Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Hainanese Roast Chicken Rice (RM5/USD1.60 per portion)

Finally something Halal from Ipoh for a change? Yes I know, I’ve not been an ardent hunter for Halal cuisine in Ipoh for more reasons than one. Firstly, there are only a mere handful of Malay restaurants (read : restaurants; a proper eatery with air-conditioning unit and proper menu) in Ipoh; and I think I might have tried the most premium of all; Laksamana Cheng Ho. And that was not good.

Wait, we went TWICE. And both visits were … blah …..let’s drop that. Hence you never read about the restaurant even after almost 3 years in existence; this Motormouth from Ipoh.

Crunchy bean sprouts blanched to the right degree/texture; lightly seasoned with pepper and dash of soy sauce, then garnished with chopped scallion and red chillies. (about RM4/USD1.30, if I’m not mistaken)

And since Ipoh’s synonymous with “Nga Choy Kai” or Ayam Tauge, also commonly named as Bean Sprouts Chicken (if you’re confused, read through this list of all the ‘Nga Choy Kai’ outlets I have bulldozed my way through ….), it’s only fair that the Muslim counterparts get to taste what this hoo-hah was all about.

Usually the halal version of chicken rice equals margarine cooked yellow (to a scary extent) rice, served with almost dehydrated roasted chicken and a sweet chili sauce, or sweet soy sauce (kicap manis). That, my friend …. is far from the original Hainan chicken rice we’re talking about.

So let’s see what Ipoh Hainan Chicken Rice; this chain (two branches now) outlet with a cleaner and presentable facade offers to the Malay community in Ipoh ….. Read the rest of this entry »

Sambal Petai with Squids – If you ain’t drooling yet, then you’re cold. Stone cold, emotionless without a healthy appetite. 🙂

I always have friends and readers asking for more Halal food recommendations in Ipoh. I plead guilty. I concur that I ranted excessively/uncontrollably on NON-halal fares more often that not, no thanks to the inner cravings for anything porky …… (blame it on the upbringing? Or an early acquaintance to Gu Lou Yuk?)

But I can’t deny the fact that the average Thai-Malay ‘warung’ (food stalls) do not appeal to me much. Aside from Waritha on Gopeng Road which I had an unforgettable experience late last year (in a not so positive manner), I have never written about the many “Ikan Bakar-Thai Tom Yam-Nasi Berlauk” outlets in Ipoh.

Curry Assam Fish Head – A favourite across the racial horizons; Chinese cook it the Nyonya way, Indians with a more pungent and robust curry flavour, and Malays have their Salim outlets.

But then again, do you know that there are WAY more halal (and for most outlets; pork-free) solutions than the generic fares from the many ‘warung’? How about C U Village nyonya food (Halal), Koh Samui Thai food (Halal), Laksamana Cheng Ho (Muslim-Chinese food – Halal), Pakeeza North Indian Cuisine, Yum Yum, Kim Bali, 1919 Restaurant & Gallery (Pork-free), and many more.

But one restaurant that stood the test of time; with two outlets in Ipoh now – Assam House Restaurant has to be the most well-known name amongst the Malay community for an eatery operated by a Chinese proprietor …… Read the rest of this entry »

In the spirit of continuing the Thai-related posts (somewhat to lighten the mood, in view of the current dire state of Bangkok’s, presumably?), allow me to venture where no man has gone to before.

Okay, I’m somewhat slightly off today, after making serial rounds descending Cameron Highlands. But do read what I have to say before closing this window. Pretty please? 🙂

Piping hot Tom Yum Soup with Seafood, but somewhat lacking in the fiery & robust departments, and the dipping sauces at Kaneng’s.

There is this unassuming shack of a Thai restaurant (IF you can even call the place THAT!) in Bercham, situated directly opposite of Bercham primary school; SJK (C) Bercham, Ipoh. No ads, no brochures, almost zero publicity, and guess what? Even without a PROPER SIGNBOARD!!

The place is run by a couple (the husband being a local, and the wife being a Thai from Bangkok) in their 40’s, or 50’s possibly, and has been around for more than a decade! But they started the business in Ipoh Garden East (in the premise named KK Coffee Shop formerly housing the now ‘defunct’ Nakhon Pathom Thai Food), then subsequently moving to this place on Lorong Bercham 8.

Serving a mix of authentic Thai dishes such as the perennial favourite of many; Tom Yum Gung (or in this case, a mix of various seafood), Thai-style Steamed Fishes (from RM13/USD4 onwards), Thai salads (the usual Kerabu Chicken Feet, Kerabu Mango, and even glass noodles salad), fried rice (Belacan, Pineapple, Tom Yum etc) and even Pad Thai (Thai style fried rice noodles) …..  Read the rest of this entry »