Kim Kee Seafood Noodle @ Kafe Kim Keei, Ipoh
November 25, 2010 | 7,027 views
The famous Seafood Noodles (single prawn) (RM6.50/USD2.10) from Kim Keei; a household name in Ipoh since their days at their old premise near to Lou Wong/Onn Kee Tauge Ayam.
Kim Kee Seafood Noodle can be touted as Ipoh’s equivalent of Segambut’s Yu Ai, minus the commercialization and branching out. I mean, aside from their closest competitor by the name of Fai Kee in Greenhill (walking distance from Excelsior Hotel), there probably isn’t another worthy contender to the crown of seafood noodles extraordinaire in Ipoh.
Or you can prove me wrong by suggesting better alternatives. Truth is, I don’t usually go for seafood or pork noodles, or any form of soupy noodles unless my dining companions insist. But this time around, Kim Keei proved that they DO mean business, and the recent relocation to the new outlet off Jalan Bendahara in town centre proved to be a smart choice; away from the looming threats of Lou Wong and Onn Kee (since both these famous Ipoh’s bean sprouts chicken outlets are opened for lunch AND dinner).
The menu’s on the wall. Thanks to NK, their entire (all 6 items) repertoire became known to this ‘banana’ of a Motormouth. Seafood Noodles (one/two prawns), Pork Noodles or Fish Paste Noodles.
I have been enticed by the allure of having a bowl of incredibly savoury seafood noodles for lunch since their days at the old outlet. But of course, procrastination took precedence, and the thought of touts acting like vultures around the area as well as congestion no thanks to the (possibly) Malaysia’s first drive through Tau Foo Fah (soybean curd) stall, infamous Lou Wong Nga Choy Kai, and Sin Eng Heong‘s amazingly finished-in-a-flash kaya puffs had me revising my (food-hunting) strategies.
A large and juicy partly de-shelled prawn soaking in the umami broth; laden with a sweet and savoury tinge. Slurp up all the soup and yet you won’t feel the thirst.
Best time to visit? Brunch hour of course. Have a light breakfast, then go for a bowl of seafood noodles here. A bowl of their famous soupy creation can last you till late lunch, or even tea time. If you’re a small eater? Maybe dinner. But barely, for this glutton of a Motormouth.
Ordering is easy. Walk up to the counter, then pick your choice. Seafood, Pork or Fish Paste (Yue Wat) Noodles. Then choose your preferred noodles to be served in the delish soup. I picked the silver thread noodles, or rat’s tail noodles, or ‘lou shu fun’.
Chunks of irregularly-shaped fish paste, scooped on the spot from the container into the boiling broth. Very fresh, bouncy with a pleasant bite.
Do insist on one prawn if you want your serving to be the RM6.50 portion. Else they will automatically serve you with two, and you’ll be charged RM8/USD2.60 per bowl. Though not the least exorbitant, this may set you back if you’re looking for a cheaper bowl of noodles.
Spicy with a pungent twist; the Sambal Belacan goes perfectly with the fish paste.
Verdict? GOOD. I found myself slurping on the broth until the very last drop. Very sweet with a definitely moreish, umami flavour. Initially we were all prepared for an impending thirst attack, owing to the possible use of MSG (monosodium glutamate, a type of flavour enhancer) in the soup.
But surprisingly, we did not guzzle on water like camels even a few hours after. Maybe the broth was boiled with all things savoury and sweet, without the need to pump the taste up with MSG. The large, succulent piece de resistance of a large prawn added much glitz and oomph to the noodles; earning applauds from yours truly and NK alike.
Lazy to hop over to any of the famous Ipoh ‘sar hor fun’ (flat rice noodles) outlets? Kill two birds with one stone here then.
Aside from this seafood noodles stall, Kafe Kim Keei also houses a few stalls; from wan tan mee to chee cheong fun. But barely doing enough to dent the earnings of Kim Kee Seafood Noodles.
“As far as Seafood Noodles Specialists in Ipoh go, Kim Kee is definitely up there amongst the stars.“
The new location of Kim Keei is at this corner lot off the main road of Jalan Bendahara, a short distance away from Srimaju Bus Station, and can be seen from the Jalan Bendahara-Jalan Datoh junction.
Kim Kee Seafood Noodle Stall @ Kafe Kim Keei
1, Hala Bendahara 1 (Off Jalan Bendahara)
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Opens for breakfast and lunch.
GPS Coordinates : E101 4′ 53.5″ N4 35′ 19.0″
Google Map to Kafe Kim Keei
[…] Kim Kee Seafood Noodle @ Kafe Kim Keei, Ipoh […]
i prefer fai kee’s noodle and their fried pork balls (chu yuk gao). mind you, it’s not the reproduction part,k. lol… kim kee’s soup are not clear (frothy and milk like colour) thus giving me the ‘dirty’ impression. i ordered normal yee mee with fishballs and ‘yu wat’ and no milk added. i don’t know why the colour of the soup came out that way. anyway, i feel very thirsty after eating kim kee’s noodle but not fai kee’s.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Not exactly dirty lah. Much like KL’s version of murky fish head noodles, the broth tastes sweeter with a fuller, savoury taste if the soup is thick ma.
Maybe from the various seafood, shells and whatnots added into the soup.
[Reply]
last time is good. but now……no good!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Hmm, seriously? The seafood noodles tasted okay to me, very tasty broth.
[Reply]
Only clear soup available? I prefer Tom Yum ^^
[Reply]
The soup must be really good, rarely got soup at outside wont make ppl thirsty.. The prawn is so big o.o ahahaha.. The fish paste looks very tasty too 🙂
[Reply]
I am a regular at this place. I go to Fai Kee too but Kim Kee is definitely the winner. I always like their pork noodles with fish paste minus the liver. Yummy.
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Should try the pork noodles as well, but the sight of HUGE prawns was too inviting.
[Reply]
yup, agree kim keei is not as good as in the past. i had experience of the prawns being not so fresh yet the meat is extremely springy. has this experince on and off in other food in other shops when dealing w prawns. just dunno what has been done to the prawns to make it springy even though it’s no longer fresh
try the seafood noodles in chemor. if not mistaken the name of the shop is hoong wan. there’s individual bowl or comes in a pot for sharing. in pot, means it comes in a big steel basin (like those basin used for face washing in the olden days). very reasonably price for individual bowl, comes with prawns, small crab (half) & clams. to avoid the long wait, go after 1pm. they open till around 3pm
[Reply]
this one! i like! especially the sambal…the soup is so tasty and rich …big bowl and full of ingredient……..Worth to eat and will miss the sambal ^^
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 12:03 am
Yeah … the sambal was good. And the soup was sweet with a very fresh hint of prawns.
[Reply]
Urgent! i coming on this friday ! may i know kim kee open daily from morning what time?
TQ for whom reply 🙂
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
August 9th, 2011 at 11:36 am
They should be opened from morning until lunch. Not too late though, for I don’t think they do dinner.
[Reply]