Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian Food Blog

There’s this really, REALLY famous Chinese ‘Zhu Zhar’ restaurant (Chinese eatery serving rice with various dishes) in Pasir Puteh, that may not require any introduction at all. Especially those staying around the area of Pasir Puteh, or Pengkalan, this restaurant named Peng Tau (literally translated to “Soldier’s Head”, or “General”?) is located  in Taman Boon Bak, at a corner of a row of shops almost hidden in the midst of the residential area.

This restaurant opens from 5pm daily (except Tuesdays, so don’t go knocking) until about 10pm+. But take heed of this advice, go as EARLY as humanly possible, for you’ll regret if you go during peak hours (anytime between 6.30-8.30pm, especially on weekends or public holidays.

We did just that on a Sunday, and paid the consequences. Seated on the outside of the restaurant (there were 2-3 tables on the grassy terrains overlooking the field adjacent to the restaurant), we persevered for more than 40 minutes before being served, and the lord of the weather chose to play a most dastardly trick on us – It started to rain !!!

The dinner saw us gobbling down the food in the most barbaric of fashion, swallowing as rapidly as possible as the droplets of rain was felt prominently on our foreheads, arms, and worst of all …. diluting our dishes !!!!!

Within 15 minutes, all four dishes were polished off in record’s time! Lo and behold, the rain stopped just as our last pieces of chicken and fish were picked upon. How ironic. But all in all, the meal was one of the better ones we’ve had in a long, long time.

Pardon the grainy shots of the food, for the sky turned dark before our dishes arrived on the table. And bear in mind that we’re seated on the outside, without any significant light sources. But still, the recommended dishes of Steamed Tilapia Fish (Kam Foong Yue) in a spicy bean sauce (RM20/USD6) scored magnificent points with us, the perfectly soft, sweet and fresh fish was not reeking of the muddy, freshwater fish kind of taste.  Yeah, so tilapia is one of the ‘lowly’ species of fish one can ever order, but at Peng Tau, the skill of the cooks was definitely shining through with this dish.

Another dish that got the thumbs-up from us, yours truly in particular, was the stir-fried long bean with brinjals (RM 7/USD2) Reminded me so much of Szechuan Restaurant’s “Four Seasons Beans”, this dish was unlike the usual Four Heavenly Kings cooked with sambal belacan. But instead with finely-chopped bird’s eye chillies, crunchy preserved radish (‘choy pou’), dried shrimps and minced garlic. If you’re one who shun your greens, you’re in for a treat. This may just change your mind, o-carnivorous beast.

The “Kon Chin Kai” or pan-fried chicken (RM10/USD3) with a sweet and savoury sauce (almost like “Mat Jap Kai”, or Honey Chicken) was passable, but personally, I found this to be slightly better than the famous Sin Hup Kee’s version. For the sauce was of the right consistency, and the chicken was cooked to the right temperature, whereas I once had a ‘bleeding’ version (not fully cooked) at Sin Hup Kee.

The “Wong Kam Taufu” (RM7/USD2) is their signature velvety smooth beancurd topped with minced pork. Nothing that impresses through and through, yet not a dish that one can find fault with. A most pleasant one to go with your rice, no doubt.

If you’re sick of the usual Nga Choy Kai fares all around Ipoh, or you find that Ipoh street food do not measure to your belly’s craving for something more substantial, do consider the array of ‘Zhu Zhar’ restaurants all around Ipoh. Of course, in order to locate these rather out-of-the-way eateries you may need some extra guidance, or a stomach of steel to withstand the hunger pangs. Or worse, you may even risk tearing your hair out at the lack of directional signboards in Ipoh, pushing your luck at every turn, every junction.

But fret not, when your foodie instinct had gone haywire, you can always ask that relative of yours staying in Ipoh for help, a friend who’s on the constant prowl for some good chowdown for a treat, or better yet, come back HERE again and again ……

Peng Tau Restaurant – “Tai Chow/Zhu Zhar”
27, Jalan Bunga Raya 6,
Taman Boon Bak,
31650 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia.
No contact number although I requested for one.
Business hours : 5.00pm – 10.00pm, closed on Tuesdays.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to PENG TAU RESTAURANT IN PASIR PUTEH OF IPOH

** If you’re at lost, and really, REALLY need help with this one, don’t worry. Drop me a comment, e-mail to ipohmotormouth@gmail.com, or if you’re brave enough, come find me face to face. And I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction. Hahahaha …. I won’t bite. **