Going Rounds in Pusing of Perak
February 21, 2010 | 17,953 viewsI have not written about food in Pusing (a small town in the state of Perak, very near to Batu Gajah, Seri Iskandar, Bota etc) for a very long time. Not that we did not travel to the town often, but more so because of an unexplainable reason, one that forbids me from telling. Huh? Yeah ….. something related to our work, if you get my drift.
To refresh your memory, you might want to read about the Ming Feong Restaurant (Sang Har Meen) experience back in 2008, followed by a short detour to Pusing for some delectably classic Nyonya Kuih after a seafood feast in Sitiawan.
I have gotten some rather good recommendations from a constant reader of Motormouth From Ipoh (who is from Pusing himself) constantly ‘barraging’ me with good eats here and there. Though I have yet to find the time for a revisit, hence I’ll just share some simple hawker fares in Pusing which we had few months back. Okay, maybe HALF a year back, for all I can remember.
Ming Feong is the undisputed signature of Pusing town, serving generations after generations of foodies in and around town. To grasp a better idea of what Ming Feong has to offer, do hop over to Ipoh Echo’s review back in November of 2009 HERE. And you can read about the famous “Puppy Duck” dish (don’t worry, no canine is cooked in the claypot with the braised ducks) from that link.
Our experience back then at Ming Feong was far from stellar, and as shared by a fellow Menglembu-rian (?!) herself; seems like the quality has dwindled over the years. Though I would not mind another round for the interesting “Puppy Duck” dish, but spare me the noodles, please ……
There’s this food court style of eatery a few doors away from Ming Feong on the main road itself. This coffee shop named Kedai Kopi Yong Fong is situated at the corner end of the row, facing the huge archway to the new village of Pusing (Kampung Baru). Unassuming, and some may not take a liking to the rather disdain surroundings, but then again, that’s where the locals have their lunches, so the food’s better be good. Right?
The Wan Ton Mee looks promising, with chunks of lean, roasted pork, and springy homemade egg noodles. One of the better choice, as suggested by a friend who’s from around the area himself. The Sambal Petai (stinkbeans) with rice came with lots of onions and minced pork – cooked in the most traditional Chinese manner. The starchy Sweet and Sour Pork fared miserably, but in its defense, the tangy tomato and chili sauce combination was an appetizing palate-teaser.
But of course, how could we leave Pusing without taking away some of its most popular snacks, the Nyonya Kuih from the pushcart stalls on the right side of the road? (Opposite of Ming Feong and Yong Fong). Especially noteworthy is the BLACK -coloured (almost tar-rish black) sticky glob of pancake resembling the famous Chinese kuih named “Ang Koo” But this kuih, named ‘Kai Si Tang‘ (erm, not so delicious sounding, huh? Kai Si is chicken shit!) is actually made from the juices/essence of a type of plant, and no fret as no colouring agent is involved. Not too sweet, and cloying, the fragrant snack is actually a popular Hakka snack, but its popularity pales in comparison to its other counterparts, thus you probably can’t find this traditional snack in your typical neighbourhood’s Nyonya Kuih stalls.
Priced from RM0.35/USD0.10 per piece, the extensive array of Nyonya Kuih will not burn a hole in your pocket, yet satisfy your cravings for some sweet snacks, especially come the post-lunch tea time hours. Note that the stalls only open from noon until evening daily. And yes, there are more than one, hence you can pick your favourite.
So, if you’re ever on the way to Sitiawan for seafood, or Pangkor Island for vacation, do consider dropping by Pusing town for a short excursion. Grab some ‘kuih’ to fuel that nagging cravings along the way, or go for breakfast or lunch at the many Chinese eateries in town.
To get to Pusing town, you have to drive about 15 km away from Ipoh city. Take the Lumut Highway, and after passing by Falim, Menglembu, and Batu Gajah Perdana (with a most obvious Petronas station on your left), you’ll reach a cross road traffic lights. Turn RIGHT at the signboard indicating Pusing, and after a short drive, you’ll arrive in town. After the first traffic lights with the police station on your LEFT, go straight and you’ll reach Ming Feong on your LEFT, then followed by Kedai Kopi Yong Fong on the same row, at the corner end. The Nyonya Kuih stalls will be on your RIGHT, before you reach Ming Feong.
Yes, agree with u.. ming foong is not as popular as those days.. the noodles.. too soft already and of course pricey too nowadays. But the kueh is something else, i sure buy lots including the chicken shit kueh.. hahaha….
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J2Kfm Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Kinda funny when we talk about chicken shit, something so unsavoury, and yet we’re drooling over them.
Sick?
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Interesting to see the pushcart with all the kuih 🙂
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Going rounds is better than not going. I will go back in one of those non-holidays and make my rounds there. There is a certain old charm that even my octogenarian father unprompted, has quite a few stories to tell.
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J2Kfm Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Yeah, I figure I have to go for a few more rounds, while I am still at this job.
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Pusing… also where the Public (Mun Choong) Restaurant was originated right???
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ermm..looks familiar..was it the visit N years ago wf king KONG:P btw i got a weekly dose of kuih there:P
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J2Kfm Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Yes ah? But it has always been so near to your house anyway. Hehehe, so when will you tapau some for us leh?
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OH yes Pusing is very famous for its kuih! Definitely one of our favourite places to get kuih back in my uni days in the deserted town of Tronoh 😛
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J2Kfm Reply:
February 21st, 2010 at 10:04 pm
So you’re from UTP? Hahaha, neither here nor there eh? But least you still can go to Sitiawan, and Ipoh without much hassle. During the weekends, ya?
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Thanks!!!! Brings back my childhood and teenage memories. The last picture you posted (shoplots), I lived right across the road from that!!!!!. It used to be the JKR quarters, but now its new shoplots. Thanks man!!!
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Huh? There is such a place call Pusing? :p
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Wow…
Such a quaint old town – Nice! 🙂
(There’s so much character in those old buildings…. and so much interesting food too… yum)
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i’ve been there once only..when my ex colleague introduced me to the market there…
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woah, must drop by pusing.. pusing it is! erm, haha, so cute the name.. kai see tang – i’d smell it 1st before i eat it. so the taste is like angkoo rite.. any mungbean inside?
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so many good places in Perak, how am I able to go to all of them?? sigh… one at a time I guess… next week I be traveling to Perak!!! yay!!
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I am drooling over the Ku Lo pork ….. slurp …..
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That black kuih is one classic that i enjoy as a kid. Some come with peanut/sugar filling. Ah, memories…so the cny. Haha. Hope yr cny was good, bro. 🙂
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I like the black thing. But I know it by a different name… tim pan…
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Will plan a trip to this place and best if you could guide me around the town too…haha
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Hi, can anyone let me know where I can buy cheap agriculture/nice village land (about 1 acre) in Perak for my retirement? TQ
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moon lim Reply:
July 20th, 2014 at 10:28 pm
Hi
My budget to buy cheap village house is below rm70k. We r not loaded people. Jus to live out our lives simply. Plant veggies, rear some chicken. Tq for replying and so sorry for late reply. My email address is rhuyi9352@gmail.com
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the black thing is call chou yip pan!!
XD
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J2Kfm Reply:
April 30th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Thanks Anne, we always call them “Kai See Thang” !!!
Not the most palatable of names, yet somewhat cute.
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ahhh… my hometown!! I grew up eating the kuih from the roadside :p seems that from the parents.. the biz is passed on to the children.. still selling the kuih at the very same ol’ place :p The ‘chou yip’ kuih is my fave!!! (my late grandma can even make the kuih – never heard of it being called kai see tang @_@). Used to buy kuih koci from this lady.. 6 huge kuih koci for just RM1. Her kuih koci is the best-est! But then.. I was just a kid then heheh.. Not sure if she’ll still selling.. and not sure if the kuih is till as huge.. but definitely not RM1 for 6 anymore lol.
I hope to go back to Pusing one day to eat what I haven’t been eating for the past .. almost 20 years. Been only eating at Ipoh/Menglembu/Tg Tualang in all my trips back but not in Pusing. I miss all the food near the pasar ie. curry noodles, yong tau fu, wantan mee (the home made char siew is to die for!)… (I hope the stalls are still there :p and the uncles/aunties there will probably still remember me heheh).
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 29th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Hai meh?!!! Hahaha … we always call the dark-coloured “ang koo”-like kuih as kai see tang. Hehe, maybe the resemblance to chicken’s droppings?
Now there are many stalls there, JC. Not only one or two. Last I saw about 3, but opens at scattered hours, so I could not recognize the peddlers well. But more or less the same kuih.
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JC Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:03 am
it has never been just 2 stalls. Got a few stalls there but my mom has this preference for 1 of the stalls only :p. Kuih looks the same.. but she said that particular stall’s kuih is nicer wor? All I know is makan only lol.
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[…] Pusing – Wantan Mee @ Kedai Kopi Yong Fong Pusing – Pushcart Nyonya Kuih & Again Pusing – Ming Feong Restaurant and the Revisit (Great Sweet and Sour Pork) […]
im wondering. the kuih stall only operates during the day?
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J2Kfm Reply:
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Yes, lovelove. The stall opens around lunch until evening if I’m not mistaken.
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i live in pusing actually, nowdays those kuih doesnt taste good as before (7-8 years ago) the kuih now taste so so only. my parents said that the younger generation ( the uncle sons) dnt have the necessary skills to make those kuih taste as good as their uncle.
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Hi,
Do you know of anyone wanting to sell a village house somewhere is Pusing, Menglembu, Batu
Gajah cheap. This is for retirement purpose for my husband and me. TQ
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J2Kfm Reply:
June 8th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Retiring in Pusing or within the vicinity? Well, village house for sale. Hmm, this should be new.
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spfoon Reply:
July 31st, 2011 at 8:48 pm
Hi,
Can I know your budget ?
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Luv to go back whenever holiday cropped up.
Those local delicacies are the ones where your saliva droops, and never without it.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 15th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
You’re from Pusing? Yup, good old hometown cooking, unparalleled in the bigger cities.
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We purposely turned into Pusing for the kuih, on our way from Pangkor Island back to Ipoh. Just felt “nostalgic”, used to eat those kuih whenever we had relatives from Pusing visiting us in our childhood days.
Found 2 kuih stalls by the roadside, both run by two uncles. One with fewer choices of kuih, the other more.
Decided to buy the dark one ( named ‘chu yap’ ) from one stall, and other varieties from another one, thinking to try out the “skills” of different people.
The uncle with more kuih obviously was extremely upset with our decision, refused to entertain me but turned to serve a few more other customers who came much later than me.
He was only willing to take my order after all the other customers left!!! Such a terrible man!!!
The kuih is RM0.50/ piece, and they simply do not taste as good as old days.
And i’d never go back to this stuck up man for kuih, no matter how much i miss them. Should have taken a photo of his so that the rest of you can recognize his sickening face!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
January 2nd, 2012 at 9:12 am
Yeah, daisy. You should have. He should not be that calculative, since you were buying from him anyway.
Guess competition’s harsh there. Anyway, Happy New Year to you.
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I will be thankful and happy if any one of you can provide me the recipe for the black kuih chou yip pan! I missed eating it since childhood, remember my great grandmum used to make for me, but now she has passed away..sos sob..and no 1 knows the recipe..
Or any KL people know where to buy? Seriously craving for this kuih since forever!
Thank you so much!
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I wonder if the Yong Tow Foo at the market food court is still there.. Use to be 1 of the best in the older days…
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J2Kfm Reply:
September 9th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Hmm, not sure of this myself though, Thomas. Usually go for Ming Feong and the kuih-muih from the stalls only.
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[…] The Fried Dim Sum category includes items such as Hakka yong tau foo; stuffed bean curd, bitter gourd and eggplant, pan fried turnip cake, fried yam cake, fried dumplings etc. Steamed Dim Sum on the other hand contains interesting range such as stewed duck feet, stewed duck wing, stewed beef stomach, the perennial favourite of many; lor mai gai and a funky sounding Chu Ye Ban that resembled the ‘kai see th’ng’ from the kuih stall at Pusing. […]
[…] The Fried Dim Sum difficulty includes equipment such as Hakka yong tau foo; pressed bean curd, sour gourd and eggplant, vessel boiled turnip cake, boiled yam cake, boiled dumplings etc. Steamed Dim Sum on a other palm contains engaging operation such as stewed steep feet, stewed steep wing, stewed beef stomach, a long-lived favourite of many; lor mai gai and a musty sounding Chu Ye Ban that resembled a ‘kai see th’ng’ from the kuih case during Pusing. […]
[…] The Fried Dim Sum difficulty includes equipment such as Hakka yong tau foo; pressed bean curd, sour gourd and eggplant, vessel boiled turnip cake, boiled yam cake, boiled dumplings etc. Steamed Dim Sum on a other palm contains engaging operation such as stewed steep feet, stewed steep wing, stewed beef stomach, a long-lived favourite of many; lor mai gai and a musty sounding Chu Ye Ban that resembled a ‘kai see th’ng’ from the kuih case during Pusing. […]
That black kuih is called chuo yap kuih, my favorite since childhood time. It is made with plant leaves, not found anywhere but only in Pusing.
Whenever return to Pusing, i never forget to ta pau some kuih back to KL.
Apart from its famous kuih, there are famous curry mee,wan tan mee etc. But the famous How Ka chap sep(ice kacang) and also Sek Sui Kong(selling ice kacang, fruit rocak & sotong with vege kacang) were missing.
I missed this little home town. The colonial type of shop lots along the main road still standing tall. Hope these building can be kept forever.
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