Motormouth From Ipoh

A most saliva-inducing, gastronomic trail awaits you …. DON’T say I did not warn you …….

After the amassed listing of Ipoh Street Foods not long ago, I’ve decided to write about a few eateries in one single post, rather than separating them into several shorter blogposts. No particular reason for this, but I’d rather have you tormented enjoying a much longer rambling extravaganza from J2Kfm, than having you begging for more at the end of the post.

I can be such a nuisance, can’t I? It’s all in the spirit of giving, nonetheless. So here goes nothing  …..

Mention Tau Fu Fah, also known as Soybean Curd, or Soy Custard, and almost instantaneously the image of white-as-snow, silky smooth curds made from soybean emerge in one’s mind. And if you’re wondering where to get the BEST Tau Fu Fah in Ipoh, Funny Mountain‘s the place to go, hands down.

WHAT Mountain you ask?! FUNNY Mountain. That famous soybean stall, almost renowned throughout the land of Malaysia, which may be the first Tau Fu Fah and Soybean stall that provides excellent Drive-Thru service. Yeah, you can literally enjoy your bowl of Tau Fu Fah in the comfort of your roaring engine, and risk perforating that ozone layer with another hole or two.

All in the name of wacky, good fun. Nah …. but really, the thought of slurping (yes, no chewing required!) on those smooth, almost melt-in-mouth Tau Fu Fah, served commonly with a drizzle of sugar syrup with a faint hint of ginger, all the while in the comfort of your air-conditioned vehicle – Priceless. Plus, you do not have to search for an empty parking lot in the rather congested area, or risk getting a ticket for parking haphazardly or for not scratching a parking coupon.

The stall opens daily from 10.30am onwards, until whatever supplies they have on that day is finished. Yes, it’s a rather arbitrary signage on the wall, but truth be told, it holds true on most occasions. On peak periods, such as weekends and public holidays, you can expect to be sorely disappointed if you arrive after 2-3pm, for the Tau Fu Fah may probably be finished by then. So it’s best to come as early as possible, and relish in a bowl or two of the Tau Fu Fah (you can have them as it is, or with soybean milk, or even with cincau/grass jelly). And if you feel like it, help yourself to the take-away  containers of those sweet, slithering down one’s throat wonder. Or a bottle or two of their equally satisfying soybean drink, which is creamy, milky and wholesome in itself.

Prices : Tau Fu Fah (Soybean Curd) @ RM0.80 / USD0.20 per bowl, Soybean drink and Grass Jelly drink @ RM0.80 per glass.

Location : Funny Mountain Soybean & Traditional Tau Fu Fah
49, Jalan Theatre,
30300 Ipoh, Perak.
Tel No : 016 595 0369, 05 546 9968, 012 516 1607 (information from THIS site)

Directions : This stall is located a street away from the old Foh San and within the vicinity of the famous salted chicken from Aun Kheng Lim, the unbelievably popular Kaya Puff from Sin Eng Heong, and the over-rated Lou Wong and Onn Kee Tauge Ayam.

Here’s a GOOGLE MAP TO FUNNY MOUNTAIN for easy reference.

While we’re still on the subject of snacking around in good old Ipoh, kindly allow me to introduce my personal favourite stall that sells amazingly sumptuous, yet greasily-intimidating Chinese style of fried dough, made up of an amazing array of snacks such as fried bread sticks or youtiao/yau char kwai, batter-fried sweet potatoes, yams, and the perpetual favourite of ours – The Fried Nin Gou, or New Year Cakes.

This stall was previously situated at Hong Kong Restaurant at the other end of this row of shop in Canning Garden, for a good many years. Recently moved to this new spot at New Hollywood Restaurant, a coffee shop that caters to all races (pork-free) and opens for breakfast-late lunch.

All of her ‘creations’ (she refused to supply me with her name, though grinning all the way, proclaiming “Call me HAPPY lah!!”) are priced at RM0.60 / USD0.17 each. Her charming demeanour plus the freshly fried dough is clearly a winning combination, for the snacks at her stall (aptly named Happy) sell off on most days.

The Nin Gou is a sticky and sweet rice cakes made from glutinous rice, and commonly eaten during the Chinese New Year, for its symbolic blessing for a “Higher Year Ahead”. Sandwiching the sticky block of sweet delight with a piece of sweet potato, and a slice of yam each, then dipped into the batter and deep-fried to crispy perfection, these snacks make GREAT tea-time accompaniments.

Location :
Happy Fried Dough @ New Hollywood Restaurant
38, Jalan Lee Kwee Foh,
Canning Garden,
31400 Ipoh, Perak.
Telephone : 6012-510 9971.
Opens daily from 10am until 4pm. Closed on Mondays.

Here’s a GOOGLE MAP TO HAPPY FRIED DOUGH @ NEW HOLLYWOOD RESTAURANT, CANNING GARDEN, IPOH

(The famous Canning Garden Chee Cheong Fun is situated at the row of shops behind New Hollywood Restaurant)

Come the later hours of the day, what if you’re craving for something sweet (and savoury to some extent)? No worries, the ever present, ever crowded Tong Sui Kai (Dessert Street) is conveniently opened for business, catering to the late night crowd, or hungry souls wandering after a perfect night out.

Recently went for a satisfying bowl of Mixed Fruit Ice (Jap Gor Ping) with Jason at Tong Sui Kai, I rediscovered youth (so to speak), with memories from the yesteryear’s flooding over me. It has been a good EIGHT years since I’ve paid this famous dessert stall a visit. Yes, and I’m an inhabitant of Ipoh. So what gives?

Since the opening of various cafes, bistros, and kopitiams, outings with friends were never the same again. Sacrificing varieties and taste for comfort, we found ourselves time and again falling for the same tricks (or bane of good food), patronizing those franchised outlets that promise free Wifi, air-conditioning, and mediocre food at inflated prices. And in return, forsaken the simpler, pedestrian level of stalls that have been gracing the amazing Ipoh Street Food scene since day one.

Well, MY day one on this planet of course, not necessarily yours. I’m an 80’s baby, so there. Yeah, I’m Jurassic, but damn proud of it …….. Bite me?

Tong Sui Kai has been there for as long as I remembered, a row of stalls that come to life come the darker hours of the day. Supper’s never a chore in Ipoh, with outlets like this around.

Stall No 21 @ Tong Sui Kai (Dessert Street)
Jalan Sultan Ekram,
Ipoh, Perak.
(Next to Sam Tet High School), off Jalan Sultan Idris Shah.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP TO TONG SUI KAI of IPOH

So where’s YOUR favourite hangout spot for GOOD old, Ipoh Street Snack?

If you somehow wetted yourself (I meant salivating, don’t let your thoughts go astray) from reading this post, do consider subscribing to my RSS feeds or have my posts sent to your e-mail inbox.

“STILL CRAVING FOR MORE IPOH STREET SNACKS? READ ABOUT THE BEST EGG TARTS IN IPOH FOR A CHANGE, OR MORE ‘TONG SUI’ GOODNESS FROM THESE PLACES !!!”