Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

BBQ Chicken Pau (RM3.60/USD1.20 for two freshly-steamed buns) – Char Siew Bao without the CHAR SIEW?! Atrocious?!!! Ridiculous??!!!!!! Not really.

Friday. I’d better limit my words for this post, else I’ll be getting all the rotten tomatoes splattered over this ogre-like mug. And a stretch of 3-days long, extended weekend for everyone!

Instead of the usual un-Halal, pork-infested reviews on this blog, let me embrace the milder, pork-free side of myself. And if you’re a Muslim reader, or have a bunch of Muslim foodie friends dying to try some Chinese dim sum, then this post is definitely for you.

Wait, even if you are one PORK-adoring fanatic, who can’t stay away from the char siew, gu lou yuk, crispy siew yoke, vinegar pig’s trotters, German pork knuckle …… you might still find this recommendation worthy of a try. I was skeptical, but the first visit proved my doubts were unfounded. Read on, and discover why …. Read the rest of this entry »

Piping hot and fresh dim sum being carted by the ladies of Yook Woo Hin. Still the same modus operandi over the years, and still exuding that nostalgic charm of old ‘yum cha’ (literally translated to ‘drink tea’ or breakfast) establishments.

The revelation came when I read this piece of news. That a stretch of old shops in Petaling Street and Jalan Sultan will be demolished very soon to pave the way for development. Again.

And much as I was empathizing with the residents and traders along the affected stretch, a significant yet disturbing thought resounded in the back of my mind;

“What if someday the government decides to develop Ipoh into a mass tourism hub, with MRT’s running through the beautiful landscapes and the heritage structures of old town?”

Read the full story ramblings ahead …. Read the rest of this entry »

Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Specialists; loudly hailed as the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. And probably the smallest too.

Let’s get the ball rolling. Highly doubtful that I can finish all the food posts in the very near future, but I shall try my best. And what better way to kick off the gastronomic endeavour than a heavenly (late) lunch of Hong Kong dim sum?

This feisty lady manned the counter; giving away queue numbers while intermittently serving the customers within. Don’t get all jelly-legs, people. She’s a charmer, surprisingly.

And this ‘restaurant’ (if you can even call the premise that) was awarded with an unprecedented ONE Michelin star, a startling choice since fine dining establishments have always had preferential treatment  over humble eateries. Granted, this might also be due to the fact that Chef Mak Pui Gor at Tim Ho Wan (literally translated to “Add Good Luck”) came from a 3-starred Lung King Heen himself.

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The previous post on 15 of the best curry noodle stalls in Ipoh spurred me on in this renewed interest of writing about some of the signature foods that Ipoh has become famous for. Not sure if this is a purely impulsive reaction to being away from home for so long (okay, barely 2 months … but the cravings’  been killing me!), but might as well do everyone good by shortlisting good finds in one post.

This time around, let’s review 10 of the top dim sum outlets in Ipoh. In no particular order, here they are :

1. Foh San Restaurant @ Leong Sin Nam Road (aka “Dim Sum Street” of Ipoh)

Foh San moved to its new location sometime back in 2009. And there has been no turning back ever since. Albeit the unfavorable reviews occasionally (from those whom have grown accustomed to what they have been serving back in their old premise, and newbies confused; wondering what the big hoo-ha was regarding Foh San), no one can take away the sheer magnetism this gigantic dim sum powerhouse has over its competitors.

Hints/Tips : Come early, like REALLY early (6-7am?) on weekends/public holidays. Or very late, since they open until late afternoon. But you will risk losing out on some of the better dim sum in the morning. Stand around like vultures; since they do not give queue numbers. Go for the traditional items like Har Gau (prawn dumplings), Ma Lai Gou (steamed fluffy cakes; pic above), Char Siew Bao. Skip the claypot chee cheong fun with duck/beef. Funky creation, but faltered miserably.

Read on for the other 9 dim sum restaurants on the list …..

Read the rest of this entry »

Golden hues of yellow; wobbly and velvety smooth egg custard baked within a layer of crisp pastry. Looks like the average egg tarts sold by the streets. But this was definitely a cut above the rest. Egg Tart @ Tai Tong Dim Sum Restaurant.

Let’s take a break from the monotony of the posts. Let’s travel way up north to Penang; a delightful city where this Motormouth learned the curve in differentiating good food from GREAT food, and street fares extending beyond the “Kai See Hor Fun“, “Hor Hee” and white coffee of Ipoh. (if you can’t wait, then browse through THIS Penang Food List for more droolworthy delights from up north).

Tai Tong Dim Sum was one of my most favourite place to eat during dinner hours when we were around town. A short walk away from Prangin Mall/Komtar, this might be one of the very few places that serve dim sum not only for breakfast, but for dinner as well.

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Shanghainese Minced Meat Dumplings aka Xiao Long Bao (RM4.70/USD1.60 for 3 pcs) – Not many places in Ipoh serve XLB, and Qi Yuan does a passable version; with a proportionately filled dumpling with moist and firm minced meat and savoury soup that’s not scalding hot.

And ladies & gentlemen …. I AM BACK !!!

To imagine the longing for good old Ipoh food; to experience the slower-paced lifestyle … where cars travel at 30km/hour and yet don’t get honked at. No double parking even in the most congested of business centres (else risk being awarded with a piece of beef jerky aka “Ngau Yoke Kon”). No rushing to anywhere and everywhere as rarely roads got flooded, and travelling in the car for more than an hour seems almost unheard of.

Unless you’re going all out to Tanjung Tualang for some freshwater prawns, or Sitiawan for good old toddy + cheap seafood combination, then that ONE hour is well worth the travelling time.

And no, one hour spent on Federal Highway to get from PJ to Cheras is NOT a conducive move, in comparison!!!

Szechuan Famous Dan Dan Meen (RM5.00/USD1.60) – Slightly spicy from the addition of chili oil, the savoury mix of minced pork and finely-chopped wood ear fungus added much dimension to their own-produced noodles. Probably not enough to be shared amongst two, I reckon you should order the various noodle dishes to accompany the many dim sum fares.

Now let’s neglect that crash diet for one week. Let’s indulge in some of the BEST street food Ipoh has to offer. And not forgetting the abundance of newer eateries sprouting up here and there; rendering this Motormouth restless (helpless?) in seeking for them.

But no fear, for today …. let’s read about a new dim sum restaurant in Greentown Business Centre (next to Yeong Wai Greentown, same row with Maria’s Cafe and Laksamana Cheng Ho) …….. Read the rest of this entry »

Like a scene from a TVB drama huh? People of all ages sipping tea and chewing on delicate morsels of dim sum on Sunday mornings, in an air-conditioned restaurant setting. But this is Ipoh, and this is Royal China; a subsidiary of Tai Thong Group.

Best way to start a Sunday? Dim Sum breakfast with family members. Or extended family members/relatives/’yee ma ku jie’ (swear that’s not a profanity) and the joy of jostling for a vacant table; executing those dreadful empty stares to shoo away those lingering for eternity (after the umpteenth time of refilling their pot of tea), and finally going all out and pointing for steamed dumplings, fluffy Char Siew Bao, fresh Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun and century egg porridge, and shutting up the disciplined alter ego and munch on crispy fried woo kok (yam puff with minced meat fillings), sweet and wobbly egg tarts and maybe a pudding or two.

Char Siew Bao – BBQ Pork Bun

And so, there I was squeezing every single memory cell (grey matter’s the real deal?) to come up with the 3 meals a day fiasco; lasting the entire weekend and then some. After all, who’s better to put to test?

Royal China Restaurant was formerly known as Tai Thong, and previously at Heritage Hotel on Jalan Tambun. Since last year (or the year before, I lost track of time …. can’t blame someone who’s near to his geriatric doom), they have started operating at Coliseum Square, where you can also find San Francisco Steakhouse (they offer lunch sets now; for RM16.90++).

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