Kafe Sentosa Ria @ Ipoh Garden South – Motormouth’s Pick for Breakfast
November 6, 2010 | 3,864 views
Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun – A combination of succulent shrimps and cubed barbecued pork wrapped within the smooth, steamed rice noodles, then sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds and fried shallots. I have no qualms in proclaiming this as my favourite in Ipoh.
Still in the holiday mood? Yeah, understandable given the long weekend for most. And the air of festivity lingering amidst the barrage of rainfalls in several states up north. Ipoh’s been comparably lucky, drenched only in the evenings while neighbouring states of Kedah, and Perlis which is further up north are not so fortunate. Let’s stand strong and pray for the best okay?
Anyway, been wanting to rave about this coffee shop in Ipoh Garden South for some time now. I once wrote about my favourite Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun in all of Ipoh, from this very stall parked at the entrance to Kafe Sentosa Ria, a corner inconspicuous lot in an area populated by boutiques, coffee shops, several cafes and at the end of a row of shops most notable for the fruit stores.
If you’re thinking this is pure BS. How can one relatively unknown stall operated by an old couple and a man in his mid-40′s (?) be so worthy of the heaps of praises? Okay, so I have tasted the HK Chee Cheong Fun in all of the dim sum restaurants I have covered, the popular ones from stadium, Medan Aneka Selera (or “tung koo thing), and then some. But still, this one at Kafe Sentosa Ria constantly draws me back for a hearty breakfast of Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun, some prawn wantons, and maybe a serving or two of ham/cheese/egg sandwiches.
Char Siew Wan Ton Mee – A cut above the rest. Just look at the homemade, caramelized Char Siew with a beautifully glistening outlook.
And aside from the HK Chee Cheong Fun, this coffee shop has been at the top of my list for breakfast haunts in Ipoh. Of course, if you’re a true/adamant/stubborn fan of the Cantonese ‘yum cha’ culture, then you would settle for nothing less than a breakfast of dim sum in Ipoh.
But let’s say you don’t mind the varieties, or instead hankering for a little bit of everything, or plain just wanna please the annoying children AND the older generations in your family, you’d be better off settling for a place that provides a little bit of everything.
Yes, old town of Ipoh houses quite an admirable number of coffee shops befitting such requirements, yet finding a parking lot can be such a hassle. Especially on the weekends and public holidays.
Prawn Wantons – At only RM0.30/USD0.10 per piece, you get a whole shrimp encased in the springy skin with no unpleasant aftertaste of lye water.
If you’re a lover of all things shrimps/prawns, don’t give the prawn wantons (dumplings in soup) a miss. Maybe not as big as the Shine Noodles stall’s RM1 each prawn wanton in Bercham , but still succulent with a nice crunch with every bite. The noodles ain’t half bad, and the pieces of Char Siew reeks of a homely aura, being sweetish from the caramelization with absolutely no red colouring.
Dry Curry Chicken Noodles – Not as stellar, but should satisfy the curry lovers in the family.
Prawn Mee – A bowl of not-so-good Prawn Mee/Hokkien Mee. I have always detested having greens like kangkung (Water convolvulus) and fish cakes in my prawn mee. I can accept prawns, boiled egg, and even spare ribs.
Ham & Egg Sandwich – Not bad, deserving of an order, if say you’re waiting for your order of fried noodles from Chian Kee Mee Goreng stall. Which fried noodles stall you ask?
And if you have the balls patience to wait for your food, then an order of Chian Kee’s fried noodles (I think I tried the Sambal Lou Shu Fun once, but absolutely no recollection of the experience) can do you no wrong. As from what we observed, the place is constantly packed because people were waiting for their fried noodles!
Sorry no picture here, as I cannot bear the thought of waiting for half an hour for my breakfast. Instead settle for a serving of the Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun, served with a plate of their killer sambal. Can’t go wrong when both the Grandmas gave their thumbs up. While slurping in a plate each of the steamed rice noodles! 
The Wan Ton Mee, Hong Kong CCF, and Chian Kee Mee Goreng stalls @ Kafe Sentosa Ria.
Best of all, breakfast here will barely cost you an arm, let alone a leg. Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun for RM2-3 (USD0.60-1.00) per plate, wanton mee with prawn wantons for about RM3-4 (USD1-1.30), sandwiches for less than RM4 (USD1.30) per serving, and fried noodles for less than RM5 (USD1.60) per portion. Talk about cheap hawker fares?
KAFE SENTOSA RIA
Lebuh Taman Ipoh,
Taman Ipoh Selatan,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Telephone : 605-546 3252
GPS Coordinates : E101 7′ 12.0″ N4 36′ 31.2″
Google Map to Kafe Sentosa Ria
TAMBUN POMELOES anyone? And for a splendid array of fresh fruits, hop over to any of the fruit grocers along the row …..
Ham and egg sandwiches at such a place?
Awesome.
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36-Yr-Old-Male Reply:
November 8th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Their tuna sandwich is pretty good actually. Chee Cheong Fun is good. Their Tai Look Mee is also awesome. Overall very good place for breakfast!!
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How come you don’t like kangkung in prawn mee? Quite nice ah. Haha.
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Hehe, just a personal gripe. Somehow, don’t like kangkung in soupy noodles lah ….
Don’t throw brickbats. I am weird I know.
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I totally agree with you day-dreamer, Kangkung goes well with prawn mee. I always like to have extra kangkung whenever I have prawn mee..Taste special
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Hehe, just a very subjective matter. I’d rather have bean sprouts. If needed be.
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u should try the HK CCF at the corner coffee shop behind scotch’s at ipoh garden south…their sauce n chilli very nice n their CCF is very smooth n silky….also not to forget the LAM MEE at next stall….is really worth a try…the BELACAN CHILLI really add oommpphhh!!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Oh, you mean the coffee shop opposite Chor Kee? Never knew this! I usually patronize Chor Kee for the Penang CKT (nice, the best in Ipoh …. least to me). Thanks for informing. Though I don’t like Lam Mee myself.
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Traditional Kopitiam like this also hav egg n ham sandwich ? Good ler….
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I like the prawn wantan.. The prawns seems to be very juicy there
I just like wan tan mee so much.. Oh ya, the HK CCF looks great too, I havent been eating that for awhile edi.. haha..
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I don’t think HK CCF is easily available elsewhere, aside from dim sum restaurants.
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wahh,im drooling over those, sadly its not pork free rite?
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Nope, this is a typical Chinese coffee shop, opens for breakfast and lunch.
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this is not the best place for HK CCF, u shud try the stall at the food court near to Stadium Ipoh, operated by an old couple. taste better than Sentosa Ria koptiam.
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Medan Selera Stadium Ipoh ah? Erm, that one I have tried before. But a few years ago already.
But I still prefer Sentosa Ria’s, for the sambal is so much better.
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Yes,Sentosa Ria’s CCF tastes above average but very let down by the white coffee as it’s bitter and the Wan ton Mee lady boss serve us with a sour. Maybe business too good..
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Andrew Chin Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 12:42 am
Should read ” sour face” sorry..
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Yup, I don’t like the coffee there as much, so usually I take the milk tea. The coffee reminded me of the traditional black roasted beans, with a smoky aftertaste.
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I agree wth u. Sentosa Ria’s Hong Kong chee cheong fun is the best in Ipoh.
And I also agree wth Andrew Chin. The wan ton mee lady sure has a sour face. I actually boycott this stall, regardless of how nice it is. In fact, there’s another tastier & cheaper wan ton mee in Ipoh Garden East.
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Sour face ah? Hmm, not that we noticed though. For usually we ordered, get seated, and be served without much wait.
Ipoh Garden East? Which one?
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I love this place. It was my granddad’s favourite shop before he passed away. There used to be a “yong lieu” there as well. My favourite was chow kuay teow with a bowl of yong lieu! In the afternoon, there used to be an old lady that sold chee cheong fun, Ipoh style with pig skin curry on a bicycle opposite the coffee shop! Oh, how I miss Ipoh right now
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 3rd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
!!!! YES! You know what Ju? I absolutely LOVED that CCF! But I don’t think that lady is still selling from there.
Her chili oil paste was fantastic! Almost incomparable!
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I like the wat than ho there,,,,,but drinks is exp there….
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[...] wantan mee stall – Woh Heng Coffee Shop (opposite of old Foh San) – Ipoh Garden South’s Kafe Sentosa Ria (tasty prawn wantan!) – Jalan Datoh Noodle Stall – Bercham Shine Noodles Prawn Wantan [...]
I like the chee cheong fun and american breakfast & sandwiches of Kafe Sentosa Ria. The chee cheong fun there is the best.
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the reason for braving 150km to ipoh….
one of the better CCF till now. i have tried and tasted countless others including the fabled pasirpinji ccf.
taste is highly subjective and personal so perhaps it’s best i qualify by saying
it’s smooth and light
best savoured with just little soy sauce.
and, the uncle makes it only upon order.
so it’s as fresh as it can get.
all i can say, it’s worth the price of 150km
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