Ipoh Old Town : Fresh Chapatis @ Moga Punjab Restaurant
May 31, 2010 | 7,205 viewsAmong the many types of Indian bread, the healthiest choice has to be Chapati. I have to admit though, aside from the average roti canai, tosai and naan, I seldom go for the other fancier items. But in this case, I don’t usually order chapati unless it’s proven to be really really good.
He was merely posing for the shot, not in action sadly. 🙂 Very down to earth staff at Moga Punjab, I felt comforted in the sense that I don’t get attitudes, nor impatient intrusions while taking my sweet time glancing around and spewing questions asking about the foods they serve.
I first read about Moga Punjab from Simple Girl’s post back in November 2009. Yes, a good half year marched past, and I’m only getting to this. And Moga Punjab is conveniently situated in old town of Ipoh, along the stretch of Ipoh’s Little India, and within the vicinity of my work place.
Ahem … I AM SLOW, I know …. but blame it on the abundance of other delicious options around old town. Talk about excuses, eh? 😉
The samosa with curry potatoes filling was a little too hardened and cold, but the crunchy morsels of pakora were tasty as snacks to go with the tarty, tangy and minty sauce.
Moga Punjab makes their chapatis from scratch. Literally. You will bear witness to the whole process of rolling the dough, kneading effortlessly, thrown on the griddle and voila! In a flash your warm, fresh and fluffy piece of chapati arrives at your table, with two accompanying gravies for good measure.
One being the omnipresent dhall (curried lentils?), but presented in a greenish hue, possibly from the addition of herbs and spices, with a light tinge of mint. The other gravy not only accompanied the chapati, but also was served with the ‘pakoras’, or Indian-style batter fried snacks that reminded me of the Malay’s ‘cucur’.
The curry potato fillings in the samosa, the rich and creamy mango lassi, Mr Hardial Singh aka the Owner, and the addictively healthy dhal curry.
The chapatis might not have impressed the others, but I personally liked mine for a variety of reasons. One being the soft, fluffy texture that’s rather hard to come by. The closest resemblance is the one served at New Weng Fatt coffee shop in Ipoh Garden South, that also houses the Buntong Beef Noodles and Teluk Intan Nasi Pulut by day, and the homely Thum’s Burger Western Food at night.
Secondly, Moga Punjab’s chapati was ‘tasty’. Yes, although no ghee was used in the making (at least, if there ever was, it has to be of very, very miniscule amount to be detected), and no flavours except from the wholesome, wholewheat flour used in the making of the bread. And combined with the gravies aforementioned, I’d rate this as one of the better ones in Ipoh.
The Paratha – In case you want a little grease (ghee oil) to go along with your chapati
Bear in mind that they have NO menu. You only get to order from the minimal items listed on the walls (the usual mamak fares of mee goreng, maggi goreng, and nasi goreng), glancing at the foods being devoured by the neighbouring patrons, or you can ask the ever-affable Mr Hardial or his pleasant staff for recommendations. But no roti canai, roti telur, tosai, roti john, naan, or whatever you can easily ramble off at say, SS2 Murni or the likes.
The Paratha was an uncanny resemblance of the chapati. A close cousin, I’d reckon. I was half expecting a piece of ‘roti canai’ to be served, (as our beloved neighbour from the south routinely call the bread ‘paratha’ instead of roti canai) but what arrived was a chapati with slightly more ghee, and shaped into a folded square. The same gravies were served, hence there really was not much of a difference.
Do give their pakoras a try, if you’re feeling peckish and a full blown meal is out of the question. They do serve rice with a variety of dishes in case you’re feeling famished.
Beautiful, glistening balls of sweet delights greet those with a sweet tooth to be satiated …..
You can also find many Indian sweetmeats (desserts) at the glass display cabinet fronting the shop; just like the Sri Ananda Bahwans, and Kalai. A colleague once proclaimed that the desserts served at Moga Punjab are generally less sweet when compared to the other cloyingly tooth-numbing versions sold by the other Indian restaurants. I could not attest to this, for I was not in the mood for a sugar rush that early in the morning. 🙂
Step in for a simple, wholesome Punjabi affair. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be enticed … A refreshing change from the usually robust, spicy and heavier South Indian cuisine?
MOGA PUNJAB RESTAURANT
No 12, Jalan Lahat,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 605-242 2918, 6017-508 4785 (Hardial Singh)
Business Hours : 7.30 am – 9.30 pm. Closed on the third Monday of the month.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to Moga Punjab in Ipoh old town.
Directions : This restaurant is located along the Little India of Ipoh, along Jalan Lahat in old town.
Just to share another worthy chapati stall, there’s one along the trunk road leading to Tapah from Kampar town. The restaurant’s called Restoran Capati, and you can’t miss its glaring red signboard as you travel along the road. Anywhere else you’d like to share?
Great Capati in Old Town of Ipoh – Moga Punjab…
Made fresh on the spot, the warm, fluffy and soft chapatis from Moga Punjab is addictive, and healthy to boot….
Hi there…..well, I’m a punjabi too….but I dont quite like chapati.
I reckon next time round you should try this: ‘Aloo Pratha’. Its the best Punjabi food for me!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Hi there Himmat. Aloo is cauliflower?
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 31st, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Oh sorry … my bad … Gobi is cauliflower. 🙂
Aloo is potatoes.
I think I might have tasted a close relative of Aloo Paratha .. from Ananda Bahwan’s evening menu.
[Reply]
The best part is to wash it all down with some cold cold lassi. 😀
[Reply]
so, you also like the chapatti ya…but my punjabi fren told me he preferred the one at anderson’s…..
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:38 am
You mean at Old Andersonian Cafeteria? Oh I never knew they have chapatis as well.
[Reply]
Looks good as well 🙂 I am same as you, i like fluffy and soft chapati. There are a few places in brickfields that serve good chapati as well
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:36 am
In Brickfields one can find so many good Indian fares, but sadly … I dunno which to choose amongst the many outlets.
[Reply]
neko-hime Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 11:09 pm
My favorite rule – try one restaurant every day! 🙂
[Reply]
I like my chapati soft and fluffy too. Hard to come by in mamak stalls. Worth a visit when I am in Ipoh.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:34 am
Yeah I agree … this has to be one of the better ones in Ipoh. Though I don’t usually go for chapatis here. Maybe there are better gems elsewhere?
[Reply]
It’s been a while since I had chapati…and pakora…and samosa. A common case of too much food to eat, not enough stomach space! =P
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 10:33 am
Haha … make way, make way for mroe Indian delights?
[Reply]
Ah… never try Punjabi food before. Most of the time it would be roti canai for me 😛
[Reply]
I don’t remember the last time I had capati! Healthiest Indian bread option indeed! But I still fancy naan more.. gosh.. getting more and more unhealthy now, ain’t I? :S
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 1st, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Nah, Naan also okay … until you decide to order the Cheese Naan, paired with Tandoori Chicken, and various gravies piled on ….. 🙂
[Reply]
Must be very good 🙂
[Reply]
Why is chapati the most healthiest? Least amount of oil?
I feel like eating chapati now!!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:40 am
Chapati uses very little (or even none) ghee oil at all in their making.
Hence, it’s generally less indulgent, in comparison to say … the average roti canai, roti bom or murtabak.
But of course, do read anba’s comment below, on the other healthy alternative in idly.
[Reply]
i lurve chapati and Punjabi’s dhal are thick which I like. i’ve been to anderson’s and i have to say food is indeed good there
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Oh I see … maybe someday I should go back to Andersonian Cafeteria there and try their chapatis?
[Reply]
Idli is also a very healthy alternative to naan,capati and thosai…
it’s steamed like pau no oil or frying involved.
A healthy way of starting the day . You can eat idly with chicken curry,mutton, chutney or sambar …it’s finger lickin good..personally when it comes to thosai and idly… i can’t recommend any shops coz the best ones are made by my mom hehehe…
Regarding chapati’s one restaurant i enjoy is Jai Hind at jln masjid india..they serve chapati’s with chickpea curry and mung bean curry..best downed with fresh cow’s milk…
in ipoh i Moga is good…but i like having mine in ananda bhavan’s with their Madras Coffee…
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 am
Thanks anba. I have almost forgotten about idli.
Yes, those steamed bun(?) is rather bland on their own, but I like them with curries, sambal or even brown sugar! 🙂
Masjid India in KL you mean? Oh noted, thanks. Seldom went for Indian food in KL though, sadly. Brickfields would be my next target.
[Reply]
anba Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Vishal is good here’s a review http://www.friedchillies.com/index.php/site/detail/vishal_chettinad_mess/
Selvam Food corner near the hotel peking is good too…cheap and great
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I have heard of Vishal before. Many times, in fact. The banana leaf rice is different from the rest, right?
I will visit Vishal one of these days.
Selvam on the other hand, is unheard of. But I will take your word for it.
How I missed those simple yummy Indian food!!!
[Reply]
Hi, MFI, that’s a great post you have of a shop that, until yours came along,
had only limited coverage on the www.
I was introduced to Moga Punjab sometime in the middle of last year;
and don’t you think that boss Jhol Singh H is too magnificent for words?
Pray tell how you do that Google Map with the blue pin?
I have an address and pix of a great lontong shop for you!
Cheers etc
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:30 am
Hi shaoming,
I have known about this place since reading from Simple Girl’s post. (You can find her article linked in my post above).
The boss was darn friendly and down-to-earth. This would be the type of place that sees a familiar clientele from day to day, and not lost in the wave of commercialization.
Google Map? It’s easy. If you have a Google account, just log in and go to Google Maps. Then you can create your own map. Just like that. You can contact me through e-mail if there are other questions you need to be answered.
My contact button is on top, below the header image.
[Reply]
I heard that there are always feasts at sikh temples, where the best tasting chapatis are made by sikh housewives but I’ve yet to try one as I would seem out of place in a sikh temple.
[Reply]
[…] Moga Punjab @ Old Town (NEW!!) – Good Chapati, Punjabi Food […]
we can provide 5 days shelf life of ready to eat chapatti.
call 8866522302. supercheffood@gmail.com
[Reply]
Could I please request yr recipe to make the moong dhall curry and chapati as I like it very much to try yr recipe at home here in perth w.Aust. thank you
[Reply]