Li Garden Restaurant @ Ipoh – The One Near to the Airport
September 14, 2010 | 8,127 viewsAnd yes, we DO have an airport here in Ipoh. Surprise, surprise!!!! Much like how the old Subang airport has (had?) their famous Lala Chong Seafood Restaurant (read Precious Pea’s review here), Sultan Azlan Shah airport of Ipoh is commonly referred to as the landmark when one is trying to seek for Li Garden Restaurant; a Chinese seafood restaurant (‘dai chow’) on Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah Selatan.
* On a side note, read about how they are toying with the idea of moving the airport to Seri Iskandar in the future, instead of expanding the current one.
Claypot Tilapia Fish (Kam Foong Yue) @ RM27/USD8.50 – You can also choose to have the “Pak Sook Gung” (a type of catfish) to be cooked this way instead
I read about Li Garden a few months ago from Ipoh Echo. Previously, I barely knew about this restaurant near to the airport in Pasir Puteh from my father who travels along the route on a daily basis. But of course, being a little out of the way, I have never thought much about having dinner here. (They’re only opened from evening until midnight).
But of course, resistance is futile. Especially when one’s clouded by the thought of having lamb/beef briskets, curry chicken in bread, and claypot tilapia fish …….
“Chi Hoong Pai Kuat” – A dish of stewed spare ribs in a delicious gravy (RM20/USD6.30)
And so we were there one fine evening, after calling in advance to reserve a table. Just in case. After all, I would not want to risk having to go home empty-handed or a detour to a random restaurant around Pasir Puteh for dinner.
Good to see that the place was almost 80% occupied. And a quick glance around the other tables revealed that most of them ordered a claypot dish each. Needless to say; “When you’re in Rome, do what the Romans do.”
Translation : “Masuk kandang kambing mengembek, Masuk kandang lembu menguak”. Hehe, my Malay not bad eh? 🙂
Kam Heong La La – A stir-fried clam dish in a spice-infused gravy; redolent of curry powder flavour. RM15/USD4.70
Let’s talk about the FOOD now. The Claypot Tilapia Fish was a smart move; a sizzling piece de resistance of a freshwater specimen, seated in a huge claypot with aromatic soy sauce beneath. The skin has been carefully removed so you can tuck into the flaky flesh underneath. The slight muddy taste notwithstanding, the tilapia fish was served with garnishing of simple chopped scallions, and this was a crowd pleaser alright. You can also choose to have other fishes; like Pak Sook Gong (catfish) instead.
But do NOT miss their Braised Spare Ribs. Braised until so tender and the meat almost falling off the bone (really fork-tender, no joke!), you can even bring your grandpa with dentures or without and he’ll be sure to lick the bones clean. The gravy had this very aromatic fragrant of five-spice powder, and Nam Yee (fermented bean paste).
Sam Dan Yuen Choy (Three Eggs Spinach) – RM10/USD3
The clams (la la) were sweet and juicy, as well as very toothsome. But the Kam Heong way of stir-frying the clams was not the best method of dishing out the clams, we felt. The overpowering curry powder taste somewhat offset the freshness of the “la la”. Should have gone with the steamed version instead.
The Yuen Choy (spinach) can be cooked in a myriad of ways. You can have them stir-fried with garlic, served in a superior stock (Siong Tong Yuen Choy), or even in their signature starchy gravy with an eggy finish; from the use of century eggs, salted eggs, and chicken eggs. The Sam Dan Yuen Choy had me scooping the delicious gravy onto my rice, and reminded me of eating Wat Tan Fan/Wui Fan (Braised Gravy with Rice).
Kon Chin Tau Foo (Fried Beancurd with Gravy) RM12/USD3.80
The beancurd was but another one of the generic “Chiu Pai Tau Foo” (signature beancurd) of a block of beancurd pan-fried till it’s crispy on the outside and still velvety smooth on the inside. Followed by a generous ladle or two of the sauce with toppings of minced pork, shrimps and chopped scallions. Nothing too fancy, but who doesn’t love beancurd right?
See the crowd seated by the sidewalk of the restaurant @ Li Garden.
While not all of the dishes were hits, we certainly will not mind returning for the other specialties like braised beef briskets, curry chicken bread, a snacky “Char Fah Lam” or crispy baked-fried pork brisket, and even a must-order-in-advanced Braised Leg of Lamb.
The meal for six came to about RM92/USD29.
* I heard that the chef/owner of Li Garden used to work at the Lei Yuen (also Li Garden?) at the premise currently occupied by Hee Lai Ton Restaurant. Is this true?
LI GARDEN RESTAURANT
No 57, Laluan Pinji Seni 4,
Taman Pinji Seni,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : Mr Chan (6012-500 2135), Mr Liew (6012-518 3370)
Business Hours : 5pm – 12am (taken from Ipoh Echo’s)
GPS Coordinates : E101 5′ 51.2″ N4 34′ 38.0″
Google Map to Li Garden Restaurant
[…] Li Garden Restaurant @ Ipoh – The One Near to the Airport […]
hi James..thanks for great information again… hope i can find the place.. 🙂
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Claire; this is just on the main road of Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah. After passing by the traffic lights to airport (on your LEFT, if you’re coming from Tiger Lane), then slow down and take note of a row of shophouses on your left. The first shop would be Li Garden.
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really din know tat ipoh has an airport
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Yeah, neither do many of the out-of-towners. Anyway, not many flights utilize this hub. Most notably Firefly flies to Singapore from Ipoh.
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bushido Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Yes, Singapore- Ipoh; which makes it Ipoh International Airport 🙂
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Can’t deny the positive vibe/impression the name brings. I mean …. we have our very own INTERNATIONAL airport okay? Don’t play play … behind some residential area some more.
i never know ipoh got airport.. im really like katak di bawah tempurung =/ the braised spare ribs looks really yummy to me, good to serve with white rice xD
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Yeah, but that’s understandable, considering that not much publicity has been done with regards to the Ipoh airport. Last time used to be a bustling hub for domestic travelers, and even some international flights. Kinda sad to see the current state of the airport. Let’s hope the government will do something about this.
Either expand or move ASAP.
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wyyv Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
I see.. Yes, lets just hope our Malaysia government will do something bout it asap too.. Anyway, wish you have a happy holiday today =] Happy Malaysia Day!
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One of my friends suggested you to me. I really like it.
Thanks and best regards.
N. Balik
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There r a few signature dishes I wld like to recommend to readers..Fish head steamboat(with Chinese hua tiao chiew)advance order.in Chinese ‘Yee tow foh woh’.must try..next is ‘Deep fried Nam Yee pork belly,breaded curry chicken or lamb,fried rice with black bean,anchovies n basil(yee heong),steamed woo soo kai (chicken) with Ginger n Chinese wine n special fried Yee Mein with pork lard..
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Thanks Chew. You’re a fan of Li Garden huh? I was tempted to order the steamed chicken that comes in a large bamboo basket right?
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nice kam heong lala!
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Yea,the chicken comes in a large bamboo basket..another dish recommended is fried batter prawn mantis dipped with salad cream..goes with a nice cold beer..
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Fried Mantis Prawns with Salad? That sounds like a good snack. I am also eyeing for the Lotus Root with salted egg (Ham Dan Ling Ngau), and of course the beef/lamb briskets.
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OMG! After looking at your claypot tilapia…I won’t want to eat that fish anymore. :p
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 11:13 am
But why? You are a fish lover or something?
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Hi J2Kfm,
Nice blog you have going here.
Talking about the airport area, did you try the Tom Yam at Sri Widihana?
It’s just set back from the Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah main road. It’s not with all the Tom Yam shops but for me tastes better and is certainly cleaner!!
Andrew
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 17th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Sri Widihana on the main road same side with Li Garden?
I am not sure about this place, but this certainly got my interest.
I once tried the famous Waritha near to Simpang Pulai. But not really up to my taste.
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Andrew Reply:
September 25th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Yes it’s the other end of the same block as Li Garden.
Both are so close to the Ipoh International Airport hub!
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Dillah29 Reply:
September 28th, 2010 at 1:31 am
Oh I have been to that Sri Widihana restaurant, the Tom Yam and Thai cuisine so shiok!!
Dun get me wrong other place also nice but this one alamak so nice. Very clean also, the uncle think owner very friendly and polite. Think he lives in Singapore for many many years so different lor, style, class food all singaporean style!!
Going back again next week to try the Fish 3 rasa.
We came one rainy day & tried some signature dishes ( like the steamed pak su kong ), what looked like fish maw or issit ligaments plus some others. The cooking is good and service fast. Only thing which prevented us from recommending it outright to gourmets was the unexpected higher than normal price for this kind of Chinese seafood restaurant in a coffeeshop !
otherwise its ok
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 19th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Erm, true. Somewhat pricier than the average ‘dai chow’ restaurants, but their dishes border on being gourmet-Chinese diner varieties, rather than the boring same old Kung Pow/Ginger Onion/Sweet & Sour ways of cooking.
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[…] & 1st Curve, Falim – Farmhouse Porridge Steamboat @ Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (same row with Li Garden) – Two Plus One Steamboat + BBQ @ Jalan Bercham, opposite of Tesco Extra – K-Kai Corner Steamboat + […]
Thanks Dillah. I saw the restaurant the other day, at the other end of Li Garden. Looks just like any other Tom Yam restaurant, but given the favourable reviews I will put this into the list.
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One of my friends suggested you to me. I really like it.
Thanks and best regards.
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Thanks! Great
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Yea,the chicken comes in a large bamboo basket..another dish recommended is fried batter prawn mantis dipped with salad cream..goes with a nice cold beer..
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 24th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Great. Love the sound of fried stuff in mayo. Sinfully right.
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Yea,the chicken comes in a large bamboo basket..another dish recommended is fried batter prawn mantis dipped with salad cream..goes with a nice cold beer..
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You’re a very good writer!
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i don’t think u r a good eater..some of the place u recommended was not as good as u think..everybody have a different taste
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J2Kfm Reply:
December 26th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Erm, how do you judge a GOOD eater edna?
That good eaters are supposed to have the same taste?
Taste is very subjective. Read my opinions as if they’re my own, not everyone’s.
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kelebek Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 5:54 pm
for thanks..
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Yes it’s the other end of the same block as Li Garden.
Both are so close to the Ipoh International Airport hub!
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J2Kfm Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 10:43 am
Yeah …. talk about the airport. Just wondering when will the airport be utilized to its fullest potential. Should be timely for more domestic flights.
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[…] & 1st Curve, Falim – Farmhouse Porridge Steamboat @ Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (same row with Li Garden) – Two Plus One Steamboat + BBQ @ Jalan Bercham, opposite of Tesco Extra – K-Kai Corner Steamboat + […]
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Do you require any coding knowledge to make your
own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!
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