That Timeless Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh
October 4, 2010 | 13,514 views
The Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun Aunty – Not the most pleasant soul on earth, yet equipped with her own brand of witty charm that draws the crowd to her stall …. Or wait. Was it the freshly steamed rice noodles instead? 
Let’s take a break from the Penang Street Food posts. And divert your attention to one of the ubiquitous street food of Ipoh; the Chee Cheong Fun (also known as rice noodle roll).
When it comes to famous Chee Cheong Fun (CCF for short) in Ipoh, you may be getting yourself waist deep in the heat of the argument, with regard to the perpetually-unanswered question : “Which place serves the BEST CCF in Ipoh?”
Some would vouch for the Canning Garden’s grumpy uncle’s version served on those timeless metal plates. Those media savvy geeks (like yours truly) might have fallen for Menglembu’s Ma Zai (Twin Brothers) CCF with an endless array of curries as accompaniments, no thanks to the influence of 8TV’s Ho Chak program sometime back then. Old town folks (like yours truly again) might not agree, but instead vote for the CCF at a stall in Sun Yuan Foong, next to Sin Yoon Loong coffee shop; also known as the origin of white coffee. Or even the other uncle running the stall in Thean Chun/Hall of Mirrors next to Kong Heng.
The other place that I have missed doing a review include the Taman Cempaka’s legendary CCF stall that was supposedly operating from the field at Canning Garden from way back then.
Would it be a sin, had you decided to pass this off as just another run of the mill Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh?
And I have been aching for a visit to this house in Pasir Pinji of Ipoh for ages now. For a plate of their elusive CCF (yes, not only exclusive but somewhat elusive as well. You’ll see why soon enough).
For if you ask around for The BEST Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh, I guarantee this place pops up more often than the others. No joke. We were loyal customers of theirs in the 80′s, when the hype was gradually building up and the attitude was not there. Yet.
Read on for more of this incomparable street food experience, and when are the best days and time to visit, as well as some tips on how not to embarrass oneself while eating there ……
And I was snapping these shots in a somewhat reconnaissance mode. Yes, with my life and reputation at stake. Overly-dramatized?
Rule #1 – You are not allowed to take any photograph at the premise. Yes, when I was in my usual snapping frenzy mode, the aunties instantly sprang to their defensive stance and warned me not to;
“Aiya, we are not the brides lah … Why you wanna take our photos?”
Bouncy fried fish balls served with your choice of sauce(s). You can pick from the usual condiments served with CCF; like chili sauce, the sweet sauce (tim cheong), or even the chili oil. (RM0.50/USD0.20 per piece)
Rule #2 – Enter the compound, take an imaginary queue number before sitting down at any of the 6 or so tables. No, you don’t press on the QMS (Queue Management System) for your ticket, nor picking up a small card with handwritten numbers on it. Instead, you must remember the queue number given to you verbally by any of the ladies.
“Who? Who’s Number 17?!!”
I prefer to order the Chee Cheong Fun in a simple mix of soy sauce, and shallot oil. So you can taste the freshness of the steamed rice noodles, and the briny flavour of the dried shrimps.
Rule #3 – Don’t be a nuisance and keep pestering the aunties with your order. Sit down, keep quiet, count your fingers, play some Angry Birds on your phone, order a some fish balls or otak-otak, or just be a good boy and doze off. Just be on the alert when your turn’s up. Else she might just give you a scolding (sarcastically), or you have to miss your order. Good thing is that they have relatively good memories. And only place your order when you are approached by them.
“Aunty, I want my Chee Cheong Fun with char siew, siew yoke, prawns, scallops, salmon etc in a mix of curry, sambal, laksa gravy, rojak, peanut sauce, wasabi and sweet sauce.”
“ASK your mother to cook for you lah …. ”
* Only Lat Jiu (chili sauce) and Tim Cheong (sweet sauce). And some Lat Jiu Yau (chili oil). Not sure whether mushroom sauce is permanently on the menu, for I personally never bothered to order anything other than Pak Yau Sook Yau (soy sauce + shallot oil).
Toss them up real good. This is the MOST popular combination. A little bit of everything; Chili Sauce, Chili Oil, Sweet Sauce, Soy Sauce and Shallot Oil. If it’s your first time here, don’t bother picking anything else. Go with the flow and ask for a plate with EVERYTHING.
Rule #4 – NEVER go on an empty stomach. Or on the brink of dying from famine. On a usual day, if you’re there at about 2pm, you may have to wait a good 30 minutes or so. IF … the people before you do not take away tens of packets back home. And if you’re a loyal customer of theirs, you would have experienced the severe intention to punch the person before you when he/she orders 40 packets (!) at one go.
*By the way, 40 packets is the limit I was told. And don’t even think about buying the whole container of steamed fresh rice noodles back home, because she does not let that happen. Nor asking for her to hold the sesame seeds lah …. fried shallots lah …. soy sauce lah …. green chillies lah …. This may open up a whole new opportunity for her to retaliate in her usual sarcastic demeanour.
The Har Mai (dried shrimps) make all the difference. Not the slightest unpleasant, fishy or stale stench from the shrimps, but instead they were very soft with a briny nuance and added much oomph to the rice noodles. Oh, and don’t be a smart a$$ and order ONLY the Har Mai Fun (rice noodles with dried shrimps). She will in her own discretion, mix and match the plain noodles with the Har Mai ones.
Rule #5 – Don’t bother coming on weekends. Or during the public holidays. Or even school holidays sometimes. They are CLOSED on weekends and Wednesdays, as well as on public holidays. And if for some stroke of luck they decide to open, the place would be swarmed by tourists from the outer states. So much so that the small lane of Jalan Pasir Pinji 5 can be so congested it’s not even funny.
This place is supposed to serve the BEST Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh? Seriously?!!
VERDICT? Hands down One of the very best Chee Cheong Fun that Ipoh has to offer. The smooth rice noodles steamed freshly at the back of the house (you can see the small shack beside the house resembling a kitchen in the picture above), coupled with the abundance of toasted sesame seeds, sweet caramelized fried shallots, pickled green chillies, and your choice of gravy; result in a most delectable ensemble served on the traditional painted metal plates.
A small serving at RM1.80/USD0.60, large serving at RM2.50/USD0.80 and an EXTRA large portion (add noodles aka “Kar Fun”) at RM3.00/USD1.00.
PASIR PINJI CHEE CHEONG FUN
House No 1456,
Jalan Pasir Pinji 5,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Business hours : About 1.15pm, until the CCF finishes (around 4pm).
Opens only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
GPS Coordinates : E101 5′ 3.4″ N4 34′ 43.8″
Google Map to Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun
Still lost? Contact me using this Contact Form, or follow me on Twitter for regular updates.
Here are some reviews of this (not so) hidden gastronomic gem of Ipoh : Gourmet Garden, Dine And Health, Best Food Network and My Little Diary
hmmm ever realized – all CCF people are THAT GRUMPY!??
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 4th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hmm, maybe because the business is darn good?
Seek the not-so-famous ones … then we will judge.
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eric Reply:
October 4th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
yeah, agree with neko, noticed most (if not all) are grumpy….
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Maybe it’s a tough job after all, to serve up plates after plates of CCF.
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Wow…home made chee cheong fun.
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if u feel hungry better dont go…if not u may wait wait wait and wait…last time wait for an hour…haha :p
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Yeah, an hour or more is the norm especially when you go during the peak hours, about 2-3pm.
We were there slightly earlier, about 1.10pm, before they’re supposed to start serving at 1.30pm.
So we got Number #3!
And still the first two customers ate and took away few packets. So we endured a somewhat ‘short’ 15 minutes wait.
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I havent been to this place for years! Always put off by the long Q and grumpy sellers but yeah the CCF is darn good la.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Me too, it’s been more than a decade since I last ate there! The crowd is still scary, but pick the right day and time, and I assure you that you can have your CCF in 20 minutes flat.
Yup, including downing the whole plate of silky smooth rice noodles.
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This has got to be the best kept secret of Pasir Pinji! Lying inside one small lorong…:-p Hehe, While waiting for your number, you can spend your time away observing the grumpy old lady in action, chopping up the ccf with her signature mouth movement.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Yeahlah …. and she does it all in such slow motion … it’s not funny when you’re damn hungry.
Makes you wanna just bring your own knife/chopper to deal with the noodles huh?
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anyone tried the CCF by one uncle on beca, just outside the famous Kar Pin Noodle place, along Jalan Bendahara? heard the uncle’s sweet sauce is good…
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Wait, but you also can get CCF inside of Kar Pin right?
Clash of interest perhaps?
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eric Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 11:56 am
rili? tot those CCF are from the uncle out there…. perhaps sudah ada conflict between the 2 parties… hehe
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Eh i tembak je … I dunno one. Hehe, the only time we went Kar Pin we found that the YTF there not up to our liking. So did not return already. Plus kinda hard to find parking.
The CCF in the picture is undeniably good, no doubt about but I am drooling at this hour.
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I will not go there for a one-hour-wait-and-down-in-two-minute ccf (unless at the request for outstation friends who insisted they dont mind the long wait)…
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Hahaha …. me neither. When I have friends from elsewhere coming down I will just bring them to Thean Chun in old town. So they can sample the kai See Hor Fun, pork satay, Kong Heng popiah and CCF at once.
Maybe not as fresh nor steaming hot, but at least I save the hassle of bringing everyone everywhere.
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Finally you have a post for it!
I grow up with this CCF, not milk. Lol.
Did the auntie give you one kind of look when you took that photo of her?
She is not really friendly huh.
I managed to take some photos of this stall one year back, including the uncle making fresh CCF at the back of the house.
But then it was accidentally deleted.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Haha … you can see in the first pic how she stared right through me.
You can even walk to the back of the house ah? I highly doubt she would let me to.
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soo sean Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I walked to the side, then started with giving a smile to her husband in the kitchen. Then I slowly walked in and chatted with him like an old customer. Haha…. Her husband is very friendly…..So I took a few pictures of him making the CCF. But now all gone. I doubt if I would want to make a second try…Haha
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 10:55 am
Haha …. cool. Maybe you can pretend like you wanna find the toilet or something.
If I ever go there I think I will shivering when I order , facing such grumpy & fierce lady @@
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James, when it comes to CCF nothing beats this authentic one. I too love this Pasir Pinji one
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The CCF stall at the entrance to Waller Court is also good.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Yeah, I have heard about this also. Opens in the morning ah?
And there’s another one near to the Kuan Yin Temple off Jln Kuala Kangsar. From a stall as well.
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Tham Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
There is also one that opens at about 2pm (I think) under a big tree and off the slip road to TNB on Jalan Lahat.
Sigh! Ipoh is never lack of good CCF, right? And everybody seems to have his/her favorite stall somewhere.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Oh …. I seldom venture til Jalan Lahat. Thus I do not know about this. Yeah, CCF almost synonymous with Ipoh Food. Just that not very well documented, unlike Nga Choy Kai or white coffee.
simple yet delicious version of CCF!!! Wow… I wish that I can find something like this back here in Kuala Lipis! Sigh!
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Are those red sweet sauce or tomato sauce? Miss the reddish ‘tim cheong’ from these kind of stalls.
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Definitely NOT tomato sauce. It’s the tim cheong, or sweet sauce.
Plus some chili sauce, and chili oil.
You can bring your plate over and add the sauces yourself. Just don’t get in their way.
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thank you for sharing this !! i always want to go there and try out the famous CCF but too lame i don’t know the place !!!!!!! thank you !!
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
You’re welcomed. Use the Map, the GPS coordinates. the road’s name … or if still lost just drop me a mail.
I will explain to you in details.
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this is one hilarious post – nicely done James.
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Otak-otak there………Best in Ipoh !!!
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[...] That Timeless Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun in Ipoh [...]
Look yummy and next time if ever pass by Ipoh for sure will give it a try.
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I larve this CCF. Always appears magically at my Aunty’s kitchen whenever my family is in town. Lots of it too
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 6th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Wah … someone must have been very very patient to wait for those packets!!!
And maybe wearing a damn hard shield to prevent the stabs from the crowd waiting behind.
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Ergh, didn’t expect the grumpiness of the aunty can reach such level…. :S
Don’t think I will go there myself lah
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Then bring wmw along, or Citygal. We go like an army liddat …… though I highly doubt she cares. Haha. Heard that there was once a TV personality approached her for coverage, and she nonchalantly said;
“I have had enough of customers on my hands. Don’t bother.”
Talk about attitude? Salute.
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i miss the ccf here! it has been ages since i last sank my teeth on the luscious strands bcoz, they r closed during the weekends! grrrrrr
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Yeahloh, gotta go at least on a Friday or a Monday lah. Next time we go together, you distract her while I snap photos around the premise.
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Wah, you’re a brave guy, taking photos of the auntie … so fierce looking! But CCF is calling me … let me gather up my courage first!
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
yeah yeah!!! when coming again? Wei, this one nicer than Canning Garden’s!
(runs and hide …)
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Wah the aunty look like wanna kill someone there …..
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Haha, that’s the charming part. She was just being …. herself.
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Yes, I would vote one of the best and authentic CCF.
But, if their attitude change, then probably it is an added value in the CCF.
Scolded by the auntie before, ha ha ha
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Haha … maybe sans the attitude, she won’t be so well-remembered like now.
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Oh, I miss this place sooooo much. Thought it’s closed down because Aunty has retired but extremely glad that it’s not. Hope that it’s open around CNY!
Anyway, what a great post. I like your sense of humour
keep up the great work!
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[...] you had read the post on Pasir Pinji’s Chee Cheong Fun from a house, you must have noticed that in Ipoh, we tend to have our CCF in the most basic manner. [...]
Talk about chee cheong fun..A friend of mine brought me to a CCF stall in Ipoh Garden..
I think (compared to all the CCF I had before)..This Ipoh Garden one is the BEST of the BEST~
I love the mushroom so much..
Recommended to everyone who love CCF..
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Rule # 6
Never park your car at the entrance of the Aunty’s house !!!! Otherwise, you won’t be able to eat happily.
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J2Kfm Reply:
January 4th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Haha …. why?!! She scolds customers who park there?
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Is it confirm that they dont open on weekends?
Im going tis weekend and wish to eat it again. I love their CCF!
I went yesterday (Monday) and tried it for the first time. It was soooo good!
Actually the lady was quite ok. Dont think she will bite u unless u make a huge fuss and start to complain about the long wait.
I waited for one hour for 2 plates and 10 tapaus.
So, confirm they dont open weekends?
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 24th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Yeah, Faye. They only open four days a week. Unless they wish to, of course.
Don;t ever doubt their tenacity.
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Was there on 23rd May 2011. my first visit after reading your blogs. thank you so much for all the information.
No doubt it is the best and most authentic CCF in Ipoh. It really brings back my childhood memories. my last time having this kind of CCF should be at around 12 yo which is almost 20years back at my Kampung. those time was an old man who ride a bicycle around my kampung to sell this. and after that old man passed away, i have not try any CCF that has this kind of smell and texture. Thanks to your blog and now i’ve found it and it has exactly the same smell and texture!!!
i did follow your rules and sit quietly and wait. i found that the aunty is not as grumpy as you guys mention. she is a very nice lady and she did know how to smile. We were chatting with her and also other locals and heard some story about those inpatient customers.
i would like to share my 1st experience with all of you and hope you will have a better experience on your next visits.
Yes, you have to wait. And while you are waiting, please walk around and see how the aunty and her husband work. FYI, both of them are at their 70s. You can stand outside the kitchen and watch how her husband make the best CCF in ipoh, all alone, non-stop for the whole day. just try to stay there and watch for at least 15mins. see how many times he drinks water and wipe his sweat on his face, and you will know how hot is the kitchen. Notice the shape of his back bone, and you can imagine how long hours he had work like this. Notice how many times the aunty have to walk into the kitchen to get more fresh CCF made by her husband in half an hour time. Also please notice the speed of her walking.
After you notice all these, please ask yourself, would you have the heart to chase or even scold the aunty for serving you the CCF so slow??? From the conversation with the locals and the aunty while im waiting for my CCF, they always met those customer, especially the youngs one and not from Ipoh, really have no patience at all, and sometimes really makes them so fad up and angry.
Before you walk in, they will always tell you that you have to wait. Please don’t blame them that they can’t tell you how long you gonna wait, because as one of the rules in this blog stated that they will only take your orders when your number is called, how the hell they can tell you how long you have to wait??? they wont know which customer will just suddenly order 40pkts???
Look around the premises, and very obvious that their main objective for selling this CCF is not about money. With this kind of business, they can any time stay in a nice brick house and drive a beautiful car. They can always hire staff or use machinery to make the CCF. Why do they want to stay in a wooden kampung house, with a very hot and humidity kitchen? Most of the old folks at their 70s are suppose to enjoy their life with the family and grandson. Why they choose to work so hard and make their life so difficult??
For me, i can only think of 1 word. PASSION!! They want to serve you the most traditional and most authentic CCF, which is going to extinct very soon in Malaysia. With that kind of age, how many years do you think that we still be able to eat this CCF? I really don’t understand why are there some people will make their life more miserable by complaining that their food is serve so slow???
A final reminder to everyone. JUST WAIT, if you want to taste this CCF. If you can’t wait. Just tell nicely to the aunty and LEAVE. You are always welcome back and try your luck again next time. Don’t ever complaint!!! Is you can’t wait, not she can’t serve you. so please don’t blame her. She is actually a very nice person. If you found out that she is very grumpy on that day, it must be someone made her life miserable on that day. She even jokingly tell me that “some times people chase and complaint until i really cant breath, really don’t know which day i will just suddenly attack by heart attack”. which is think that its not so funny because it really can happen.
For me, i have waited for 1 hour and 10 mins for my CCF, and i left happily and satisfied!! I really pray that they will live longer so that i still can have this CCF for many years to come!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 24th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
VERY well said. That’s almost a blog post in itself! Thanks so much for the feedback, Chang.
This stall still holds a very special place in my heart.
Yes, they could have stopped operating and enjoy life as you had mentioned, but then again, they’re not the ones at lost.
WE are. After all, I highly doubt you can find such a traditional, true to its form, delicious and wholesome CCF anywhere in Ipoh, Perak or Malaysia for that matter.
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[...] it that good eateries are usually not found in the most strategic of places? For instance, you have Ipoh’s best chee cheong fun served in the compound of someone’s house, secluded from public view and without a signboard to [...]
Hi, I visited Pasir Pinji about three weeks ago, how come I never noticed any wooden houses there. Actually, I would like to buy one wooden house like the one the aunty is staying in for my retirement. Also if it is so near the best CCF stall some more best lah! Anyone knows of anybody willing to sell a piece of land with a wooden house? Please help. TQ.
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[...] with toasted sesame seeds, pickled green chillies and fried shallots. I found this a far cry from my favourite stall in Pasir Pinji, yet a notch above the casual CCF stalls in most coffee [...]
Yes! I love the Chee Cheong Fun here! The best !
By the way, feel free to check in my blog of handmade accessories. It’s http://bellezza-soonaccessories.blogspot.com
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Dear Motormouth,
I chanced upon your website when I googled Yong Tau Fu. I left Malaysia for UK for 21 years now and for the past few years I have been visiting my homeland every year. I only go back to visit my beloved family and then for makan makan, especially DURIAN!
And now I come across your website! Thank you so much for all the info you’re sharing with us. It’s so informative especially for someone like me who only get 2 weeks once a year and have to cramp all the visit to food stalls/shops for a food feast.
I am planning to go back to Ipoh for all your recommendations. Originally I was born in Ipoh and family moved to PJ and then now married to a Kwai Loh and living in UK. There is a lovely Malaysian restaurant here in Birmingham called Malaysian Delight, and their food good when you’re craving for some Nasi Lemak, Hokkien Mee or Curry Laksa.
Ah Leng
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J2Kfm Reply:
February 7th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Hi Ah Leng! Good to hear from someone who’s based oversea. I’d be glad to assist in case you need help tailoring a cramped itinerary of touring Ipoh amidst the many other towns in M’sia.
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Hi, I visited this CCF outlet earlier this afternoon and we were the only customers there, probably it wasn’t peak hours – I count myself fortunate for that. Thank you for the Ipoh good food reviews and directory, they make my life easier to find good food here since I’m not local.
Regards,
Steven.
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