Now I Know Why Scholars Eat Pork Noodles!
July 31, 2012 | 14,141 views
Mi Cong Yin (Scholar’s Noodles) – The famous pork noodles shop in Ipoh Garden South; a household name for more than a decade now. Previously, they were operating at a corner coffee shop at the other end of Scotch’s Pub.
“Sigh … I’m running out of ideas on what to write when I am back in Ipoh.”
“How about the Cong Yin Fun (literally translated to Scholar’s Noodles) in Ipoh Garden South?”
“Hmm, you know I have this thing against soupy noodles!”
And yet, I relented one sunny Sunday morning. And found myself at ease with a bowl of sumptuous pork noodles that might have come a little too late. Read on to find out WHY this is still the most famous pork noodles brand in Ipoh, and more on their first branch outside of Ipoh!
For a brush with indulgence, try the Abalone Pork Noodles for RM19.80/USD6.60 per bowl.
At times I can transform into this adamant, thick-headed individual who refuses to eat food that is beyond my liking. I have been coerced time and again to try this pork noodles in Ipoh Garden South; a perennial favourite of my grandma’s since they first started during the late 90’s from their stall in the coffee shop named Mee Sun located a stone’s throw away.
Yet, I turned down every offer ever so politely, and instead seek solace from the grand scale of hawker fares that Ipoh has to offer.
No bubbling hot soupy noodles for me. And definitely not going to brace the 30-45 minutes wait!
The minced pork patty studded with bits of dried cuttlefish that gives the patty a certain bite and a sweet yet pungent taste.
But my guess is … I have grown old. Or let’s say … matured over the years. After all, this disdain for anything hot and soupy is harder to justify when the palate evolves through time, and gradually this Motormouth has grown fonder of porridge, curry soup and especially nutrition-pumped herbal concoctions!
@_@
Shock. Horror. Reality?
After all, Cong Yin Pork Noodles serves a reasonably delicious pork noodles soup. Don’t even bother ruffling their feathers by asking for a menu, recommendations, or fancy Yong Tau Foo to go along with your noodles!
They sell Bak Zhang (glutinous rice dumplings) too, in case you have an aversion to anything noodles. Or soupy.
They don’t even serve DRY version of the pork noodles. Only in soup. With slices of lean pork, a few slices of pig’s liver, a generous chunk of minced pork patty, a handful of dried bamboo fungus, the spindle of translucent glass noodles-like konnyaku jelly named “Wu Xi”, and of course, bits of lard fritters. The broth appeared to be light, lightly peppered yet full of flavours from the hours of boiling fresh spare ribs without any seasoning at all!
When served, they scoop a little bit of fried garlic oil onto the ensemble, and voila! A bowl of hearty pork noodles that deserves more than a clap, actually. I finished everything in sight (I picked “Lou Shu Fun” or silver needle noodles so that I can scoop up everything in my spoon without the need for chopsticks …. ), including two pieces of their equally delicious fried “Sui Kow” (dumplings) filled generously with minced pork marinated with an evident hint of Chinese wine, wood ear fungus, carrot, water chestnuts and coriander. Pity that they don’t provide garlic chili sauce though.
Eat More Pork Noodles, and you could just be the next Scholar (Cong Yin = Scholar) !!! (Or at least a successful entrepreneur; based on their recently opened branch in Bandar Puteri Puchong)
KEDAI MI CONG YIN (CONG YIN PORK NOODLES)
39, Lebuh Raya Taman Ipoh,
Ipoh Garden South,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Business Hours : 7.30am until 2.30pm.
Off days not fixed.
GPS Coordinates : 4.606928,101.119934
Puchong’s Branch:
CONG YIN NOODLES (Facebook page)
No 5, Jalan Puteri 1/7,
Bandar Puteri Puchong,
Selangor, Malaysia.
GPS Coordinates : N03 01.597? E101 37. 166?
*Read about the Puchong branch opening promotion on saimatkong’s post
I love this pork noodles! There used to be another shop just opposite Yum Yum at Greentown, it’s a coffeeshop and the pork noodles there are great too. I’m not sure if they’re still there, I haven’t been home for ages.
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Michelle Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:44 pm
yup, this one opposite YUM YUM still around & still as yummy ……….but be prepared for a long-long wait …………
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J2Kfm Reply:
July 31st, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Yeah, the one opposite Yum Yum is still there. Forgot the name though, but it’s a corner coffee shop with green blinds if I am not mistaken.
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Barry Reply:
August 1st, 2012 at 12:41 am
Yes the Restoran name at Greentown name Hor Lock, that is this “Mi cong yuen” relative.
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The coffee shop name Ho Lok, actually the 2 stalls are brothers!
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Hubby loves soupy noodles!
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Michelle Reply:
August 8th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Went to this “Cong Yin” Noodles last Sunday – personally, I feel that the one in Greenhill (Hor Lok) is much better. For those who fancy soupy noodles – must TRY !!!!!
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After reading from your blog about this Mi Con Yin at Ipoh Garden South, today accidentally I stumbled upon the shop for I was actually going to the corner coffee shop for the fried Kao Teow. The noodle shoup is so so and the ingredients are just the basic pork liver, minced pork patty and a few small pieces of pork meat with the tied up “wu xi”. I waited for quite a while of 25 mins before I managed to get my bowl of mixed beehun and mee noodle soup. Nothing fantastic about it and also very pricey for such a bowl of noodle soup.It is almost like KL prices on standard food. Even the Sui Kow is over priced. All in all with a Leong Cha, 1 piece sui kow and the pork noodles soup it comes to RM 9.10. Noodle cost RM6.00 , Sui Kow — RM 1.2 and Leong Cha drink ( tasted like Chrysantenum + Kam Cho – Liquorice root ) is RM 1.90. This is just too much a price to pay for s simple lucn.
I have stayed in Ipoh since 1992 and honestly this is the first time that I heard about this shop and that it is only throughyour blog. While I was there I also witness the noodles seller showing her arrogance on customers.A young lady with the mother ordered their food and when the meal was servered it was only one portion for the mother and the young lady told the noodle seller that she also ordered the same noodles. Later on when her portions of noodles arrived the noodle lady gave the young lady a tirades of lecture on why her portion was left out due to both them shifting their table sitting.well the young lady was nice enough to acknowledge her fault but the mee seler forgot her place in society. If I were her I would have just walk out and ask the mee seller to eat herself the noodles soup that she herself have just prepared.
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e-Poh Reply:
August 3rd, 2013 at 12:56 pm
I agree. The lady boss have very short fuse. She dislike giving changes. All the worker are nervous around her.
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[…] Now I Know Why Scholars Eat Pork Noodles! […]
Arrrgghhh… No…. It’s bad enough as it is trying to get a seat/table. Don’t promote it further.
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 9th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Erm … okay. But outsiders deserve to know about GOOD pork noodles in Ipoh! Hehe .. especially one that bears such a significant name.
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This stall is a must go for me when I go back Ipoh.. Hv been patronising this stall since frm their former place coffee shop located same row Scotch ..
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one of my favourite. but getting really expensive now. price increase not because of increased cost but probably because want to earn more. can’t blame them cuz the place always packed and crowded, and you can’t really earn more by selling more bowls cuz there’s a limit to the number of customers you can serve inside the shop… so increase price lor
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 19th, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Maybe lah … still, when compared to prices in KL, and the quality of the noodles and ingredients, I still say it’s value for money.
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I used to love coming here with my relatives, but after being loyal patrons for several years, we’ve watched (tasted?) the decline of the noodles (and incline in prices) and seldom go there anymore :/ The broth pales in comparison with its yesteryears version and the price hike is so atrocious I’d stave off pork noodles than return! The sui kau is still great but the noodles and cutthroat drinks are just not worth it anymore..
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sad to say that, this is rather disappointed already. As compared to the ancient time, this used to be good, and worth to wait for it. I will never back to here anymore, increased price, decrease ingredients.
Bad coffee, bad tea, bad price, bad service.
This is not the same old good “zhong yuen fun” anymore.
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Hi i’m tyng tyng here. My boyfriend Loves pork minced noodles and wan tan mee a lot. COuld u highly recommend me which shop food nice? Cox he wants me to brings him go eat as birthday wish >.< hehe Thank you.
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I went there just now. Bad attitude, bad service, expensive as fuck, and my order was even wrong. I had to pay 11.40 for the shit I just ate. They refused to do a refund. Btw the fried dumplings had so much boric acid in it it tastes so bitter. And it costs RM 1.70 for that shit. A bowl of noodles for RM 8.00 (not a big portion). I rather have fast food than have this. The lady got the nerve to show me her bitch face when she is the one who messes up the order.
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