Taiwanese Traditional Snacks @ Yong He Soya Milk, Ipoh

November 24, 2008 | 4,270 views
KLites and Penangites have their Shihlin Taiwan Snacks, with their signature oyster mee sua (meant to be slurped, not eaten), XXL Fried Chicken etc.

While Ipohans drooled away and sulked in one corner ….

Until now.

YONG HE Soya Milk @ Medan Ipoh Bistari

Started business barely a month or two ago, the place has been picking up steam, judging from the breakfast and lunch crowd. Though packed to the brim, the tables and chairs merely occupied HALF of the shoplot, while the larger-than-usual kitchen took up the other half.

Bet they’re performing acrobatics in there. 🙂

Reasonably-priced and various rarely (or in fact, NEVER) seen snacks and familiar beverages

They take pride in their soya milk drinks, served either hot in a bowl, warm, or cold. And indeed the soya milk is good, but not breath-takingly marvelous. A notch above most offerings out there, except the one I had in Hong Kong. But let’s not compare.

But the star beverage in Yong He, (at least to me, anyway) is their Rice Peanut Milk drink, served either hot, warm or cold as well. Saw this in TV some time ago, in a Taiwanese food documentary, and was pleasantly surprised to find the drink available here. Milky, yet not overly rich, the concoction reminded me of a typical Chinese sweet soup (tong sui), the Fa Sang Wu, aka Blended Peanut Soup.

They also have salty soya milk, on top of the usual sweet version, and a sugar-free version. Choices, choices ….

There’s the Chilli Oil, Garlic Sauce, and Soy Sauce for all your condiment needs

Clockwise from top left : Ham Egg Cake (RM3.50), Bacon Egg Cake (RM3.50), Twisted Bun+Egg (RM3.00) and Rice Roll+Meat Floss (RM2.50)
Serving mostly snacks, one can REALLY pig out here, without a care in the world. OK, maybe practise some self-restraint, but everything’s rather cheap here, one can’t help but over-ordered. The Egg Cake can be served with ham, bacon, pork chop, etc. Akin to our Popiah or spring rolls, the egg roll is quite tasty as the fried egg with spring onions is fragrant, and paired with either ham or bacon, the combination of flavours work on every level. And dip them into the garlic sauce+chilli oil combination, and the taste was somewhat enhanced tremendously.
The same could not be said bout the twisted bun though, as we find them rather dry, and required some chewing. The rice roll with meat floss filling was another good choice. Very much alike nasi impit (of Sate Kajang fame), the roll is stuffed with lots of meat floss, and a crunchy and savoury combination of choy pou (preserved mustard) and dried shrimps (I think).

The SPICY sauce
Aside from the garlic sauce and chilli oil, they’ve another container filled with dark, watery, un-assuming liquid, with hints of chilli seeds. Their signature spicy sauce. Unlike the ones usually found in restaurant serving Xiao Long Bao, it’s rather diluted, but pack a punch nonetheless. Not extremely spicy though (which would be nice!!!), but would be a tad better had it been more concentrated, as I found it rather funny pouring the watery sauce onto the snacks, rather than dipping the snacks into the sauce.

Clay Oven Rolls + Egg (RM2.50)

Another one of their signature item is the clay oven rolls, dough sprinkled with sesame seeds, baked to crispy perfection, and sandwich-ing either egg, ham, bacon, or any combination (I kinda forgot … hehe) Just remember to have them FRESH, as it’ll harden rather fast.

Meat Bun (RM2.00)
Piping hot from the steamer, the steamed Meat Bun is purpotedly a Taiwanese favourite snack. Forgot the translation, but something along the line of ‘Sui Zhing Yuk Bao’. Correct me if I’m wrong, k?
The filling of dense pork meat was marinated and the taste mimicked the fillings of Xiao Long Bao. Minus the soup, of course. Not bad, but be warned; the filling is darn hot when served, hence do not risk burning your tongue over this one.

Radish Cake (RM2.50)
Good ol’ radish cake. Or ‘Lor Bak Kou’, a perennial dim sum superstar, pan-fried to crispiness. Not one of the best, as the soft and soggy cake was slightly different from the usual ones in dim sum restaurants. But still flavourful, nevertheless.
Opens from 8am til 6pm daily, the place is pretty easy to locate. In fact it’s at the same row with SSTC Italian Cafe, and Serai Sate Kajang.
Location : YONG HE SOYA MILK @ No 7, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1E, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605 – 545 6318
Having trouble finding a good spot for tea-time snacking pleasure? Worry no more. =)
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Tung Koo Thing aka Aneka Selera – Where Everything’s Under One Roof in Ipoh

November 22, 2008 | 6,495 views
Lazy, rainy Saturday evening. I’ll let the photos do the talking, instead of the usual (motor)mouth’s rambling on and on ….


Hahaha … both scratching in tandem. Confused?

Place : Aneka Selera aka Restoran Kam Wan aka “Tung Koo Thing” aka Mushroom Stop ?

Address : Erm, this one’s tough. But here’s something to assist. Got MAP !!! Although seriously, ask any Ipohan, or any foodie from outstation where the famous “Tung Koo Thing” is, and doubtful they won’t know. Unless they’ve been living under a shell. Or a rock.

Whoops. I’ll shut up. =P

Deep-fried Squids (RM8)
Cheap, fresh and succulent squids. Sadly, the batter did NO justice to the seafood. Tasteless, relied heavily on the chilli sauce. Go for their shells and crabs instead.

Deep-fried-til-damn-crispy-yet-tasteless Mini Baby Crabs (RM5 for small)
From the Lor Bak stall. Perfect as accompaniment for beer, or light snack. Though artery-clogging culprits, no less. If only they’re saltier ….

Tom Yum Beehoon (RM4.50)
Toned down for the general palate. Not as authentic as the REAL deal. Yet works in some ways … With generous ingredients (the usual suspects) thrown in for good measure. Won’t fire up your belly, yet piquant enough to be interesting.
Popiah (RM1.60 each)
Bigger than usual, the Popiah stall is directly opposite Meng Wa Seafood stall, somewhere in the middle of the food court. Not too shabby, though the wait may be daunting. She took her own sweet time preparing these babies.

Wan Tau Long (Ai Yee Bing) Jelly with Ice (RM2, I think)

Wash it all down with some cooling jelly, with self-served squeezed lime for that tangy hint, and lots of shaved ice to numb that aching tooth. Refreshing.

OK, happy weekend (or whatever that’s left of it) everyone!

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1919 Restaurant & Gallery – Travelling Back in Time for Some Nyonya Cuisine

November 21, 2008 | 6,975 views
1919 Restaurant & Gallery had been on my to-eat list for quite some time. But somehow the thought of dining here escaped us on most occasions. The last visit was years ago, probably in my secondary school days. And wasn’t exactly a pleasurable experience, marred by the rather exorbitant prices (back then).

But this time around, I was determined, and seeing that there was a special occasion in our family, we picked 1919 as THE place for our dinner.

Fully air-conditioned, and spacious, the place is decorated with various wooden ornaments, and antique-like structures. Collectors are free to enquire about purchasing, btw.

Situated behind Jusco, and facing Tesco in Ipoh Garden East, the location of this restaurant couldn’t be anymore strategic. Which kind of explains the human traffic on most nights, especially weekends and public holidays.

Philippines Deep-fried Eggplants

One of my most treasured memories of this place is their signature appetizer of Philippines Eggplants (Brinjals, or Aubergines, as some might recognize them). Not sure what’s so “Filipino” about the dish, but damn … they’re good.
Deep-fried with batter, kinda like tempura but not, the brinjals are served with a sweet and spicy sauce and garnished with scallions. Mouth-watering stuff, perfect as snacks, or a surefire way to get the young ones to eat their greens. Or in this case, as green as a purple brinjal can be.

Nyonya Sliced Fish
Popular for their Peranakan cuisine, they offer a myriad of ways to cook the fish. The waitress (who happened to be a friend of my family’s) recommended the Nyonya-style Fish Fillets. Thick slices of grouper (I presumed) cooked in a tangy, and piquant Nyonya sauce, partnered with crunchy long beans. Very appetizing, yet not overly spicy.

Antique Tofu

Yup, you read that right; Antique Tofu (beancurd). Treasure trove of bouncy shrimps, mushrooms and vegetables hidden within the hollow cavity of the homemade, silky-smooth tofu.
The gravy made a perfect accompaniment for the rice, and the soft, and egg-y beancurd had us throwing praises. Definitely meant for sharing, if you’re going alone or with one partner, refrain from ordering this.

Sambal Mix Vege

Nyonya food’s well-known for their spicy and sour dishes. Thus, we ordered our greens cooked with sambal sauce, a mix of ladies’ fingers, petai (stinkbeans), long beans and kangkung (water convolvulus). Surprisingly, NOT spicy at all, making the dish rather suitable for the elderly and a stepping stone for the young ones, before they try the fiery stuff later in life.
One minor gripe though, the gravy leaned towards the oily side, and this may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Herbal Chicken

The last dish was recommended by the waitress again, not in the menu yet, it seemed. Herbal Chicken, cooked in a delectable and rich broth, with lots of ‘tanghoon’ (glass noodles) to soak up the yummy gravy. Evident in the pic above, the chicken was fresh, of the ‘kampung’ species, with tender meat and glistening yellow skin. One for the grandmas. 🙂

The meal did not come cheap. Yet rather reasonable. Total for 6, including rice and tea = RM99.25, including 5% gov tax. We’ll definitely return for more ….

Location : 1919 Restaurant & Gallery @ No. 1 Jalan Medan Ipoh 6,31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel: 605-547 7196

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YOUR Breakfast Of Choice? (Random Food for the Early Birds in KL)

November 19, 2008 | 8,279 views
KL houses so many eateries at every nook and corner, you’ll be ridiculed for declaring famine in this city on steroid. Want prove? Count the number of floggers (food bloggers) residing in KL and eating (bulldozing) their way through the heart of the city. Waaahhh ……

Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea @ Bukit Bintang Market

Toasts with Kaya and Butter, and Hainan Milk Tea
Me being a Hainanese, I rely on my cuppa milk tea day in and day out. Yup, I’m somewhat an addict, downing cups after cups of tea everyday. Probably inherited, as my late grandpa was a tea fanatic as well.
One of my favourite spot for breakfast in KL is at the Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang, but some may recognize this place as Imbi market, like how I mistakenly argued with a friend before.
Bear with the sun, the crowd, and the shouting staff … and you’ll be duly rewarded …
Not exactly a shop, this stall is amidst the hustle and bustle of the morning market, and surrounded by various stalls, from the purpotedly delicious pork noodles, to Sister’s Crispy Popiah (THE Sister’s Popiah with lots of branches in shopping complexes). But almost everyone comes for the Hainan tea, coffee or cham (mixture of coffee+tea), and their amazing toasts.
The Apollo bun (traditional big & toasted bun) won me over, but sometimes they run out of stock pretty fast, especially on weekends. So, you may have to make-do with the usual white bread, toasted and generously spread with butter, kaya and lurve. OK, maybe not. =P
Those who persevered and enjoyed a cup of Hainan tea under the ‘canopies’ :
Location : Imbi Market/Pasar Baru Bukit Bintang @ Jalan Melati, Kuala Lumpur.

One Nite Restaurant @ Pandan Indah

Fancy some REAL charcoal-toasted bread?
Serving Kluang coffee and toasts, this shop had been operating for a year or two. As I stayed in Pandan Indah whenever I’m in KL, this shop had been my pick for breakfast on most occasions.
Finger-licking GOOD toasts. Albeit the wait.
They really toast their bread over charcoal-fuelled fire. Hence the longer than usual wait, but worthy of one. The crispy outer layer was also lightly spread with butter/margarine, and the melting butter paired with their signature kaya makes a deadly filling, as usual.

Thick, and strong Kluang coffee – HOT ….

or COLD.

Coffee-wise, I still prefer my Ipoh’s white coffee. Darker than your average coffee, possibly owing to the roasting process, the coffee is stronger with a subtle bitterness in every sip. Try a hot cup, for undiluted caffeine-jolt.
Yam Rice + Bouillon Soup (RM6)
The shop serves not only toasts, but also various dim sum, as well as noodles. The yam rice served with bouillon (“Fa Kau”, in Cantonese) was OK, simple and light.


Location : One Nite (19) Restaurant @ Jln Pandan Indah 1/22, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur.
Same row with Steven’s Corner, an exceptionally popular Mamak outlet.
But if you feel like eating your breakfast in a more comfy environment, or thinking of splurging on your breakfast yet not excessively, KL has a few cut-throat options. I meant, POSH-er cafes.
DOME Cafe @ Lot 10, Jln Bukit Bintang


Some freshly-brewed latte with biscotti
Beef rasher, scrambled eggs and toasts
DOME serves all-day breakfast with promotion. But this was in April this year. Not sure the promo’s still going on or vice versa. At that moment, an additional RM3 will net you a cup of coffee with every breakfast meal.
The coffee was good, as expected. A good perk-me-up with lots of milk (I hate plain ol’ espresso!), but the breakfast platter was so-so. Look at the plain, white bread toasted lightly. The beef rashers were good, but a tad chewy, and the eggs can be served scrambled, sunny side up, or poached.
Total damage? Around RM20. Yup, with fame, comes a price.

If you’re in no rush, sit back, read a mag or two, and sip on your cup of coffee, while watching the world goes by ….

So, where’s YOUR favourite haunt for breakfast? =)

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REAL Addictive Stuff – Nasi Vanggey aka Nasi Ganja

November 18, 2008 | 30,161 views
To imagine a plate of curry rice sooooo addictive to deserve the moniker ; Nasi Ganja, or Marijuana Rice, direct translation.

Vanggey !!! Vanggey !!! (Come !!! Come !!!)

Since 1955, the Nasi Kandar stall at Yong Suan, on Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh has been making waves, ripples, tsunami and all, serving thousands, if not millions of plates of those yummy, spicy, fiery and addictive stuff.

Drool away at the selection of savoury curries and dishes to tingle that tastebuds …

Earlier this year, they’ve since expanded from that small, constricted and God-knows-how-hard-t0-find-a-parking-space area, branching out to a spacious lot in Greentown, previously occupied by a food court. They still retain that old shoplot though, for that evergreen sense of nostalgia dining there.

A plate of white rice, with fried dry curry drumstick, spicy egg omelette, vegetables, papadam, and that KILLER sambal (coconut chutney?)

What makes the curry rice so special from the rest (those dastardly imposters masquerading as nasi kandar proprietors …)? For one, the ‘kuah campur’ or the mixed gravies the guy poured/doused onto the heaps of rice was SPICY. Yet a subtle bitterness aftertaste ensued, for unknown reason. But if you’re not a fan of spicy food, refrain from being macho/adventurous/show-off/sadistic.

The spicy coconut chutney. A perfect accompaniment to the cucumber slices.

Good things do not come cheap. That’s life. RM5.70 for a plate of white rice with a drumstick, vegetables and egg. Oh, the chicken deserves a mention here. Marinated with spices and curry powder, then deep-fried, the taste and juiciness gives your average Mamak’s fried chicken and KFC a run for their mon$y.

Nasi Vanggey Sdn Bhd
Location : Sorry, no address taken. But here’s a roughly estimated map !!! Tel : 605-2546786.
Need directions? Drop a comment here, or mail me.
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Let’s Jazz Things Up A Bit? (Denis Jazz Bistro, Ipoh)

November 17, 2008 | 5,374 views
Happy Monday Y’all !!!! ….. But seriously, who embraces gloomy, dreary Mondays anyway? Argghh …. I miss the comfort of my bed as I’m typing this !!!

DENIS JAZZ BISTRO (With NO signboard bearing the shop’s name, you’ll just have to look out for the NON-illuminated saxophone icon at daytime)

Previously operating from their premise in Greentown, at the same row with Assam House, Denis Jazz Bistro has since moved to this rather obscure spot, away from the main roads and traffic, directly behind Ipoh Garden’s Aneka Selera (Tung Koo Thing).

The homemade chocolate chip cookies are complimentary, and act as appetizers rather than desserts. Something to munch on to appease the roaring hunger pangs?
Probably due to its hidden location, the crowd may not be overwhelming even on a Sunday’s afternoon. But of course, this translates to peaceful requeim for the battered (and hungry, obviously) souls, relishing one’s meal without the hassle and noise.
They do not cover everything under the sun, as in the case with most outlets serving Western fare, but their specialties include the homemade pies, pasta, stews etc. Safe choices, but work wonders.
Spaghetti Carbonara (RM13.90)
One thing’s special though. Most, if not all, of the items on the menu can be “up-sized” to a LARGE portion. Yup, even the pies, the stews and the lamb chops. But a regular serving should be sufficient if you’re not one who’s been famished for days. Seriously.
The desciption of the Carbonara on the menu proudly proclaime REAL PORK BACONS. Yup, with the capitals and all. And who can resist juicy, fatty, and smoked pork bacons?!!
The egg and cream sauce was not overly rich, just sufficient to create that sense of indulgence, but it was the sauteed pork bacons and garlic that proved to be … the FATAL combination. No pun intended. Bite into those fatty portions with smoky flavour, and paired them with the creamy spaghetti cooked al dente, and you’ll polish off that plate in no time. The sides of freshly baked and crispy garlic bread, and green apple, cucumber, raisins and lettuce salad complemented the dish very well.
Shepherd’s Pie (RM14.90)
Of course, being famous for their English-style traditional pies and stews, one can’t help but be tempted by the sheperd’s pie, lamb pie, beef pie, lamb stew, chicken stew and so forth. I had a regular portion of the Shepherd’s, with minced lamd, vegetables, and a ‘topping’ of mashed Russett potatoes, generously doused with brown sauce. The gamey flavour of the lamb may have doubters having second thoughts, but I like them strong and gamey anyway. =P
But the mashed potatoes layer was nothing to shout about. It was a bit hardened at the top. The corn-on-cob and sides of fruits+vegetable salad, and boiled vegetables were good though. Least we’re not getting the average crinkle cuts, or shoe strings.
All in all, a place to sit back, enjoy your meal, away from the maddening pace of city life. Or as hectic as Ipoh can get anyway. =P
Location : DENIS JAZZ BISTRO @ 26, Pesara Ipoh 1, Taman Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak.
Got MAP !!!
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Of Hotel Food and Little Cottage Cafe, Penang

November 15, 2008 | 1,148 views
You know it’s probably another one of those annoyances related to humans’ instincts. When your food is FREE, they do not seem to taste so good, or sound attractive. If you’re paying an arm and an leg for a meal, no matter how un-sumptuous the meal is, you’ll still seek solace in the ambience, the service, yada yada ….
Little Cottage Cafe @ Jalan Burma, Penang
We were fed 6 meals a day (!!!), courtesy of Dorsett Penang Hotel. Wow? But seriously, where’s the FUN in digesting hotel’s food, when GOOD restaurants, and even GREATER hawker fares are all around you?
And so we ventured to Little Cottage Cafe, a cozy, small and quite a buzzing cafe on an equally high traffic Jalan Burma. We’ve been here during our uni days, and re-visiting this place somehow brought back memories of days yonder, and an overwhelming sense of rendezvous swept into us.

Complete with a fireplace, and furnished with predominantly wooden elements, the place does exude a certain cottage-like ambience; charming yet cozy


Our mains, clockwise from top left : Mexico Chicken (RM15.90), Golden Fish & Chips (RM9.90), Little Cottage Special Chicken Chop (or somethin’) (RM15.90) and Monte Cristo Chicken (RM19.90)

A favourite haunt with the lunch crowd, judging from the packed to the brim seating area, the place still serves affordable set lunches, from RM9.90 to RM19.90. The set comes with the usual suspects, soup, desserts and coffee/tea. We don’t see many outlets nowadays that let the patron chooses his/her appetizers, or desserts, do we? Pity.
The soup was a sad story. Chicken soup, I recall, but the stock uncannily resembled instant soup from the can. And had it not for the little bits of chicken thrown in, we were still questioning the nature of that bowl of creamy nothings.
The Little Cottage Chicken Chop fared the best among all, but the difference merely lied in the gravy, nothing else. Monte Cristo Chicken was just another slab of meat, with 2 halves of sausages as garnishing.

Almond Fish (RM15.90)

My Almond Fish was fortunately deserving enough of the price paid. The crispy almond flakes on top of the batter-fried dory made the cut. Pardon the grainy photo, the interior of the cafe was dark, and we were seated at the darkest corner possible.
Total damage : RM78.50 for 5. No service charge or government tax. But note that the plate of peanuts they place on the table before your orders is worth RM1.00. Of course, you can be a prick and send that back. =P We did not though.
Location : LITTLE COTTAGE CAFE @ 96-A, Jalan Burmah, 10050 Georgetown, Penang.
Tel No : 604-228 6218. They’ve another branch at Gottlieb Road, in Hotel Waterfall, it seems.

Dorsett’s spread of local and internation delights

A lesson well-learnt. Save some $ and eat in a 4-star hotel (though doubtful) may be a wise choice sometimes.
For the first 2 days, the food at the buffet spread were nothing to shout about, the usual curries, meats, and rice. Leaned more to local fare than international dishes. Ahem. Had I wanted curry chicken or squids, would I’ve chose hotel food over Penang’s nasi kandar?
The food on the day we were leaving was the best among all days. Probably that was a Saturday, as the chef went wild and cooked up a storm, literally. From pasta to spicy fried rice, and black pepper beef to deep-fried calamari and rojak, we put off/deferred our initial plan of going hawker, and stuffed ourselves before checking out.

Delectable cheese cake, banana pie, and banana cake
The mains may be disappointing, but the desserts were a different story altogether. They’ve a glass counter displaying the sweet treats, from tapas-like serving of tarts and pies, to whole cakes and puddings. I skipped most of the meagre main dishes and took a larger portion of desserts every meal. =P
Fancy some chocolate mousse?

Chocolate rum tart

Too many to snap, I merely took photos of a few. There’s even Panna Cotta, which was not bad, and blueberry crumbles, as well as bread and butter pudding. Swweeeetttt !!!
Happy Weekend Everyone !!!
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