu market?! Damn, I don’t even know where this is!
Though I am quite happy with some of the places in KL for char siew. Mostly the dark, caramelized cuts with fatty bits proportional to the leaner parts.
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Tham Reply:
May 9th, 2011 at 10:28 am
That’s exactly what they have back then (it probably is still there) dark deep caramelized strips of right proportioned fat/lean char siew.
Pudu Market is easy to find. I think its behind the Stanchart Bank on Jalan Pasar.
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hmm….there is another shop in bercham, selling char siew as well. you can try in out. the shop name Restoran Chong Sai Kei. it’s just same row with Restoran Cheong Kee.
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Oh thanks Pinky. Nice name, that will surely sticks to memories.
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lunch ar? paling early what time start? 10.30am got liao boi?
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
Eh … not sure lah. But I think after 11am safest.
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hi. which are the MUST EAT PLACES IN IPOH… heard that they are famous for their dim sums… can you recommend me some malay food too? thx a million!
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the shop previously sell very nice fried noddle…& change to this shop…i haven’t try their cha siew..but honey chicken wing not bad..worth to try it out
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Thanks kong. Yeah, the char siew’s definitely worth checking out.
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hahaha…. i saw my friend here with his Char Siew
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 15th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Your friend?
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Best char siew in ipoh?? i had it just now when im very hungry and the rice is not fragrance, the charsiew no taste and the presentation is nothing like ur pic.. sorry, but to me it’s not worth to visit
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J2Kfm Reply:
June 27th, 2012 at 12:02 am
Uh oh… that bad? I have never sat there and dine in, but usually when we bought home the char siew (usually the better cuts, and the whole slab for prayers) the char siew turned out fine and caramelized to a beautiful extent.
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[…] any wonder anymore that Motormouth loves his pork? Give me a glistening slab of caramelized pork (Char Siew for the win!), or a crackling crispy cut of pork belly (Siew Yoke) dipped into garlic based chili […]