Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian Food Blog

Bubur Cha Cha (also known as Mo Mo Cha Cha) is a traditional Nyonya dessert that consists of boiled sweet potatoes, yam, tapioca (occasionally), sago (tapioca pearls) and black eyed peas (NO, this is the BEANS, not the “Boom Boom Pow” hitmakers) in a coconut milk(santan)-based sweet soup.

Notice that the only time I wrote anything faintly resembling a “tong sui” (Cantonese for sweet soup, a typical Chinese dessert taken after meals, or between the main meals) stall was the post on Ipoh Street Snacks, when I covered the famous desserts at the famous stretch of stalls on Tong Sui Kai (literally translated to Desserts Street).

Not to indicate that I do not have a sweet tooth for desserts. That’s so far from the truth, actually. But in Ipoh, it’s not that easy to find a comfortable place for desserts, like say; KTZ outlets in Klang Valley and its many imitators. Heck, one can even find a Cendol/ABC stall easily in Penang and Taiping. Which kind of explains why I never wrote about Cendol stalls in Ipoh, until recently.

Okay, cut the crap. And here comes not one, not two, but THREE of the more prominent “Tong Sui” outlets in Ipoh. Do provide your feedback at the end of the post, and tell me what you think should be and should not be on the list. CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

A pale shadow of its old self, Lorong Panglima (fondly remembered as Concubine Lane, or Yi Lai Hong in Cantonese) is still attracting the shutterbugs and foodies until this very day.

I always tell my friends, relatives, or readers who took the effort and time to send mails to me (hehe, if you insist …) that the BEST place to start a food run in Ipoh, has to be Old Town. No, NOT the Old Town White Coffee outlets that have mushroomed everywhere, but the area aptly named as old town, yet actually without a clear definition of its perimeters and deserving Heritage status. Although somewhere somehow, half a million ringgit is being pumped to spiff up Concubine Lane, the infamous lane of Lorong Panglima with a rich and interesting history behind its moniker.

Wong Koh Kee Restaurant @ Concubine Lane in Old Town – With close to eight decades of legacy, this traditional Chinese style of ‘chu char’ restaurant is still standing strong, attracting the working crowd on a daily basis.

Truth is, the lane was notorious as an opium haunt, aside from the widely-believed raunchy stories of keeping the mistresses in the now-dilapidated two-storeys pre-war buildings lining both sides of the very narrow lane. As claimed by Wong Koh Kee, the 90-years old retired owner of Wong Koh Kee Restaurant in an article featured in The Star (read the article HERE) – “A story that goes round is that opium smokers would always say they are going to their mistresses instead of to the opium den when asked by friends” he noted.

On a personal note; it does not matter whether this lane was packed with sleazy activities or not back in the olden days. People from all walks of life come to Concubine Lane for a very different reason now; Eating at Wong Koh Kee Restaurant …. CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS ENTRY »

Among the many types of Indian bread, the healthiest choice has to be Chapati. I have to admit though, aside from the average roti canai, tosai and naan, I seldom go for the other fancier items. But in this case, I don’t usually order chapati unless it’s proven to be really really good.

He was merely posing for the shot, not in action sadly. Very down to earth staff at Moga Punjab, I felt comforted in the sense that I don’t get attitudes, nor impatient intrusions while taking my sweet time glancing around and spewing questions asking about the foods they serve.

I first read about Moga Punjab from Simple Girl’s post back in November 2009. Yes, a good half year marched past, and I’m only getting to this. And Moga Punjab is conveniently situated in old town of Ipoh,  along the stretch of Ipoh’s Little India, and within the vicinity of my work place.

Ahem … I AM SLOW, I know …. but blame it on the abundance of other delicious options around old town. Talk about excuses, eh?

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Today proved to be a most disastrous Tuesday, in more ways than one. Fuming mad no thanks to pathetic bureaucracy and red tape, plus stubborn-headed donkey of a boss (the disadvantages of working with the government and under someone from the Jurassic age), we heaved a sigh of relief when lunch hour beckoned.

Initially planned to have lunch at Brewster’s in old town, ironically, the cafe was closed for half a day, and only opens for dinner. Oh well, next best choice for a place with air-conditioning? Mixed Cuisine Cafe that faces Padang Ipoh then.

This cafe has been around for some time now, and I first wrote about it back in March of 2008, one of my very first few posts back then. Read about our experience HERE. And since then, we’ve been visiting this cafe from time to time, and relished in their above-average set lunches (at least, in Ipoh’s old town, for the other places that serve them, including Momo Steamboat, Miner’s Arms, and Brewster’s were either not good, too expensive, or over-rated).

Don’t miss the whole saga after the jump :

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Since I started the ball rolling with the post on Chang’s Hakka Mee with Beef in Ipoh’s old town, might as well continue the Ipoh’s Old Town series with more hidden gems. Probably not the first-line options when it comes to food hunting in old town for tourists, but still ….. these are decent outlets that deserve a mention, or if you’re ever lost on what else to eat aside from toasts and white coffee.

From only RM2.50/USD0.70 per bowl, you’ll be getting a hefty amount of noodles in soup, brimming with an array of extra ingredients ….. from fishballs to fish cakes, and fish wantan to bean sprouts.

Last I wrote about Ipoh Hor Hee was the time I devoured a bowl at See See Heng Or Ee Fun (yeah, that’s how it’s spelled on their signboard) at Restoran Embassy in town, opposite of the former Bersatu Complex, now a college.

And NO, Hor Hee is not some funky dish resembling the guffaws of a horse’s, but instead is best explained as Ipoh’s version of Penang’s Koay Teow Th’ng, albeit with no chicken, and all fish-y ingredients. I meant, stuff like balls, cakes and dumplings; all made from fish paste.

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# Updated 31st Mat 2010 – This lovely Hakka Mee stall is moving to the shop next to All Inn Cafe, opposite of Kong Heng Coffee Shop. The premise was previously occupied by Dai San Yean Gopeng Mee (I remember I blogged about it sometime ago … or did I?) Opening soon on 3rd June 2010 #

Ipoh’s old town is hands down, one of the most famous place for food in all of Ipoh, or in Malaysia for that matter. I’m not kidding you. Come public holidays or the weekends, you’ll see hordes of hungry souls swarming the area for breakfast-brunch. And yeah, not to mention the tea breaks after lunch, and some outlets even catering to the evening diners.

Mr Chang in his element, preserving his dad’s heritage of Hakka noodles with minced pork, served with tender slices of beef in a most hearty broth

Given the rather strategic location of my office, right smack in the midst of old town itself (and no, I am not telling where … I don’t wanna be stalked on a daily basis. Hehehe … AS IF lah …), we have our breakfast every single working day in one of the many exceptional choices here.

On one side of Jalan Bandar Timah (or Leech Street, as the road was known as such back in those days) is my personal favourite coffee shop serving delicious dry curry noodles, egg toast and white coffee – Nam Chau. Further down the road you have the classic Kong Heng which still serves the BEST popiah in town (yes, bar none … not even the mobile stalls at a backlane of Canning Garden  nor the one previously at the field in Canning Garden which was shrouded in a most infamous ghost story-mystery). Adjacent to Kong Heng you’ll find Thean Chun, where you must try the Ipoh famous Kai See Hor Fun (Smooth flat rice noodles/koay teow in soup, with shredded chicken meat), caramel egg custard, and the herbal tea with egg.

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