Motormouth From Ipoh – Asian Food & Travel Blog

Ipoh Kong Heng Restaurant – Upgraded from a coffee shop (kedai kopi) status recently, yet still fondly recognized as a downright kopitiam in the heart of Ipoh’s old town.

I still remember my first visit to Kong Heng back in the 80’s. With late grandfather in tow; we would scrambled for a seat amongst the sea of people for breakfast on a Sunday morning. If you’re curious as to whether Kong Heng has changed from then and now?

A resounding NO would be an affirming answer.

Although not as aggressive/pushy like the days of yore, some of the hawkers still swarm your table once you’re seated comfortably and recommending food items from their respective stalls before you can even give the charming kopitiam a quick 360 degrees glance.

Let me take you for a stroll down memory lane, and rejoice in the fact that Ipoh is still blessed with priceless gems like this. But for how long more? Read the rest of this entry »

A classic plate of Penang style Char Kuey Teow; with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts and ku chai (Chinese chives). But bear in mind that this is a ‘halal’ (more to pork-free, but this stall’s parked in a HALAL premise), hence no lard, no waxed sausages (lap cheong).

And if you can recall this recent post on Robert’s Char Kuey Teow in Section 17, you would have known that I can be really, really determined when I am on the prowl for good street food. Blame it on the Ipoh genes or the strong attachment to quality hawker fares from Ipoh/Penang maybe?

Especially when expectations are met with disappointment, over-rated eateries taking precedence due to the overwhelming crowd, stories inflated by media coverage, and people jumping on the bandwagon.

Well, not ALL of Ipoh’s hawker food are of exceptional quality, mind you. But owing to more than two decades of life spent in the tranquil town (some say sleepy, but I beg to differ ….), I just knew where to seek for the above average ones.

Unlike current times; when I’m just like a lost sheep in this juggernaut of a metropolitan; sporting eateries of unfamiliar genres and origins. Let’s cut to the chase; and see how Aunty Gemuk’s (literally translated to Fat Aunt, but that’s not too courteous now, are we?) Char Kuey Teow fares against the likes of Robert’s etc …. Read the rest of this entry »

Bouncy, ‘QQ’ strands of flour noodles coated with a golden hue from the broken runny egg yolk, gluing together the noodles with the liberally (haphazardly?) sprinkled fiery red chili flakes and chopped scallions/spring onions. Then brace yourself for the irresistible crunch of crispy anchovies; a well-thought contrast to the toothsome noodles.

Yeah yeah, been there, done that I know. But please let me get away with murder this time, for the last two days in Prince Hotel had rendered my mind shut off from reality. Distorted somewhat and numbed to the maddening KL traffic especially during the rush hours. Now I can empathize with fellow warriors travelling more than 30km to work in the morning.

Motormouth salutes you. And this post goes out to all the brave, courageous, patient and heroic souls keeping their minds sane and barricaded from the insanity 5 (or 6) days a week.

Something fiery to kick off the week perhaps? (For me, at least ….)

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Char Kuey Teow; one of the instantly recognizable Malaysian classic hawker fares much loved by people from all walks of life, transcending generations and territories.

First of all, Happy Weekend, people. Was away for a 2-days training stint at One World Hotel in Bandar Utama; and spent the whole day in the function room and having meals at Cinnamon; their in-house cafe. The buffet lunch served was good, with ample varieties; but lacking in quality. When you have more than 3 varieties each of cooked chicken, fish, lamb and beef, then a dedicated Japanese cuisine counter for sashimi and sushi, a distant corner for tempura and dim sum, and even a counter with satay, tandoori, roti canai and various chutneys, it’s hard to do everything to the best extent.

Which brings me back to what I had for dinner earlier this week. Robert’s Char Kuey Teow in Section 17, PJ. When you see there’s a proof of media coverage on display, it’s bound to be above average; no?

Can’t say that this blew my mind off; but for a Penang Char Kuey Teow in Klang Valley, I guess this can be parked somewhere around the upper ranks of CKT in Klang Valley? Read on to find out more.

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“Sar Kok Liew” aka Stuffed Yambean/Jicama is but one of many Ipoh’s signature street fares. Diced, or cubed yambean with beancurd sheet deep fried to a crispy finish, but most importantly; the moisture within must be retained for that juicy crunch.

If you had taken Motormouth’s words for it, you would have remembered how I had paltry affairs with both the K10 claypot chicken rice outlets in Ipoh. First the one in Ipoh Garden East, and the original one in Bercham.

And you wonder why was this post is named as such? (ie : Redemption) And what’s a claypot chicken rice specialist doing serving “Sar Kok Liew”?!! Read on for the revelation.

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Nasi Lemak with Sambal Sotong (RM3.50/USD1.20) – From Wak Nasi Lemak, stall no 51 @ Medan Selera Stadium Ipoh

Medan Selera Stadium; that row of stalls beside Stadium Ipoh houses an impressive range of hawker fares; from the fan favourites of wanton mee stalls (one in the morning, and one at night) to freshly steamed rice rolls; aptly named Hong Kong Chee Cheong Fun, and a bean sprouts chicken stall that proves to have a stellar following (Michelle Yeoh’s preference, supposedly) as well as the banana leaf rice stall(s) in the afternoon.

Fuad Roti Canai (Stall no 54) has been on my list of to-eat since I was still THE Motormouth in Ipoh. Now I am this immigrant in the lost city of skyscrapers and bumper-to-bumper vehicles.

But what I have missed in the previous reviews are the last row (from the roundabout, towards the public swimming pool’s direction) of gems featuring various Malay food stalls. Most glaring omission? Fuad Roti Canai (Stall No 54) and Wak Nasi Lemak (Stall No 51).

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It pains me to put today’s post into words. To recount the sheer determination, passion and tenacity that drove and still drives this 74 years-old uncle for more than half a century. To witness with a heavy heart how his hands shook while daintily spreading the mélange of julienned ingredients and sauces on the precariously laid out, freshly steamed popiah* skin on the RM200 slab of wooden board.

(*Popiah is a popular Chinese snack of fresh spring rolls with julienned vegetables and fritters, sometimes with strands of egg omelette and/or crabmeat/dried shrimps, then lightly brushed with chili sauce and sweet sauce)

No words can actually describe this utter admiration that develops into pure respect for what he does best for 54 years (since 1957; coincidentally that was the year we were declared independent from external colonization), and still counting. The laborious hours he spent standing under the scorching hot sun, merely shaded by the canopy that covers barely more than his bike that he has been relying upon for more than a decade now.

Yes, dear Ipoh folks, and the interested readers from wherever you are. Let me share this story on what could possibly be the most legendary popiah seller in all of Ipoh … Read the rest of this entry »