Motormouth From Ipoh

Asam Grouper Fish Fillet (RM16/USD5) – Chunks of filleted grouper thrown in with chopped okra (ladies fingers), onions and pineapple cubes cooked in a tangy gravy redolent with spices; yet being child-friendly without the overdose of chillies.

Isn’t it always exciting to discover a new place in town worth sharing? Or at least, a try before:

a) Recommending the place to friends and family (while gloating deep inside with pride)

b) Condemning the food for all their worth, and without hesitation telling the entire world (okay, maybe friends and strangers you befriended on Facebook) to avoid the place like the plague.

Thankfully, being a nice Santa (slowly, I’m growing into an over-sized one ……sigh) this wet Wednesday evening, allow me to recommend you this almost elusive restaurant named Kampar Club Restaurant in Ipoh.

From the outlook of the premise; several single storey lots arranged sparingly within a fairly large compound (read : MORE parking spaces!), you won’t be reprimanded for thinking that you walked into an exclusive club for the cigar-smoking businessmen. Seriously.

But had it not been for the recommendation from a friend, we would not have known about this place. Where is this exactly?

You know Impiana Hotel Ipoh on Gopeng Road (now renamed to Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah on the maps)? Kampar Club Restaurant is located directly adjacent to the hotel; if you are coming from the iconic roundabout of Ipoh with the fountain (Bulatan Sultan Ismail), then you shall reach Kampar Club on your LEFT before you reach the UMNO building and Impiana Hotel.

Salted Egg Bitter Gourd (RM12/USD4)

Enough with the directions. It’s pretty hard to miss Impiana Hotel anyway, and even if you do, don’t worry as you can make a U-turn further down the road.

Kampar Club Restaurant can seat comfortably a crowd of 50 pax. Or maybe more, but there were roughly 8 or so tables, with a few in private rooms. So that you can reserve in advance for private moments with your family or business meetings over lunch. Being a pork-free restaurant that serves both Chinese AND Western fares has its advantage too.

The club is not exclusive to members only, but open to public.

Steamed Kampung Chicken (RM25/USD8)

Browsing through the menu pleasantly segregating the chicken from the beef, venison from the fish and vegetables as well as a separate section on individual servings of fried rice, noodles etc. Plus, a few options of Western-style of chops to cater to tastebuds that have grown jaded to the lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork and steamed chicken.

On that note, we did start off with a half portion of a steamed kampung chicken; ‘kampung’ is a Malay word denoting village, the chicken in this case does not necessarily come from the backyard of a village home, but a description for free-range chickens on the prowl, usually from farms in rural areas. The usually firmer flesh is deemed more ‘bite-worthy’, offering a more pleasant texture than battery chicken. Here, they served this with a plate of mashed ginger paste (or could be galangal/”sar kiong” but sorry I did not confirm) that lent the fowl a punchy taste.

Nestum Prawns (RM18/USD6) and Foo Yong Egg Omelette (RM8/USD3)

The medley of dishes arrived in successive manner; the Asam Fish Fillet was a tantalizing palate teaser with its sharp flavours combining chili paste and tamarind juice, while the Nestum Prawns (de-shelled prawns, or you can opt for bigger ones with shells intact) delivered in a golden bed of lightly toasted Nestum and fine shreds of beaten egg yolks.

The Salted Egg Bitter Gourd however, suffered from a little too much oil from the deep-frying process. Though a very addictive snack on its own, the novelty wore off after a few pieces as the greasy feeling was slightly unnerving. The Foo Yong Omelette was a passable affair, neither impressive or disastrous.

All in all, the meal fared reasonably well, and we would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to friends and relatives seeking for a comfortable, air-conditioned eatery that does not charge exorbitant prices. Will probably try their chicken chop (crossing my fingers that it will be an authentic Hainanese version!) next time.

KAMPAR CLUB RESTAURANT (pork-free)
Jalan Windsor,
Off Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (Jalan Gopeng)
30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Tel No : +605-249 3933, +6011-1649 2129
Business hours : 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Opens everyday.
Here’s the MAP to this place, and the GPS coordinates : 4.590702,101.093175