Beef Brisket Noodles (Ngau Lam Meen) @ Desa Rishah, Ipoh
June 12, 2010 | 4,625 views
Is this the famous Buntong Beef Noodles? Bright orange signboard fronting the one-lot shop at Desa Rishah, situated within the vicinity of Buntong, Falim and Menglembu.
So far, I am still puzzled by the existence of several eateries proclaiming to be serving “Buntong’s Famous Beef Noodles“. First and foremost, of course there’s the supposedly original Buntong beef noodle stall at a house in Buntong. Then there’s the other more prominent outlet in town, named Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Sri Maju on Jalan Theatre (another highly acclaimed original Buntong beef noodles, for the proprietor moved from Buntong to this shop sometime back in 2004) which has garnered most of the media attention in comparison to the others.
Another branch popped up not long ago at Kafe New Weng Fatt in Ipoh Garden South, that is only opened for breakfast-lunch.
And guess what? Only yesterday I was brought to this shop in Desa Rishah, that has been around for close to 10 years, and … you-guessed-it; BUNTONG BEEF NOODLES again !!! 
Fresh from the Wok; “Sar Kok Liew” (deep-fried stuffed yambean/turnip/jicama) for RM0.50/USD0.15 per piece @ Kedai Makanan Dan Minuman Desa Rishah
With question marks still clouding my head, we ventured over for lunch on a Friday and I was pleasantly surprised at the crowded shop; a sign of good things to come? …..
She was in her elements here, deep-frying the “Liew’s” (Liew is what we call Yong Tau Foo, or stuffed fish paste here in Ipoh) in front of the shop
With no menu in sight, and barely an idea on what to order aside from Beef Noodles (or Beef Brisket Noodles aka “Ngau Lam Meen” in this case) I settled for a serving of Dry “Lou Shu Fun” (Rat’s tail noodles; so-called due to the stubby short rice noodles in a shape that resembles a rat’s tail) with a serving of Beef Briskets in soup.
If you’re not a beef eater, fret not. They also serve the usual “Liew Fun”, or fish ball noodles. Pick your preferred noodles, cooked in soup or dry (tossed with soy sauce+dark soy sauce), and your selection of sides from the array of both fried and boiled “Liew’s”.
Clockwise from top left : Rice vermicelli noodles (Bee Hoon) in soup, my serving of Dry Lou Shu Fun with bean sprouts and chopped scallions, their devilishly red chili sauce to go with the Liew’s, and the deep-fried Liew’s displayed on the sidewalk.
Hearty and robust serving of Beefy goodness; Tender, almost melt-in-mouth cuts of beef briskets (ngau lam), beef tripe, and soft radish in the lip-smacking broth with red dates.
I was wowed when I spooned the first spoonful of the beef soup into my mouth. As clear as the broth may appeared to be, the intense, beefy flavour was evident in every sip. With chopped scallions, chinese celery, and even red dates in the soup, I could not help but licked the bowl clean. Plus, the cuts of beef briskets were tender and delectably-firm, yet without the overly-fatty bits usually associated with this cut of beef from a cow’s lower chest. The tripe (offals from the stomach lining of a cow’s) was good as well, with that slight crunch, yet requiring nothing but a few bites; less workload for the jaws.
Typical of noodles in Ipoh; plump, crunchy and juicy bean sprouts (taugeh) served in a generous manner, even overshadowing the noodles beneath that pile.
The “Liew’s” served at Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Desa Rishah were passable, and you can choose to have an assorted mix of both boiled and fried varieties. The fried ones are prepared freshly on the spot, hence you don’t get soggy, or re-fried again and again items. The Sar Kok Liew (stuffed turnip) was good, but not the best in Ipoh that I’ve tasted. (Go for Big Tree Foot/Dai Shu Geok‘s, Nam Fatt‘s or Ngan Woh‘s version of Sar Kok Liew …. and be prepared to drool). The deep-fried stuffed brinjal was better though, with that almost melt-in-mouth texture.
The “Liew’s” in soup were served in a separate bowl, with an interestingly murky appearance, yet was told by Mr. Z that it was flavourful. The soup is NOT boiled with any parts of the cow’s however, so rest that worry.
You can walk over to the counter and choose your pieces of “Liew” from the varieties laid out in front of the ladies.
A bowl of beef briskets in soup, with a serving of noodles cost me RM5.20/USD1.60. The pieces of “Liew” are priced at RM0.50/USD0.15 each.
So, if you’re lost for options when it comes to breakfast in Ipoh (and you don’t wanna repeat that staggering half an hour wait for a vacant table on Dim Sum Street), or fresh from a hike up the Kledang hills, try the beef noodles (Ngau Lam Meen) from this shop for a change. They also serve the famous “Tai Yuen”, or Big Balls literally, which is a mixture of beef tendon, meat and yam bean.
KEDAI MAKANAN DAN MINUMAN DESA RISHAH
No 3, Persiaran Desa Rishah 1,
Desa Rishah, 30100 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia.
Business hours : They’re opened from about 11am onwards, until late afternoon. Only for lunch. On Sundays, they start from 8.30am onwards.
Closed on Mondays.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to this place.
Directions : If you’re going from Jalan Lahat in Falim towards the Lumut Highway, you will be turning RIGHT at the traffic lights in front of a Nasi Vanggey branch in Falim. After turning right into Jalan Kledang Utara, go straight until you reach a traffic lights in front of Fresh Hotel, and that crispy roast duck place I wrote about. Turn RIGHT at this traffic lights, and go straight. You will pass by the EMAS food court on your right, and finally come to a row of shops on your left. Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Desa Rishah is almost at the end of this row.
But I hate the beansprouts!!!!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 12th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
But WHY?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bean sprouts are crunchy, juicy and sweet …. really.
Oh, and bean sprouts is cultivated in Buntong new village in Ipoh, in case anyone of you are wondering … Read this article from Ipoh Echo, for a better idea :
http://ipohecho.com.my/v2/2010/04/30/ipoh%E2%80%99s-sprouting-fame-2/
[Reply]
THE liu are good here, but i FOUND it’s quite high in ajimonoto, damn thirsty after eating!!! but once a while is ok la….i love the sa kot and fu pei
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Indeed, and I thought it was the tasty beef soup that contained most of the MSG.
But once in a while, as you’d say … ok lah …
[Reply]
The beansprout are not clean. :p
[Reply]
Yeh, i luv the sar kok liew & the rest..
Prefer Nam Fatt rather than Dai Shu Geok..
Btw have you try the one at Jln Bendahara..
Think it’s call Kar Pin..
Looking at the noodles & ‘liew’ makes me so hungry lio at this hour..
haiz..
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Yes, Melody. I have blogged about Kar Pin before.
http://www.j2kfm.com/kar-pin-eating-shop-jalan-bendahara-ipoh/
But personally, I like Dai Shu Geok and Nam Fatt the most, compared to the others.
Of course, Ngan Woh in Bercham fries a tasty Sar Kok Liew as well.
[Reply]
Melody Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 12:21 am
Dài Shu Geok is kinda hot & stuffy.. Usually I tapau geh..
Whereas Kar Pin ‘liew’ is big so my choice is limited as I cannot finished..
At times I just ordered the ‘liew’ minus noodles!
[Reply]
totoro Reply:
June 14th, 2010 at 11:57 am
I also like Kar Pin. The place is clean unlike Big Tree Foot.
HMM… no beef balls? Been looking for one Beef ball noodle shop i used to eat when i was a kid in Ipoh… sadly have not found any yet
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 11:03 am
They do have beef balls, but I opted to have the beef briskets and tripe instead.
Where in Ipoh?
Maybe I might have heard about it.
[Reply]
where to get sar kok liew in KL!!! somehow you get plenty in ipoh though. i wonder why.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 13th, 2010 at 11:02 am
I also wonder why it’s so hard to find them elsewhere. Not that you can’t get yam bean that easily other than in Ipoh …..
[Reply]
Beef Noodles seem to be hitting Ipoh everywhere eh! Freshly fried liews are the best! hate those which are re-fried and hard and dry!
[Reply]
You just made me hungry!! The “liew” is quite reasonable hor? A piece in KL these days cost double! >.<
[Reply]
it’s always SOMETHING + sar kok liew right? in ipoh anything goes hand in hand with SKL ! well, it helps that i totally LOVE SKL!!! so yeah, ngau lam SKL.. here i comeeeeeee
[Reply]
I will highly recommend Cheong Kee Beef Soup Noodle (?????) at Rainbowcity “tong sui kai”, the soup of the beef noodle is clear and nice, the best is very less MSG, as i am very sensitive to MSG so i can easily know, and their special chili sauce is very good. 5 stars for this beef noodle.
They close on every sunday.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Hey this is exactly what my colleague said!
You know which stall is it? The number I mean. Near to the famous ABC stall?
[Reply]
Lyn Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 10:40 am
The front part next to the main road, 2nd stall beside the mamak stall, heard that the mamak’s stall soup kambing oso very good, but few times ordered oso “habis”
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Oh thanks Lyn. Then I know where this is, a distance away from the ABC stall no 22.
Opens for dinner only right?
Lyn Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:33 am
Yeah only open for dinner, hey the ABC stall is the one that selling “mango lolo”? as i found that there is one ice-kacang which is very nice jz few stall beside the beef noodle, which is selling by one short-hair aunty, i personally like the ice-kacang very much and think it is the best among all the stalls there.
J2Kfm Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Oh really? Yes, I have tried ABC at stall number 22 (the most famous one, i think around the middle of the row) and also another beside the Pangkor Curry Mee.
Not sure about the lolo though.
There is a coffee shop in Chemor, by the name of Wonderful Restaurant, which also served ‘Ngau Lam Fun’ including ‘Ngau Pin’ (requires early order). Apart from this, there are also fish head/slices noodles, dry curry wild boar meat, wan ton mee, etc. All these are served by one stall only who is the wife of the shop owner who goes by the name of ‘fei lou’. Their half boiled eggs are also well known. This ‘fei lou’ is my friend who always brag about his ‘ngau lam’ and boast that customers come from wide and far – Cameron, Sg Siput and Ipoh. I do not take ‘ngau lam’ so I have no comment but the fish slices noodle is very tasty. Do try and give your review.
If you come by Jelapang, upon reaching the traffic light(next to the Shell Station) at Chemor Main Road, go straight, then turn left. Upon reaching the 1st junction in front of the market, turn right. The shop is at the corner on the right.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Thanks. Is this near to Tung Hoi, which is opposite the market?
Means this ‘fei lou’ is opened for breakfast-lunch only?
Good to know another place that serves ngau lam meen. And the exotic ‘ngau pin’ !!!
Though I have doubts if I’m ever calling in to reserve a …. erm, ‘piece’ for myself!
[Reply]
Peter Ng Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Ya, it is quite near to Tung Hoi. It is located at the corner(beside the railway line) of the row of shop houses beside the market. It is opened from morning till noon. Besides this, fei lou is also quite adept with the wok and for those who ask, he could also whipped up some dishes (? ??like steamed fish head.
? ? ? ? ? ? (Wonderful Restaurant)
No. 1, Market Lane, 31200 Chemor.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 24th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Thanks Peter. I will take note of the address, and hopefully go over for some good food in Chemor soon.
[...] almost consecutive posts on noodles (Beef Noodles, Siamese Laksa, Laksa Pak Ngah, Mee Hailam & Mee Goreng) [...]
[...] Desa Rishah Beef Noodles (NEW!!) – Buntong Beef Noodles [...]
Hi there!
Just some information in regards to the “Buntong’s Famous Beef Noodles“.
First and foremost, of course there’s the supposedly original Buntong beef noodle stall at a house in Buntong. : [ The whole owner has moved it to Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Sri Maju on Jalan Theatre for expansion. Now its run by the wife and family as the owner was involved in accident but he is still there advising, assisting. ]
Another branch popped up not long ago at Kafe New Weng Fatt in Ipoh Garden South, that is only opened for breakfast-lunch. [This is also by the family members related to the owner above ]
There also another one that operates in Old Town, just opposite the Ipoh’s Little Indian. also runs by family members related .
And there is another one in Emas Food Court near Taman Mas, which is opposite this Desa Rishah Beef Noodles.
All these are run by / related to the Cheah’s family.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
The house in Buntong, New Weng Fatt’s and Desa Rishah have all been blogged before. Only the one in old town that I am curious about.
[Reply]