Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Sushi Zento – One of the latest addition to the Japanese cuisine scene in Ipoh; making up the number to almost a dozen now within the same area.

Sushi Zento hails from the same Edo Ichi group of Japanese restaurants; with outlets in Klang Valley, Penang, Sabah and now Perak. Other famous names include Azuma (read the dining experience at Queensbay Mall), Sushi Zento in Penang and now Ipoh, as well as Hana in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The sudden surge in number of Japanese restaurants in Ipoh; particularly around the Medan Ipoh Bestari area (near to Jusco/Tesco of Ipoh Garden East) had initially gathered steam and generated raving interests for freshly-flown in sashimi, premium grade beef and fusion sushi rolls. However, after awhile, the restaurants started to mimic one another with no clear differentiation and started charging premium prices for lackadaisical Japanese fares.

Preparing fresh sushi to be placed on the kaiten belt, the crunchy and addictive Soft Shell Crab + Salmon Skin Salad with Sesame Dressing (RM20/USD7) and Mushroom Fried Rice (Nameko Yaki Meshi) (RM6/USD2)

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The iconic Hugh Low Street (renamed to Jalan Sultan Iskandar) Hakka mee has moved to the opposite shop a few years ago.

“Are you back for the General Election?”

That was the question imposed by one of the three friendly brothers running this Hakka mee stall at Paris Restaurant & Motel at a corner of Hugh Low Street.

Unlike the comparatively arrogant (yet we flew to there like moths to the light) police station curry mee a few doors away, we were served almost the very instant we parked our heavy butts down. And got our noodles within 5 minutes’ wait, in spite of the crowd.

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Crispy Yam Basket filled with Kung Pao Chicken

Take 2? You’re right on the mark there. Sam Poh Restaurant is not exactly fresh news, neither was this an ancient piece of fanfare. Read my first review of the relatively new kid on the block around Tambun/Ipoh Garden East area and drool at the sight of Yam stuffed with Smoked Duck and Claypot Braised Pig’s Tendon.

To most of the people, Sam Poh (Three Treasure?) is a gem waiting to be discovered. Or at times, the selfish alter ego takes precedence and they would rather have this establishment shy away from the limelight.

Me? I’m definitely sharing my second experience there. Read the rest of this entry »

Coming back to Ipoh this time around evoked a myriad of different emotions. And reactions.

First of all, the dastardly-warm weather had me soaked the very next minute after stepping out from the shower. And any sign of rain or storm (let the thunder roared and ripped through the skies …) was a dream-shattered as the very next moment, the sun peeked from beyond the horizons … and exhibited its most glorious warmth.

Pig’s Brain Soup & Watercress Soup @ Hung Kee Rice Shop

Secondly, this particular Discover Perak episode was having a whale of a time being recycled on AFC throughout the weekend. And hence, the explanations that ensued. By the way, this was filmed 3 years ago and I still love my day job, TQVM.

There’s not much of a food excursion this time though (largely due to a pretty obvious reason which I will touch on in my future post), but still managed to squeeze in a dinner at Hung Kee Rice Shop; a more than 60 years old historical establishment next to the now-demolished Pasar Bulat (Octagon Market?) or “Pat Kok Ting” on Cowan Street.

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Allow me to start off today’s post with a toast. Cheers, dear readers. And thank you for the patience …. Motormouth is coming back to Ipoh tomorrow.

More food reviews, perhaps? But this time I have a different motive on top of the monthly homecoming-cum-gluttony sessions. Let me drop more hints this weekend.

English Roast Pork (RM31/USD10) – Homemade Roasted Pork Belly

What’s cooking tonight? Bricks & Barrels. Wait, you mean this is the FIRST time I am writing about this well-known watering hole along the used-to-be-quiet street named Jalan Lau Ek Ching in Ipoh?

Yeah. In spite of the countless times of contemplating, failed planning, wrong moments (they were booked for functions, the place was crowded and there was once we went on a Christmas eve or something) and utter annoyance of some readers over the omission of this establishment.

So here goes …. Read the rest of this entry »

Siam Laksa @ Restoran Ko Pi Tim (the name sounds like an overkill, really) in Medan Ipoh Bistari; aka the ‘Little Japan’ of Ipoh. Don’t ask why … just go and see for yourself.

Almost a week of disappearance. And no, I have not been traveling outstation, holidaying overseas or strapped to a chair and bombed to oblivion. The sheer barrage of workload and pending matters post-CNY (okay, technically speaking, it’s not even over yet. It’s Chap Goh Meh; the 15th day tomorrow!) got me hurling myself towards the monitor on a 24/7 basis.

Plus, no thanks to the crappy Internet speed lately, the frustration just kept building up to a crescendo of flames in my head.

Phew. And then there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. Or a shimmering glimmer of hope to feed the dire soul. Sunday’s always the best day to recharge and expel the accumulated toxins over the week.

Wantan Mee & Hakka Mee @ Ko Pi Tim

So here goes nothing. A story conjured up to feed the cravings. Wanted to write about the Lou Sang experience at Gao Ren Guan, New Paris and subsequently Le Meridien. Yet, the lure of reliving the pleasurable moments of digging into a slab of greasy pork chop from the hawker stall or a plate (yes, a plate) of Siam Laksa bursting with coconut milk is so much stronger.

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So, how has the Lunar New Year been treating you thus far? Were you part of the crowd enjoying some Gangnam lurve up north? Or frolicking rolling on the streets in KL or on your knees thanking heavens above for the brief escape from reality of no traffic jams?!

Everywhere else was a blast I am sure. Loud fireworks, dancing lions, snakey tunes (U-la-la …. it rolls off the tongue rather fine now, though it was a pretty cringe-inducing endeavour the first listen), politicians with a sudden interest in drumming and learning the Chinese language, while some others have become YouTube darlings with tongue-in-cheek rendition of daring (to make a change) tunes.

Dahfa Fish Fillets can be tied into knots, deep fried and resulting in a very addictive snack!

To most others, yours truly in this bracket obviously, the festive season revolves around more eating than the usual days. Traditionally, we ate kuih kapit (so-called love letters; those fan-shaped crispy thin snacks), nian gao (sweetened sticky rice cakes), pineapple tarts and popped groundnuts.

But then again, humans revolutionize anything and everything. Evolution of modern CNY snacks include fried arrowroot chips (nga ku), crabsticks/filament sticks, seaweed with beancurd sheets, and even sliced lotus roots (ling ngau). But how about Dahfa fish fillets (a ready-to-eat snack to begin with) or fresh potato chips?

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