Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Just like stepping into a time warp. Transported back into the late 70’s?

Had enough of Indulgence? Okay, here’s a short post on Hainan Chicken Rice in Ipoh. As awkward as this may sound, I believe this is my FIRST post on chicken rice in Ipoh. This, albeit the fact that Ipoh’s famous for “Nga Choy Kai” (Bean Sprouts Chicken), and there are actually more than a handful of good and popular chicken rice outlets in Ipoh.

On one hand we have the famous Rasa Sayang and Pak Gong on Jalan Theatre in town, next to the famous Eastern Wine. Then a short hop and skip away, you will find the double shoplots named Hainan Chicken Rice near to the perennial starlet of a stall serving Buntong beef noodles named Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Sri Maju.

So how come I have never heard of Hin Loong Hainan Chicken Rice, until DT mentioned about this place over at the All About Ipoh page?

A platter of mixed poached chicken and roasted chicken from Hin Loong

And you’re thinking that Motormouth is the end-all, be-all of an Ipoh food expert? How wrong could you be? People; here we go again …. I am but a one-man show. I can’t be anywhere and everywhere at the same time, eating and writing about every single new outlet out there, can I?

Even if I sometimes had this wishful thinking that maybe (just maybe) I can do the impossible; successfully writing about all the eateries in Ipoh. Then what? Do I stop blogging and move on with life? Change to a travel blog? (Sounds kind of inviting, if you ask me) Or perhaps continue to write on food from the other states in Malaysia?

Fluffy grains of oiled rice separated from the clumps, with a faint yet distinctive hint of chicken drippings used to cook the rice till they attain that aromatic whiff. Just like how GOOD Hainan chicken rice should be.

Pardon the incoherent rants, but there is always a reason behind every action. And forgive Motormouth for being slightly philosophical today; for these would be the trying times in life.

Anyway, drop that and let’s get back on track. Let’s talk CHICKEN RICE okay? 🙂

And one of the most important yardstick used to measure the quality of the Hainan Chicken Rice experience is the Garlic Chili Sauce.

Hin Loong has been around for at least three decades now. Currently run by the second generation in the family, the restaurant (okay, more like an “eating shop”, as they used to call restaurants back then) still attracts a constantly returning crowd during lunch hours, being situated in the prime location of Jalan Ali Pitchay; within the banking hub of Yang Kalsom road and vicinity.

Curry Beancurd (Tau Fu Pok) and Boiled Eggs

They are only opened for lunch, for a good 4 hours or so. Before selling out all of the chickens for the day. Usually closed by 3pm or prior, it’s advisable to reach here before 2pm. Unless you don’t mind picking on the innards, chicken feet, neck and such. IF …. they still have them.

I wouldn’t say this is the BEST chicken rice in Ipoh. Don’t get me wrong, the authenticity of the Hainan Chicken Rice experience was definitely there. The poached and roasted chicken (you can take half portion of each, so you can sample the best of both worlds) served in a simple base of soy sauce and maybe a dash of sesame oil, garnished with roughly chopped scallions.

Thai style Glass Chicken Feet (but with bones, be warned)

But compared to the conventional Nga Choy Kai outlets (Cowan Street, Lou Wong, Onn Kee, etc), the chicken tasted like diamonds in the rough.

A firmer, dense and cooked texture; not as slippery smooth nor tender but with a toothsome bite. The type of poached chicken you usually associate with home cooking, when grandma would steam/poach the fowls during festivities, and you’re not expected to see bloody bone marrows or translucent pink flesh.

Yes, I admit that I prefer my chickens to be cooked thoroughly rather than served in a gory sight of bloodied and battered on the plate. (That explained why I am still not an avid fan of Lou Wong’s sometimes barely cooked poached chicken)

Mustard Leaves in a Sour Broth

To each his own, I guess. I wished the soy sauce for the chicken was a little more flavoursome like Cowan Street’s. And the rice as sinfully buttery and rich like Hwang Chao’s Singapore Chicken Rice stall in old town. *But he has moved to Pusing, of all places ……

The chili sauce was good, just like how chicken rice’s chili sauce should be. Robust with a fiery kick, from mashed ginger and red chillies blended to a pulp.

The side dishes were there to complete the meal. You can have their signature curried beancurd and eggs with a heavy curry powder taste (Chinese style of curries tend to taste this way), or the unusual serving of Thai style chicken feet but with bony bits. The sour vegetables, or mustard leaves cooked in a piquant assam broth (but this one without the dried chillies) tasted mild enough for children or the elderly.

Everyone’s tucking in with eagerness. Ipohans really love their chicken rice huh?

And just recently there was this tweet asking for good chicken rice in Ipoh, retweeted by Eating Asia. I could not come up with a great array of suggestions, for I don’t even buy the fact that Rasa Sayang or Pak Gong serves authentic and delicious chicken rice. Maybe I am a picky eater, but I still crave for a worthy chicken rice in Ipoh …. Anyone?

The meal for five came to RM38.50/USD12.40 inclusive of drinks.

RESTORAN HIN LOONG
33, Jalan Ali Pitchay,
30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 6012-436 4212, 6012-404 7265
Business hours : 11.30am – 3.00pm
Closed on alternate Wednesdays.
GPS Coordinates : E101 5′ 4.9″ N4 35′ 28.8″
Google Map to Hin Loong Chicken Rice