Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

A flavoursome platter of Stir-Fried Eel with Dried Chillies, Onions and Spring Onion (RM12/USD3.60)

For more than two decades of rich legacy behind  their resume, Sun Poh Poh Restaurant in Pasir Pinji of Ipoh has been constantly raved upon by the locals, especially residents staying around Pasir Pinji & Pasir Puteh. I for one, was born and raised in Pasir Puteh. Hence the familiarity when it comes to revisiting old classics like Sek Lau Zhi (Ais Sagu), Poh Lee Fried Chicken, and the other famous Fried Yong Tau Foo (Yong Liew) under some BIG trees (now renovated into a proper coffee shop).

Okay, for those who still wanna lament/gripe/cry injustice over the omission of Pasir Pinji’s legendary Lorong 5’s Chee Cheong Fun ….. I apologize, sincerely. The erratic business hours (1.30pm onwards on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri only, notwithstanding sudden closure, public holidays or school holidays) and damn long queue for a plate of CCF is rather deterring. Someday, people …. someday.

Old School enough for you?

Sun Poh Poh is another one of those places in the neighbourhood that requires no menu, specials of the day, or fancy artwork decorating the walls. Or even pleasant, shiny, charismatic personnel ushering you to your seat. You walk into the two-lots air-conditioned restaurant for dinner or supper (they’re opened until 1.30am!) and find yourself a vacant table. Then quickly wave for attention (trust me, you MUST stand out amongst the crowd on a weekend!) and order away, or ask for rapid successions of recommended dishes darting your way.

Stewed Pork Ribs with Yam and Dried Shrimps in Claypot (RM12/USD3.60)

We have always believed in recommendations from the staff of an eatery. Especially if the highly-acclaimed dishes got the thumbs up from the lady boss herself. Yes, she was somewhat a friend of our family’s; she used to be our neighbour for a short stint back in the early 80’s!

And so we started off with their signature claypot containing piping hot stewed pork ribs with chunks of yam; not cooked until mushy. We bit into crispy bits of dried shrimps, and gleefully chewed on lard fritters. The whiff of umami-infused aroma got us craving for more. Good start, although deep down inside I wished the blocks of yam were softer and cooked until a smooth, mushy texture.

Ginger & Spring Onion (Scallion) Fish Fillets (RM20/USD6) – Safe choice, especially if you’re dining with children. Boneless = Perfect for lazy eaters.

Poh Poh Beancurd (RM8/USD2.40) – Velvety smooth beancurd smothered with a lavish gravy with minced pork, mushrooms, carrot and sweet peas.

“Fu Yee Yau Mak” (RM6/USD1.80) – Romaine Lettuce stir-fried with Fermented Beancurd Paste

The MUST-TRY items includes the delicious stir-fried eels in a spicy and sweet sauce, or Kung Pow Wong Sin. Boneless cuts of eel with a springy bite retained, stir-fried with lots of onions, scallions and dried chillies for flavour. Half expecting the serving of eels to be reeking of bones, I was pleasantly surprised there was almost none that annoyed the lazy glutton in me.

The Fish Fillet and Beancurd were good in their own rights, though Sun Marpoh STILL cooks my personal favourite beancurd dish; the Gwai Fei Tofu.

* For a better idea on what Sun Poh Poh serves, aside from the tried-and-tested dishes, hop over to Ipoh Echo’s review of the restaurant way back in 2009, when SeeFoon sampled their signature Indian Mee, an interesting Saito Fish (wolf-herring) Rolls with water chestnut and yam, and even frog legs steamed and served with essence of chicken.

SUN POH POH RESTAURANT
No 1334-1335, Jalan Pinji,
Pasir Pinji, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 605-253 7273, 6012-518 8182, 6012-400 9786.
Business Hours : 5.30pm – 1.30am.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to Sun Poh Poh Restaurant
# This is within the vicinity of the famous Dai Shu Geok Yong Liew Stall on Jalan King, and same row with Poh Lee Fried Chicken.