Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Majie Dry Curry Noodles (RM4/USD1.30) – Slivers of poached chicken, sliced barbecued pork and bean sprouts with Ipoh’s signature ‘sar hor fun’ (flat rice noodles); in an orange-coloured, tongue-numbingly-fiery curry paste.

Before I start, I do apologize for the possibly incoherent thoughts, random choice of words and jumpy demeanour. After an entire week of traveling (for work, and partly play over the long weekend), this frazzled brain and battered body developed a resistance towards external stimuli.

Just touched down from Kota Bharu; the capital of Kelantan that has never ceased to amaze me ever since my first visit to the state. The stunning array of Kelantanese food, splendid architectures of old buildings, mosques and temples, the palaces & the beach, as well as the sheer camaraderie shared between people from all walks of life; all come together to infuse life into the “1Malaysia” concept.

For today, grab a piece of napkin (or your sleeve) and let me bring you back in time … for a curry mee stall that has since stood the test of time in Ipoh.

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Finding inspirations for a meal here in Ipoh holds nary a challenge; unless you’re talking about the odd hours. I can effortlessly ramble off a long list of recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner (could be either the same or different choices), as well as viable alternatives for brunch and supper. Provided that you’re all game for hawker fares, of course.

But lo and behold, I routinely found myself dumbstruck when forced to recommend a good spot for tea time/hi-tea. This could very well be related to the fact that Ipoh’s forte has always been the incredible plethora of street food, while quality high-tea sessions in hotels or all-day cafes/bistros are harder to come by.

So you can imagine the spark of interest in me when the all-day cafe Burps & Giggles came on board; with non-stop business hours from 8am – 8pm.  What a quirky name, you wonder? More than just the name, be prepared for the visual feast that follows.

*Don’t say I did not warn you …*

Charcoal-toasted Bread with Butter and Kaya (RM1.60) – A faint hint of smokiness from the grill, with a distinct fluffiness preserved in between the toasted surfaces.

And finally, after a month or two of tease, I made my way to Lim Ko Pi in old town of Ipoh. This relatively new coffee joint has been in the limelight almost immediately after business has commenced. This concept of refurbishing old buildings into a quaint coffee shop/cafe is not new in Malaysia. But in Ipoh, this has to be the pioneer. So kudos.

Unless of course, this aged mind plays trick on me again. (If there’s any other rejuvenation of heritage premises into a commercial trade without compromising on the beautiful facade, please correct me)

I spy with my little eye …. the fusion of the old and new elements. An iPhone and a ‘gold-painted’ stand fan for the artificial breeze.

You might have the impression that Lim Ko Pi is but another run-of-the-mill kopitiam in the league of the many others, eg: Old Town White Coffee, Pappa Rich, Hailam Kopitiam, etc.

I had the same doubts too. Only to realize that this was anything BUT another mirror image of the mighty Old Town. Read on and see why …..

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