What’s for lunch?

Well, how about some chicken, set aflame at your table?

No doubt it is a bit theatric but who cares? It will look wonderful on Instagram!

I was at BLVD House for lunch a few weeks back.
At its initial stage of operations then (it opened in April 2016) there were some teething issues with service and for one of our orders.

That said, I enjoyed my meal and the Carpet Steak was exceptional.

So exceptional that I vetoed my own decision on not writing about it.

The meat was dreamily succulent and oozes natural beefy flavours. There were less than the 4-5 oysters promised but I’ll be back soon for another serving so I’ll be counting my oysters this time.

Carpet steaks are not a common item on menus in restaurants in the Klang Valley and I’m thrilled that I’ve finally found a marvellous one.
I was told that the chef managed to secure a reliable supplier for their red meat and thus the excellent cuts of steaks here.

Other noteworthy dishes were the roasted bone marrows, the cod and the lamb ribs.

See the marrow? *Slurps!*
You got to dig deep into the bones and get this mass of fatty matter out.
These trio cost RM35++/dish.

The other items were merely decent and definitely not a highlight.

Personally I’ll be back for the carpetbag steak and maybe a flaming chicken (RM60++/bird).

Bruschetta.

Nachos with 4 dips.

Desserts.

I’ll be back soon and will be updating the prices of the dishes then.

Thanks dear Joe and the Kien family for the lunch treat!

BLVD House,
NAZA Tower, Platinum Park,
No. 9, Persiaran KLCC,
50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

Waze: “BLVD House”

Hours: Mon-Thu: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Fri-Sat: 12:00 pm – 1:00 am
Sun: 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Contact: + 603-2630 9999

My first ibis experience as in Amsterdam (18th to 20th May 2012) where I stayed in Ibis Hotel near Amsterdam Airport.

I remembered it to be small but cosy and they had an efficient check-in kiosk which I took an immediate liking to.
The breakfast was great (a lot of breads, cheeses and European pastries!) and the hotel gym is pretty equipped.

Fast forward a few years later, I toured a few ibis hotels during the Hong Kong es-capers Scavenger Hunt by Accor Hotels. It was then that I got a better understanding of the ibis brand.

Today I am an ibis guest again, though this time it is my first time at an ibis Styles hotel. 

To began, do you know that there are 3 “different” categories of ibis hotels?

ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget are 3 hotel brands with a common vision of hospitality.

Ibis is the full-service brand (1), while Ibis Budget offers fewer facilities (2) (no restaurants, most items are pay by use) while Ibis Styles (3) is Accor’s Ibis non-standardised product where the public areas can be different.

Ibis Styles also offers one price for all services including breakfast and WIFI.

The one I’m stayed in at Ibis Macpherson is ibis Styles. That translates to perks like comfy cabanas by a nice 25m freeform pool, free WIFI, restaurant and a gym.

I truly enjoyed my ibis Styles Macpherson stay as it was a breather for me after 3 hectic days at FHA 2016.
There were few distractions and the hotel provides basic but sufficient facilities for a comfortable stay.

The room is cosy and I marvelled at the clever use of design and furniture placement to maximise the available space.

One was making do without the wardrobe and putting an open closet in its place.

• See the tee hung up behind me? That’s your wardrobe!

Like I’ve said in all my hotel reviews, images alone would not be able to convey the feel of space and layout of a room adequately and hence I included a video in all my hotel reviews.

Take a look at this short clip to know what to expect from a standard room in ibis Styles on Macpherson.

As I’ve mentioned in my video, instead of an entirely walled up wash area, a panel that doubled up as a mirror for the sink gave the impression of separation, yet doesn’t take up precious space or make the room feels smaller.

Bright colorful sturdy doors built at an angle ensured that both doors does not meet even if it is fully opened.
Small as it is, both washroom and toilet are maintained at a comfortable size for any standard human being.

The writing table has a fitted compartment for the mini fridge and angled to open to the side so it was easy to use the fridge whenever I need to.
The fridge is kept empty which was a positive point as guest could stock up on whatever they wish.

In this case it was my healthy water kefir drinks, my lemons (yes, a morning ritual of mine is a glass of half a lemon juice with warm water every morning) and some snacks.

If you find your luggages taking up space within the room, do what I did; take out what is needed and shove them (luggages) below the bed.

The room amenities include a hair dryer, safe and shampoo, soap and shower gel. 2 hand and bath towels are provided although there are no bathrobe or slippers.
Complimentary water, dental kit and ironing board will be sent on request.

All in all I found my room to be a compact, sunny, comfortable space that works for me.
There are plenty of power sockets for my needs; on both sides of the bed and at working desk so I could either work at the desk, on the bed or get comfy in this orange settee by the window.

I alternate between writing in the room and chilling by the poolside to enjoy the fresh air, slow music and the soothing sight of a blue, free form pool.
WIFI is complimentary and the signal is strong at all areas within the hotel.

If you prefer an air conditioned space, the web corner will be ready soon.
Otherwise this cheery corner at the lobby is an alternative.

I’m also an advocate of recycling habits and was glad to note that ibis hotels encourages its guests to separate their rubbish for recycling purposes.
You can read more about their Planet 21 initiative here –> http://www.ibis.com/gb/discovering-ibis-hotel/environment.shtml

The self-serve service laundrette is great for long stay guests. Pay SGD6 for a full load (around 10kg) and SGD6 for dryer (full load).

So what’s next, you ask?
What if you wish to explore and be out of the hotel?

ibis offers hourly complimentary shuttle rides to the nearest MRT (Tai Seng) and I was informed that more drop off locations would be available soon.
The ibis Styles Singapore on MacPherson is complemented by the MacPherson Mall (opening in June 2016) which is part of the same complex so you can expect more conveniences to go along with your ibis Macpherson stay once the mall opened its doors.

Meanwhile, here’s my suggestion.

Sleep well, keep fit at the gym or loll around at the pool area. Take a jog at Aljunied Park or the Circuit Road park which is just nearby.

For meals the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant which features rather bold colors and striking designs offers pretty decent grub.

From 6:30 to 10 am, and up to 11AM on weekends, the ibis Styles breakfast will give you the energy needed to start your day off on the right foot. The selection is fair, food is fresh and included in the room rates!

There is no room service available but you would be able to order food and beverages at the restaurant from 6:30 am – 10:00 pm.

So there you go, my review of my 3D2N stay at the stylish and colorful  ibis Styles on Macpherson!

Service is commendable, the location advantageous, the rooms cosy and the rates are fair.

I’ll be following up with another article on the other attractions around ibis Styles on Macpherson (mostly food!) so stay tuned!

Like what you see?
You can book yourself a stay here with rates start from SGD100/night and reservations can be made from  many hotel booking sites or via ibis Styles on Macpherson main site.

http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-9411-ibis-styles-singapore-on-macpherson/index.shtml

ibis Styles Macpherson Singapore
401 Macpherson Road,
Corner of Macpherson And Aljunied Road,
368215 Singapore.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ibisStylesMacPherson
Tel: + 65 66226000

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The best dim sum in Ipoh?

Well, I’ve tried so many and while I can’t guarantee you that you will like the ones that I prefer, I’m certain that you would be able to find one that you enjoy from the list of Ipoh’s best dim that I’ve compiled here.

Like always, I paid for my food, all visits are incognito and the number of diners varies from 2 – 6 partners.
I’m open to suggestions/recommendations so do drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

As with all food, bear in mind that taste is subjective and all outlets will experience ups and downs.
Constructive feedback/reports (if the food standards has dropped, service was bad on your visit) and recommendations are most welcome.

My top choice (as of April 2016) goes to (1) Zui Le Xuan alongside (2)Dynasty Palace, (3) Chooi Yue, (4) Lok Hin, (5) Sun Kim Aik and (6) Sun Kok Kee.
For HALAL, there is only one which is Greentown Dim Sum which I personally won’t recommend to anyone, but like I said, it is the only halal dim sum option available.

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1. Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum
SERVES PORK.
2 & 4, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12,
Taman Ipoh Selatan,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum”.
Tel: + 6016-534 5965/ 05 – 541 7997
Hours: 7am – 12 pm.
Off day: Tues.

What’s good: Egg tarts. Char siew bao. Salted egg yolk bao with pandan lotus.
Actually, almost everything was good or above average. Our breakfast of 13 items was a satisfying one as we did not have any major complaint on any of what we ordered.
Service is efficient and the dim sum are bought to the table for you to choose.

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2. Lok Hin Dim Sum
SERVES PORK.
BG-9, Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Lok Hin Dim Sum”.
Tel: + 605-241 0362
Hours: 7:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Off day: Tues.

What’s good: Salted egg yolk bao. Porridge. “Polo” bao with char siew. Yam pork (wu kok).
The head dim sum chef is a young Indian bought up by a Chinese family. He is a humble and friendly fellow and we enjoyed speaking with him.
We can vouch for his dim sum skills as all the dim sum we ate that morning were in the good – decent category. Prices are fair too for an air-conditioned outlet. This is one of the dim sum restaurants which offers a fair variety and you order from the menu (no dim sum carts).
Service is pleasant.

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3. Hong Xing Ipoh Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
No.35 & 37, Jalan Bercham Bistari 3,
Medan Bercham Bestari, Bercham,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Hong Xing Dim Sum”.
Tel: + 605-545 3779
Hours: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Off day: Thurs.

What’s good:
I visited twice and ordered different items each time. From my dual visits I have had no major complaints.
Both the steamed and fried dim sum were plump with ingredients and fresh. Each plate of dim sum cost an average of RM4.00. They offer some unique dim sum on top of the standard favorites.

Hong Xing is non-air conditioned, service is brisk and they practice the dim cart ordering system.

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4. WEIL Hotel
PORK FREE.
Yuk Sou Hin ( level 1)
292, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “WEIL Hotel”.
Tel: + 605-208 2228
Hours:
Open daily: Breakfast: 7:00 am – 11:00 am.
Lunch: 11:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Dinner 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm.

What’s good:
Prices are as expectedly higher than your coffeeshop dim sum outlets. Our experience here bordered between bad to average.
Service is a blur as the staff were not knowledgable on the products.

My almond soup barely had any taste of almond and I had it sent back to the kitchen for a new one.
The BBQ siew mai was a pleasant diversion from the usual steamed version. The mango puree was mediocre, the egg tarts decent, the steamed glutinous rice good, the har kau acceptable and the crusted char siew bao acceptable.

The chee cheong fun was too thick while the salted egg yolk bun barely passed muster.

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5. BFB Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
61, Impian, Persiaran Bandar Baru Tambun 16,
Taman Ipoh,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Hongkong Dim Sum BFB”.
Tel: + 6010-220 3812
Hours: 6:30 am – 1:30 pm.
Close: Tues and Wed.

What’s good: Egg tarts. Century egg rolls. Lau sar bao.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/best-dim-sum-in-ipoh-part-5-restoran-hong-kong-dim-sum-bfb/

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6. Restoran Li Yuan Dim Sum
SERVES PORK.
27, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1B/1,
Medan Ipoh Bestari,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Li Yuan Dim Sum”.
Tel: + 605-545 7001
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 10:30 pm.

What’s good: Dai bao, fishpaste pork balls.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/best-dim-sum-in-ipoh-part-4-li-yuan-dim-sum-weekendsunday-specials/

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7. Sun Kok Kee, Bercham, Ipoh.
SERVES PORK.
7-11, Persiaran Bercham Timur 1,
Taman Bercham Baru,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran SUN KOK KEE”.
Tel: + 6016-534 4579
Hours: 6:00 am – 1:00 pm.
Off day: Mon.

What’s good: Fish balls, pork ribs, char siew pau, porridge, fried radish cake.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-dim-sum-sun-kok-kee-bercham-ipoh/

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8. Greentown Dim Sum
HALAL.
10, Persiaran Greentown 4,
Pusat Perdagangan Greentown,
30450 Menglembu, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Greentown Dimsum Cafe”.
Tel: + 605-255 2010
Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm.
Off day: Tues.

What’s good: Overall acceptable for a halal version in Ipoh.
Personally I won’t recommend it to anyone who can eat pork.

Full story:  http://www.rebeccasaw.com/best-dim-sum-in-ipoh-part-2-greentown-dim-sum-cafe-halal/

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9. Restoran Sun Kim Aik

SERVES PORK.
297, Jalan Lahat,
30100 Menglembu, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Sun Kim Aik”.
Tel: + 605-282 2634
Hours: Open Daily:
Breakfast: 5:00 am -12:00 pm.

What’s good: Har Kau (prawn dumplings), pork bun, char siew pau (BBQ Pork Bun), Wu Kok (Yam Puff), tau cheong (bean paste) beancurd and fish paste dim sum, pork ribs, fish balls, siew mai, chee cheong fun.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/excellent-dim-sum-in-ipoh-sun-kim-aik/

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10. Zui Le Xuan Dim Sum Restaurant

SERVES PORK.
28, A1 Jalan Tun Abdul Razak,
Off Jalan Ng Song Teik,
Taman Pertama, 30100 Ipoh, Perak.
Waze: “Zui Le Xuan“.
Tel: + 6016-549 2219, + 6 012-486 0883, +6016-510 9091
Hours: Open Daily: 6:30 am – 1:30 pm.

What’s good:  Salted egg yolk bun, fishballs, stuffed chee cheong, har kau.

Full story: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/best-dim-sum-in-ipoh-part-1-zui-le-xuan-dim-sum-restaurant/

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These are the other dim sum outlets in Ipoh that I’ve tried but won’t personally recommend:

11. Chef Fatt on Cowan Street. 
** About 3 years back (2014) and unable to locate the photos for now.
Dim sum were so -so.

12. Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant
– will update again as I’ll be visiting soon.

14. Ming Court – my visit was years back (circa 2013 – 2014) and the experience was bad enough that I’ve haven’t visited since.

15. Yoke Fook Moon– similar case to Ming Court.

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Below are the other dim sum outlets in Ipoh that’s in my list for future visits:

1. Tai Woo Hong Kong Dim Sum
22, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 11,
Taman Ipoh Selatan,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: –
Tel: + 6017-256 1115
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.

2. Sun Hor Lok
SERVES PORK.
Persiaran Greenhill, Kampung Jawa,
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Pusat Makanan Sun Hor Lok”.
Tel: –
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.

3. Tang Yuan Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
25, Jalan Perajurit,
Taman Ipoh Timur,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Tang Yuan”.
Tel: +6012-354 7178
Hours: Open Daily:
Lunch: 12:00 am – 2:30pm.
Dinner: 7:30 pm – 12:00 am.

4. Restaurant Rich Food
19, Jalan Pasir Puteh,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restaurant Rich Food”.

5. China Chuan Kwong (Qi Yuan)
SERVES PORK.
74, Persiaran Greentown 2,
Greentown Business Centre,
30450 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Qi Yuan Restoran China Chuan Kwong”.
Tel: + 605-253 3551
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 2:30 pm.

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**These are the one I’ve visited but has since ceased operations: 

1. The Xiang Palace
SERVES PORK.
Soho Ipoh, Block A G-4,
Jalan Sultan Iskandar,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “The Xiang Palace”.
Tel: + 6012-542 9354
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Off day: Wed.

2. Restoran Lei Yue Moon
SERVES PORK.
7, Medan Stesen 19, Stesen 18, Ipoh,
31650, Ipoh, Perak, 31650, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Lei Yue Moon”.

Tel: + 6012-523 3186
Hours: Open Daily: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm.

3. Restoran Ying Fa
SERVES PORK.
Jalan Sultan Yussuff,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Ying Fa”.
Tel: + 605-254 8061
Hours: Open Daily: 6:00 am – 12:00 pm.

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** Haven’t visited, closed down: 

1. Kao Lee Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
48 & 50, Lengkok Canning, Ipoh Garden,
31400, Ipoh, Perak, 31400, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Kao Lee 高麗點心”.
Tel: + 605-546 5384
Hours: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Off day: Tues.

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So there we have it!
My reviews of all the dim sum restaurants (18 of them) that I’ve tried in IPOH.
I have spent a lot of cash to write this post so do share it around! THANK YOU!

No doubt there are many more that I haven’t tried so please do send suggestions my way by commenting here or drop me a message me via fb.com/wackybecki / fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

** Constructive criticism welcomed. Rude comments or insults will not be tolerated, especially those by coward keyboard warriors hiding behind anonymity.

Xenri celebrates their 13th anniversary this year (2016) and as a lover of Japanese food, I wondered why I have never dined here although I have read so much about their popular weekend Japanese buffet.

Ah, that is it. The popularity of the buffet.
I was told that reservations are full for months, and being an impatient person with frequent travel plans, I wouldn’t have been able to get a booking.

What I didn’t realized was, Xenri offers quite a noteworthy ala-carte menu, and with the recent launch of their Kaiseki menu diners are now able to enjoy the picks of the season that are adeptly prepared using the finest ingredients.

The Kaiseki dining experience is served in an orderly manner; beginning with appetiser, sashimi, soup / steamed dish, then seafood, meat and finally dessert.
Prices per pax begins from RM230++, depending on the number of courses or the dishes chosen.

A Kaiseki meal is a slow and relaxing sit down experience, with food in delicate morsels in a medley of textures, flavours and styles.
If you have been a regular at Xenri but merely for the buffet, I urge you to give the Kaiseki a try as a treat to yourself and your loved one.

I enjoyed a preview of this memorable gastronomic experience as a guest of Xenri few weeks back and came away fairly impressed.

As I stepped into Xenri for the first time I was welcomed with soft melodies played by our hostesses. The zen aura within its walls is a classic trait of a Japanese restaurant.

The first course was scallops and uni, a duo of heaven for me since I love both.

3 sweet scallops sat on a bed of pureed uni in stock, with the puree being the highlight of this dish.
The result is a creamy but mild uni sauce as the natural oceanic flavours of the uni were bought down several notches. This is thus suitable for those who find the natural uni flavour too strong.

Aburi Hokkaido Mukimi Hotate (炙り北海道ホタテ)
Seared Hokkaido Diver Scallop with Purple Sea Urchin Glace.

If you are not a Kaiseki diner, you can still order this for RM63+ ala-carte.
Aside from the black roes crowning the dish, pay attention to the baby anchovies ‘cracker‘ at the side. It is a tasty and unique dehydrated piece!

Next is another favourite of mine – salmon.

This lovely piece of salmon was smokish, pleasantly salty and slippery smooth. The accompanying tangy house apple dressing proved to be a good pairing with the smoky salmon, imparting hints of sharp flavours to the briny salmon.

I’ve made it a point to avoid smoked salmon as I’ve found most commercially available ones overly salty (something which gave me much grievance) but thankfully that wasn’t the case here.
Texture-wise it was delightfully fork tender; coming apart easily in moist, thick flakes.

Impressed so far and happy, I craned my neck eagerly to sneak a peek of the next course. As the waitress approached our tables I spied the chawanmushi bowls.

Ah, I had thought. This will be silky smooth chawanmushi. I wouldn’t had expected anything less than a perfect chawanmushi from Xenri’s chef.

But I opened my cup to discover a green pudding with foie gras instead!

Taken back, I dug in.
My palate was rewarded with spinach egg custard and thick, nicely seared foie gras.
I don’t think I can eat another chawanmushi in the future without wishing for this!

The next dish was another highlight; MEAT.

Sous Vide Wagyu Rikyuyaki (和牛　利休ソース).

Sous vide. Wagyu.
When you have these words in the description, you know you’re in for a treat.

And it didn’t disappoint.

The beef was sous-vided at 58 degrees for 30 minutess to seal in its natural juices.
Prior to serving, it was coated with Japanese Charcoal which imparted a mysterious smoky, earthy taste to the tender meat.
The side of salsa salad provided a refreshing contrast while the sweet sauce was in harmony with the smoky charcoal beef.
I personally had no need for the sauce as I prefer to enjoy my beef as it is.

Chirimen Jyako Houba Meshi (ちりめんじゃこ朴葉飯) 
Mountain Pepper Baby Sardine Rice Wrapped with Magnolia Leaf.

Not a fan of rice, I skipped most of this and saved room for dessert instead.
However, from the few mouthfuls I had I enjoyed this aromatic, tasty rice dish. Much of the aroma was contributed by the use of magnolia leaves while the Japanese rice used gave each chew a slightly sticky texture.

Warabi Mochi (わらび餅). 
A divergence from the usual mochi, this was a delightful softer and smoother mochi made with bracken and Kinako (roasted soybean flour). I found it too sweet for me, but my dining partner wiped the plate clean.
This was paired with kuromitsu syrup and crispy rice stalks.

Infused with contemporary touches and ingredients, Xenri embraces the epitome of fine Japanese cuisine, particularly through its seasonally-driven Kaiseki-style fare.
I enjoyed my Kaiseki meal and I’m definitely revisiting soon for Xenri’s ala-carte items.

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Xenri Japanese 
Wisma Elken, Jalan Kelang Lama,
58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
WAZE: “Wisma Elken”
Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm
6:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Contact: 03-7783 8118

Nasi Lemak Sushi was at Ruyi and Lyn. And now we have Nasi Lemak Maki at Boxes Cafe, (BBCC) Bukit Bintang City Centre.

I’m not surprised really.
Nasi lemak sushi and nasi lemak maki roll is not that difficult to replicate considering that both make use of rice as the main ingredient.

However, while the nasi lemak sushi at Ruyi and Lyn was delicate, pretty and tasted remarkably close to the real deal, the nasi lemak maki at Boxes Cafe BBCC was a bit of a miss.

It is close enough, largely salvaged by a pretty decent sambal, but there is certainly room for improvement.

The rice was too soft to begin with, overcooked almost to a mush. The egg was a mashed/scrambled version and there were very little of it.
I’m of opinion that hardboiled ones would have been a better alternative.
And for RM10.90 + 6%, I believe that I deserved more ingredients than just 70% rice.

A container concept cafe, Boxes is a pretty (read: Instagrammable) place; undisputedly a comfortable and charming venue to chill.

Food may not be their strong point for now (my cheesy lekor is a sad bunch of undercooked flour with squiggles of can-barely-taste-any-cheese sauce) but service is friendly and the overall vibe of the outlet is pleasant.

There is NO WIFI (gasp!) and I’ve yet to hear of any outstanding beverages either. My teh tarik (RM4.50 + 6%) is not be a good gauge, but if you would like to know how it tasted like, it was overly sweet and lacked body.

The chiller offers quite a fair variety of cakes, but the regular kinds of chocolate, red velvet and cheese. Prices are from RM9.90 – RM15.00 and for the size, I didn’t think it was worth it.

BELOW:
My rather sad lekor cheese (RM6.90 + 6%) and my Teh Tarik (RM4.50 + 6%).

As I’ve mentioned earlier, every single piece of lekor were uncooked.

More substantial meals are available if you are hungry and based on what I saw on the other tables, the pasta and Chicken Percik Burger looked promising.
Personally I’m intrigued by the assam pedas steak sandwich so if I do revisit, that would be my choice alongside a chicken lorbak.
This time I’ll be sure to order coffee.

Boxes Cafe BBCC
Bukit Bintang City Centre Sales Gallery,
Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur.
Waze: Not on Waze yet. Waze instead for Pudu Jail as that is where is it located now, taking over the site where the jail was.
Tel: + 6010-221 0179
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm.
Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Nasi lemak cake could be more of a challenge after nasi lemak sushi and nasi lemak maki roll.

After all, it’s main component isn’t rice.

The folks over at Lepaq Lepaq attempted it anyways, and crazily enough decided to use cheese as its main component.

Feedback and reviews has swung strongly either way so far, with more leaning towards the BAD than good.

I just gave in to curiosity (even after months!) and visited Lepaq Lepaq one weekend.

So what is my verdict?

Well, honestly I didn’t think the components are in harmony and at some parts I wondered if the creator has given it enough thought.

So in conclusion I didn’t like the cake.
It’s definitely not savoury like nasi lemak, but geared more towards a sweet dessert, though sadly, in more ways than one, a poor imitation of our beloved (unofficial) national dish.

Anyhow, here is the breakdown of the layers:

Uppermost green layer: Cucumber gelatin (jelly) which imparts a mild cooling flavour, as expected of cucumber. A flurry of ikan bilis (anchovies) and chilli flakes sat on top.

Main, thickest layer : Cream cheese with chewy glutinous rice grains plus peanuts mixed in. The cheese flavour is mild (I thought I detected coconut cream (santan)) but I can’t be sure as the flavour is rather mild.
While the rice grains did gave each bite a nice chew, that’s about it.
I guess the glutinous rice in coconut cream was supposed to imitate nasi lemak, cold nasi lemak that is.

Once in a while you will bite into peanuts, which sadly was lacking in aroma as it looked like the nuts were not roasted enough. As you can see, from the color these nuts looked as if it wasn’t even roasted.

Brown layer before the base : Buttery but tasted a bit of peanut butter. Texture it is like a crumbly sponge.
Black base : Chocolate base.

Seriously, the base does not work at all.

The matcha tiramisu is a joke as far as I’m concerned, for there were barely any hint of matcha safe for a light sprinkle on top.
The main component of the cake was sponge and cream. For RM15.90!

All in all, Lepaq Lepaq is undisputedly a beautiful space which offers a comfortable option for dining and work, but a visit here would cost you dearly as the food, drinks, cakes, breads and parking are expensive.

Simple buns are over RM3, cakes are about RM15 each (more or less) and drinks are well, the standard cafe prices.
All are subjected to a further 6% service charge and 6% GST charge.

Our total bill was RM62.95 for 2 drinks and 2 cakes; RM12.72 for a cold latte, RM12.72 for the affogato, RM15.90 for the nasi lemak cheesecake and RM15.90 for the terrible matcha tiramisu.
Parking alone on its grounds was RM6.00.

Heavier meals such as the Big Daddy (RM55++) is available and offered only on weekends (Fri, Sat & Sun).

Lepaq Lepaq
6, Jalan Ceylon,
Bukit Ceylon,
50200 KL.
Waze: “Lepaq Lepaq”
Tel : +6(03) 2022 2293

Opening Hours : 10am – 10pm (Daily).

Parking :
1. RM6 (Valet Parking) if you are a customer of the cafe. Even if you park at the front of the shop, you would have to pay!
2. RM10 if you are not a customer of Lepaq Lepaq
3. Else, you can park illegally along the road, which isn’t wise as the enforcement officers are pretty diligent in this area.

First and foremost, what is the AIA Health Living Index all about?

The AIA Health Living Index begun in 2011 when AIA commissioned the first survey with the objective of understanding how adults across 15 of AIA’s markets in Asia Pacific feel about (1) their health and (2) their concerns on and hopes for living a healthier life.

As of this year, it has been 5 years and three waves of AIA Health Living Index surveys.
And all we have to show for it was that Malaysians in general hasn’t changed much in that time!

In the recent survey, Malaysia received another mediocre score.

The survey takers were 18 years or older and there were a total of 751 respondents for the 2016 survey.

While the index in other countries showed improvements, the majority of Malaysians are not satisfied with their health. On the contrary Malaysians voiced their concerns that their health has deteriorated in the last five years.

And thus at the launch of the 2016 AIA Health Living Index results last week, a group of panelists and invited guests were part of an engaging and insightful conversation.

Mr Thomas Isaac (Director of Intuit Research), Ms Indra Balaratnam (Consultant Dietitian) and Jacqueline Wong (HOD Learning and Development of Fitness First Asia) were the key speakers, and the panel discussion was moderated by Dr Myralini, Medical Director and Head of Care Management, AIA Health Services Sdn Bhd.

Here are the key takeaway points from the hour session:
1. Malaysians spent too much time on the internet/phone/computers (screen time).
Indra, the Consultant Dietitian, joked that if there could be a control in our smartphones that only allows the owner to access the phone/apps/games AFTER a 30 mins workout, we could very well be on our way to a healthier BMI!

Well, I’m an addict to FB and internet too.
But there are times when I put my “screen time” into good use.
For example, I follow an online HIIT program by “Stronger”. The HIIT series of workouts is FREE and each 35 – 45 mins session gives you an efficient, fat burning workout.

Jacqueline Wong added that we could make technology work for us.
There are many tracking and fitness apps that keep the user incentivized besides providing tips, information and instructions.

2. Malaysians are selective in their attempts to be healthier – eating more fruits, drinking more water BUT NOT EXERCISING more!
Well, it is easier to EAT/DRINK than to move that body isn’t it?

Yes, that includes me too. But we have to remember that moderation is key to a healthier life.

3. Eating healthy = EXPEN$IVE.
Indra said simple meals, even at your local mamak or chap fun (economy rice) stall.

I agree with her on this.
There are times I do not have time to meal prep, especially when I got myself committed to too many meetings. Eating at local coffeeshops or mamak can be LESS calorific if you are disciplined enough to make the right choices.

Here’s an example.
I would always eat a plate like this (RM5.50).
Steamed or braised or pan fried proteins, less greasy vegetables. SMALL rice or no rice.

Most people on the other hand would pile up their plates like this – deep fried chicken, meat in thick sauces and greasy vegetables plus ‘tambah nasi‘ (RM7.50).

See the difference?
It is not ideal (you would not have control of grease and salt in commercially prepared food) but you can still make a difference in total calories if you MAKE AN EFFORT.

4. Malaysians want to be healthier but do not know how to go about it, or they need constant motivation.
Many Malaysians need to be guided and motivated constantly, Indra had said.

She joked too that after 3 years of taking this survey, it could be the very same individuals taking the survey again and again with no improvements!

But on a serious note, Dr Myra, Indra, Isaac and Jacqueline applauded the Ministry of Health and local event organisers for the constant fitness related events in recent years.
“It has become exciting and fun – being involved in fitness. People are buying into the idea of fitness being a lifestyle,” the panelists concluded.

I agree with them again.
I’m a loner at heart, but I do enjoy group workouts and having company and guidance from a certified instructor.
Hence I rotate my activities of lone runs with group hikes and yoga classes.

“Our thoughts translate into action. In any aspect of life, one has to possess a good mindset to succeed. The choice is yours.” Indra also stated.

5. Malaysians make unsustainable goals.
Instead of saying “I will run 5km every morning!“, try “I will start by walking 2 km on Mon, Wed, Fri”.

“Make realistic goals”, Jaqueline Wong of Fitness First quipped.
“If you can get up and out of bed and start walking, it is an achievement, small as it is. Then work/chalk up the miles from there”.

The panelists concluded that “ANY effort is a good effort“.

As the session came to an end (as my stomach protested loudly to be fed), everyone present went home in agreement on this:

1. Make realistic health and fitness goals.
2. Goals are a must, otherwise there is no benchmark and no ambition.
3. The goals has to be set by the individual himself/herself. The fire and need has to come from within. It has to be something that the person personally want, and thus will be more inclined to achieve those goals.
4. To succeed and for it to be sustainable, select an activity that you like. Choose to eat what you like too. There is not point forcing yourself to eat broccoli if you hate it. Try spinach instead.
5. DO IT NOW. If not now, then WHEN?
   You can start a goal anytime. It doesn’t have to be during the new year or when you finally “have time” or when you can fit into that nice sports top.

Just get moving!

While there has been a lot of flak on Foh San after their relocation, with many reports of the ever sliding south quality of food, uncomfortable dining environment coupled with unhelpful and brusque service.

I’ve personally been a patron of Foh San twice, once at their old venue and once again at the new. Needless to say, my experience at the new Foh San was entirely different from the old, and the same can be said about the quality of the service and food.

Today I stepped in to Foh San again, for after publishing a post on 18 best dim sum restaurants in Ipoh (post HERE), I thought I should dine at Foh San again for the sake of comparison.

Understandably things can get chaotic on a weekend morning, so I took precaution to arrive nice and early.

At 7am, service was pleasant, food was fresh and the situation was overly bearable; none of the rudeness or badly made food as reported.

However, as we were leaving at 8.30am, we did detect a slight rise in chaotic-ness and tension in the air as the cars started to choke up the streets and the crowd poured in.

Anyhow, I must admit that my dining experience wasn’t at all as bad as I thought it would be.

Now, that doesn’t mean I would elevate Foh San to my list of “best dim sum in Ipoh“, as the top 6 is still (as of April 2016) (1) Zui Le Xuan alongside (2) Dynasty Palace, (3) Chooi Yue, (4) Lok Hin, (5) Sun Kim Aik and (6) Sun Kok Kee.
For HALAL, there is only one which is Greentown Dim Sum. I personally won’t recommend Greentown to anyone, but like I’ve said before, it is the only halal dim sum option available.

Now, let’s us focus on Foh San.

Your first task after the initial hurdle of getting a parking space would be to grab a table.

Leave your dining mates to “chop” (reserve) the table and bring along the order sheet (from the table) to the 2 main “service counters” near the front entrance; one for the steamed and another for the fried varieties.

Select the items you wish, and the lady will record your dim sum in your order chit and assemble your orders (dim sum baskets) on a tray.
Once done you take back your order chit, grab your tray of dim sum and head back to your table.

Repeat this as many times as needed until your gang of diners are satisfied and ready to leave.

I observed that sometimes a wait staff would assist a customer with their trays, sometimes not.

Tableside service is minimal, as there will be only one or two carts coming your way, and those are of minor dim sum, not the whole steamed or fried variety.

We spent about an hour in Foh San on a Saturday and we enjoyed ourselves.

Food was decent at best (we definitely had better dim sum in Ipoh) but all in all, the dining space was comfortable (until the crowd descended on us after 8:30 am), the toilets clean, the portions standard (in comparison with other dim sum outlets in Ipoh), the variety fair and the service acceptable.

But when I paid, I felt a jolt as the bill was at least 30% more than the average dim sum bill in other Ipoh dim sum restaurants for more or less the same items.
I’ve eaten at almost 14 dim sum restaurants in Ipoh, air conditioned or otherwise and thus I believe that I’m in a fair position to compare prices.
Besides, I usually order these same 6-7 items.

Well, I guess rental for a 2 storey building is being accounted for huh?

Our dim sum as above was almost RM40.

At a “more modest” outlet this would have been about RM25 – 30, since an average basket is RM4.00 – RM5.50.

Anyhow, here is the breakdown of what we had.

The Phoenix Claws (chicken feet) were delish.
According to Foh San’s site, these were first marinated overnight in a variety of seasoning and spices (star anise, chili, garlic, ginger, sugar, soy sauce and black bean) and cooked for hours in a 3-step process – fried, braised, and simmered in sauce.
As expected the chicken feet was tender and flavor-packed.

Next, the har kau aka ‘Supreme Prawn Dumpling’. The prawns were fresh and firm, but the thick skin was a turn-off.
Same for the other dumplings dish (the brown one).

The fish balls were decent while the 2 baos (custard and char siew) were fluffy and plump with ingredients so we enjoyed both baos. The char siew one deserves mention for not being too saucy or sweet.
Another plus was the amount of meat versus fat.

In conclusion, my Foh San dim sum breakfast wasn’t as terrible as I’ve thought it would be.
The key is to arrive early and you would be able to enjoy a leisurely dim sum feast as expected.

The prices are higher than other dim sum restaurants within Ipoh, and frankly the taste and portion were not much better.
While I wouldn’t personally recommend Foh San as Ipoh’s best dim sum option, it isn’t terrible.

If you do visit, you will find that Foh San offers more than just dim sum. For lunch there is a menu of noodles, rice and claypot dishes (over 20 rice dishes!) which might be worth checking out.
Personally I think the Pumpkin Pork Rib Porridge sounds promising.

http://www.fohsan.com.my/home/menu_noodle_ramen OR http://www.fohsan.com.my/home/menu_rice

Once, everything about dim sum in Ipoh was centered on Foh San. Until today, the legacy continues.
However, I think even the Foh San family realized that the times are changing and they can no longer rely on their “long standing reputation” to get by.
The new menu is an indication. The friendlier and brisk service is another.

Other items to try at Foh San:

Bamboo Charcoal Yam Paste Pau is the black one as below.
There was another Layer Lotus Pau with Salted Egg Yolk that I wanted to try but didn’t manage to.

Egg tarts, freshly baked buns and pan-fried buns.

The fried variety:

Some local kuih.

Cold desserts:

Foh San Dim Sum
51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam,
30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Foh San”.

Tel: + 605-254 0308
Daily dim sum: 6.30am – 2.30pm
Daily lunch: 12.00pm – 2.30pm
Off day: Tues.

More choices: http://www.fohsan.com.my/home/menu_dimsum1.html

I’v heard of the pulut kaya at Keng Nam and although it sounded intriguing it hasn’t been appealing enough to entice me to Keng Nam for it.

After all, pulut with kaya is like kuih kaya or pulut tekan, just minus the blue color.
Besides, the kaya is too sweet for my liking.

Still it is good to try at least once.

There is a version where you can mix kaya and curry over the pulut (glutinous rice) but to me it is like kunyit with curry while the kaya part is like pulut tekan.
However, mixing both curry and kaya plus the pulut – now that’s an option for my next visit!

We were pretty stuffed from our Foh San dim sum breakfast, and headed over to Keng Nam based on Joanna’s recommendation of Keng Nam’s white coffee.

The intention was for coffee, but we ended up ordering more food!

The wantan mee (just noodles and vegetables) is a shocking RM2.00.
Just RM2.00!

The chee cheong fun (RM3.50) was good, much better in the sense that it is not as oily as the others that I’ve had before.

The same stall sells yam cake as well, homely and loaded with chunks of yam, just the way I like it.

But it was this Keng Nam Iced white coffee (RM2.10) that had us all sighing in pleasure.

Not overly sweet or strong but with a rich aroma and a smooth finish, it resembles a glorious coffee milkshake.

This is my favourite coffee in Ipoh now, and that’s a conclusion after having had Kong Heng’s, Nem Heong’s and Sin Yoon Loong.

This coffeeshop is coming to 25 years of operations and still going strong. It is a perennial favourite of local people of Ipoh, located away from the chaos of Kong Heng and Thean Chun where an unhurried breakfast is possible.

Other food choices include the popular curry mee, though I’ve only heard so-so reviews so far. Keng Nam’s eggs on toast is a gorgeous plate of sunny eggs over buttered, toasted bread.
The yong tau foo looks promising as well, so that will my breakfast on my next visit, alongside the mixed kaya and curry pulut!

Kedai Kopi Keng Nam
127, Jalan Raja Ekram,
30300 Ipoh.
Opens for breakfast til late morning.
Phone:+60 5-255 7328

So I’ve tried the Nasi lemak Cheesecake. Earlier last year a cute nasi lemak sushi was making waves in KL.
Then this month I gobbled a whole nasi lemak MAKI and had thought; this nasi lemak trend is sure picking up.

Let’s not forget the nasi lemak gelato that started it all back in 2012.

In keeping to the theme, today’s lunch was this Nasi Lemak Salad (RM26) at Chai Bar.

If you don’t already know, Chai Bar is my preferred salad bar in KL.

I can’t claim to have eaten at all salad bars in the Klang Valley (nor do I intend to) but I’ve had have my fair share of salads (I’m a strict low-carber remember?) and Chai Bar’s range of salads, the portion, the price as well as their ingredients has been agreeable to my palate and wallet so far.

They started offering deliveries recently so I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to get my favourite salads more often now!

Now there’s no excuse for YOU to not try their nice salads too. Just order online HERE –> http://chaibar.oddle.me/

Back to my lunch.

Behold the NASI LEMAK SALAD (RM26)!

Quinoa cooked in coconut cream (santan), thick, tender fillets of chicken breast, 1 hardboiled egg, onion rings, cucumber, lettuce plus a sprinkling of crushed peanuts and crispy anchovies over it all.
Dressing is sambal mayo which is creamy and slightly spicy.

‘Delicious or not’ – you ask? A good imitation of nasi lemak?

Well, I’ll rate it 6/10 for now.
It is filling, tasty, high in protein and absolutely healthy at at least half the calories of a normal serving of nasi lemak.

However I thought it could be much better with say, actual sambal to be mixed with the quinoa (just like rice and sambal) plus more peanuts.

The sambal mayo can be retained as a dip for the greens, but the quinoa could do with a good dollop of fiery sambal!

Anyhow, this is a monthly salad so it is only available for May 2016. So hurry if you want to try it!

Chai Bar
G31, Oasis Village, Oasis Square, No. 2, Jalan PJU 1A/7A, Oasis Damansara
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
03-7832 0524
Open : Daily 11:00am – 9:00pm (close on Mondays)

Chai Bar (Bangsar)
No. 15, Jalan Telawi 3
Bangsar Baru
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: Mon-Sun (10 AM – 10 PM)
Email: hello@chaibar.my
Phone: +60 3 22010756

What used to be “old” and forgotten has been resurrected to be ‘hip‘ again.
I’m in favour of such revivals of old and nostalgic, though by now I’ve realized it comes at an inflated price, no thanks to well, inflation.

A RM0.10 ice ball 2 decades ago is now RM3.00.
I’m not claiming this is to be the price throughout the whole country, but at Bits & Bobs in Ipoh, that is what you will be paying for an ice ball drizzled with syrup.

The current heatwave will make any sane human sigh in relief with one (or TWO) of these ice balls (Ais Kepal) from Bits & Boobs.

A friend of mine had one, and walked back to get another.
I smiled in encouragement, though inside I was thinking “RM6.00 for two ice balls with sugar…”.

Ok, don’t mind me.
I would spend RM3.00 for an ais kacang ok?

And I did steal his ball (ok, that doesn’t sound right) and had a few suck.
It was cooling and enjoyable enough.

Anyways, this small little shop in Kong Heng Square, directly behind Plan B is quite a cute set up with its knick-knacks and vintage collection of books, rims and some toys.

It is extremely popular and though personally I won’t be buying any ice balls, I do appreciate having this childhood treat being revived.

Bits & Bots
99 Jalan Sultan Yussuf (@ Kong Heng Square),
30000 Ipoh, Perak
Business Hour: Mon: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm; Wed – Sun: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Soon after I attended the launch of Sensodyne Mouthwash for sensitive teeth I had a dental appointment set up for me.

It was timely since my annual dental check was due, and as I have suspected I have some teething issues (pun intended).

Like anyone else I have a packed schedule and I work too long hours, too hard.

My lifestyle could be considered healthy (compared to my peers) since I do incorporate a minimum of 2-3 intense workouts weekly.
Still, it is important to take care of the body as well as the mouth and teeth.

Besides, I’m a big fan of anything cold (I blame it on the weather) and everything spicy or sweet.

When I admitted to Dr Melvin that I’m a huge fan of iced stuff, he tsked-tsked and cautioned me to be careful.

My lower gums and some upper ones were exposed due to what he suspected to be overzealous brushing.
Sheepishly I admitted that I’m used to brushing hard, fueled by the ignorance that brushing hard = cleaner.

He corrected me by requesting that I switch my toothbrush from hard to SOFT and to brush gently.

A quick rinse with Sensodyne mouthwash should follow, he went on to advise, since I’m showing signs of early tooth sensitivity condition.
Last but not least, I should floss too since I have a tendency of getting food stuck in between my teeth.

During the check up he showed my images of my puffy, exposed gums as well as a build-up of plaque (or tartar) on 2 of my upper tooth.

I panicked and asked if that could be reversed, and Dr Melvin had confidently replied yes; tooth sensitivity can be treated but with proper care and by being diligent with my dental habits.

For a start, I was advised to use the recently launched Sensodyne mouthwash that offers 24-hour protection against tooth sensitivity if gargled twice a day.

Meanwhile I wasted no time in requesting Dr Melvin to carry out both scaling and polishing for me there and then.
I got him to clean out the plaque and performed a filling on the affected tooth.

BELOW:

Before filling:

After filling:

Invariably prevention is better than cure, so I would urge YOU to adopt an advanced oral care regime that includes brushing, flossing and gargling using mouthwash to maintain good oral hygiene.

When I got home everything went into the trash bin; especially my hard toothbrush. In its place I have the Sensodyne SOFT toothbrush, mouthwash and floss.

I even packed a 200 ml bottle for my travels, since I’m usually away for 5 days or more.
Just like any good habits, consistency is key.

Most importantly I don’t rely on hotel dental kits anymore. I now pack along my soft toothbrush and toothpaste on my trips to ensure that I take good care of my oral hygiene.

My scaling and polishing was RM80 and the filling of a tooth cost me another RM80.
I have a friend who works in the dental line and I was assured that the prices are very fair for the area of Uptown Damansara.

So here you go, if you are looking into getting your annual dental check up done, do check out M Dental at Damansara Uptown, right above Old Town Coffee.

Dr Melvin is knowledgable and easy to talk to. His nurses are helpful, the service efficient and the clinic clean, bright and equipped with WIFI.
Heck, you could even make yourself a cuppa while waiting.

If you would like to be certain or to check on your teeth condition, participate in the online Sensodyne Tooth Sensitivity Check tool and find out if you are having sensitive teeth –> www.sensodyne.com.my/tooth-sensitivity-check.aspx

In a nutshell, do not let tooth sensitivity affect your lifestyle.
Take care of your teeth and enjoy your food!

For more information on Sensodyne, visit the official website at: https://www.sensodyne.com.my/

When I was in Singapore few months back, my fellow Singaporean influencers were in uproar about being taxed.

As an active influencer myself I can relate only too well.

I wouldn’t want to pay the government anymore than deemed necessary, and frankly, the rules of the taxation were a bit ridiculous.

I did however, at that point of time, knew that influencers’ taxation will happen and sooner than later, it will happen in Malaysia.

And so it has.
Today. 26th May 2016.

This is all I have as of now:

http://www.hasil.gov.my/pdf/pdfam/Media_23052016_PENJELASAN_CUKAI_PENDAPATAN_PERNIAGAAN_ONLINE.pdf

The charming and old but definitely lovingly kept 27 at Concubine Lane may not be your average boutique hotel with all the sparkles and decor in place to recreate the nostalgic vibe.

At 27 at Concubine Lane, it is as real as it gets.

On the ground floor, the walls, window frames, the facade (front of the house), the heavy tall doors  and beams plus fixtures were maintained in its original state since its very first owner.
In fact, this wonderful home is still in possession of the same family, now in its 3rd generation.

Take a look at this video and tell me if 27 At Concubine Lane is homely?

However, out of necessity, renovation were done to the back of the house where the kitchen, washroom and back door are, but done cleverly to preserve the entire look and feel of the house.

There were no cement floors, no water or electricity before the renovation; said John, the kind Britishman who is currently caretaker of 27 at Concubine Lane.
John also oversees the day-to-day affairs of the charming boutique hotel.

“We did the kitchen, showers and back door. The loft where you are staying as well as the private rooms are new.
What we did was to bring it back to life, making it a liveable space, but none of the “overdone” decor like how current boutique hotels are like“, John remarked.

It is true.

In fact I couldn’t tell the old and the new sections of the house apart.

Lovingly maintained and standing solid, this residence exuded a homely feel, welcoming guests to its inner sanctuary.

No doubt a new water system is in place and the washrooms were renovated before, and I’m glad for it, for the shower pressure is fair, there is hot water and the entire washroom area is clean and comfortable to use.

The kitchen and pantry area where the airwell is and it is my favourite spot of such old houses. I just enjoy the light and air that ventilates the inner sanctum of a home, especially via natural means.

The lane outside is busy on weekends and bustling during lunch time (Wong Koh Kee is here and so is Ding Weng taufufa) but the commotion doesn’t get pass its tall wooden doors.

Inside the house, it remained peaceful.
It is as though I’ve stepped back time, for the moment I stepped into the hall of 27 at Concubine Lane, I felt at ease, and more than eager to drop my bags and sit back for a cuppa.

John, the person-in-charge launched a brief and loving tale about this little abode as soon as we stepped in for our check-in.
He leads us to our dorm and showed us the washroom, the loft and explained some house rules.

Both John and Stephanie also inquired if we would need food or sightseeing recommendations, but there is no need, since I’m so often in Ipoh and have the most reliable guide in Brian Law.

Here, watch this video. It would give you an idea of what to expect if you book a dorm bed for RM30/night in 27 at Concubine Lane.

Private rooms are AIR CONDITIONED but the dorm where I’m at is not.
The WIFI is fickle and slow, but when it works, it connects and uploads are fairly acceptable.

Rates are RM150/night for Saturdays, RM120 for Sundays and weekdays are RM100/night (as of May 2016).

The dorm sharing room at the loft is an open space with beds. Each bed gets a bedsheet, a pillow, a towel and a blanket.
There are ample power sockets around though I would suggest that you bring a extension cord if you travel with as many gadgets as I do.
There is a cloth rack, a large mirror and a cupboard for you to keep your items, though unlocked.
There is a fan over each bed to keep you cool since the loft is not air conditioned.

All in all, it may look sparse, but hey, for RM30/night, I have no complaints.
In fact, I loved it.

Parking on the roads near 27 at Concubine Lane is free on Sundays or for a minimal fee on weekdays. Be sure to get your parking coupons ready.
Anyhow, there is a large parking space within 5 minutes walk so parking isn’t a big issue.

BELOW: Look out for this parking space near Hor Yan Hor and Han Chin Pet Soo.

Complimentary sachets of 3-in-1 tea and Ipoh coffee (yes!) are in the fridge and the 3 residence felines could keep one company, but 27 at Concubine Lane’s location in the busy streets of Ipoh old town is opportunely near to the popular Kong Heng and Thean Chun coffeeshops as well as the iconic, photogenic areas of Plan B and Yasmin.
Thus there is plenty to do and see.

Finding food is never a problem as many coffeeshops and cafes are within walking distance; namely Kong Heng, Thean Chun, Sin Sean Lee, STG Cafe, The Wheelhouse and many more.

So feast on eggtarts, Ipoh curry mee, thick Ipoh coffee, Ipoh chicken rice, Ipoh hor fun and pork satay, just to name a few!

********************************************************************************************************

27 at Concubine Lane
27 Lorong Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Hours: Mon-Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Contact: + 6 012-221 3202

Whether the charcoal (kayu arang) enhances the roti canai in either aroma or taste is debatable.

I for one, couldn’t detect any enhancements.
It could be that our orders were roti tampal (eggs + roti canai) and Roti Nachos (a pizza with roti canai as base) and since both were not plain roti, the presumably added smoky flavours were lost on us.

But the argument of charcoal vs gas cooking aside, this Roti Canai Kayu Arang @ Bachang Melaka is one outlet that I would personally recommend; 70% due to the humble and kind people running it, 30% for the food.

Food is good, no doubt about that, but I can get good roti canai at Limbongan (Melaka) too.
So why here?

Like I’ve said, dining here is an experience itself.

The centrepiece is the large griddle over the charcoal. Surrounding it is where the action is; the men and women manning the pan, plus the one guy arduously flipping one roti after another.

A few feet away is the “nasi lemak station“, where a bunch of lovely women worked in harmony packing hundreds of nasi lemak for takeaway orders, all the while assembling plate after plate of nasi lemak for those dining in.

Such lovely, happy smiles!
It makes the dining experience so much more pleasant when the proprietors or staff are kind right?

I do not know how these ladies manage, but manage they did. Plate after plate, packet after packet.

The business runs like a clockwork and while the situation can get chaotic and the wait long, everyone here, staff and customers included, were patient and calm with no one looking stressed or raising their voices to be heard.

Truly muhibbah!

And this is probably one of the few places that you can get satay (chicken/kambing/beef) at wee hours of the morning.
If you are a fan of the current craze of deep fried big sotong, a plate of this goes for RM10.

I won’t recommend it though as it was rubbery.

But the nasi lemak deserves praise.
The basic one (RM2.00) consists of one fried egg, a sizeable portion of rice, kangkung, anchovies and peanuts with a dollop of delicious, sweet yet mildly spicy sambal.
The rice grains are loose, firm and fragrant with coconut milk aroma.

Meanwhile for those who prefer a more substantial plate of nasi lemak, you can opt to add on ayam rendang or ayam goreng.

A plate of nasi lemak with an additional piece of chicken goes for RM5.
Heck, most places are selling a piece of chicken for RM5 (or more!) so a whole meal like this for RM5 is cheap indeed, even by Melaka standards.

Drinks were RM1.50 each for our hot milo and an iced Nescafe.
In KL, a glass of milo in mamak is RM2.00 – RM2.70. The same can be said for Nescafe.

But of course, this is Melaka so lower food prices are expected. Still, coming from KL, I’m glad to know that dining in Melaka can be an inexpensive affair IF you know where to go.

Another popular variation of roti canai here is the roti tampal/dangdut (RM2.00).

What is roti tampal you ask?

Well, this was how it was prepared here at Roti Canai Kayu Arang.

2 eggs were cracked on the hot pan. As the eggs cook, a plain roti canai is slapped on top.
This roti tampal is then taken off the pan.

The egg whites are cooked but the yolks remained molten. Once you break the yolks, sunny, creamy lava oozes out to soak your roti.
I eat my roti tampal by dunking it in the dhall with sambal before popping each piece into my mouth.

Ordering 2 sunny side up eggs or half boiled egg to eat with your roti canai (I do that all the time at mamaks) would be equivalent with a roti tampal/dangdut, but what is the fun in that!

One more interesting variation of roti canai here is the Roti Nachos.

The 3 of us turned it inside out and upside down seeking for nachos but we failed to find any.
However pizza lovers would enjoy this as it is alike a pizza made using roti canai base.

The toppings were minced chicken in sauce, red, yellow and green capsicums, raw purple cabbage and a whole load of mozzarella.

Tasty? Yes!
Cheap? Yes. One Roti Nachos is just RM5.00 and look at the amount of cheese!
They were generous with the minced meat too.

The Roti Nachos is not available daily so it is best to call ahead and check.

Other food options available are satay (as I’ve mentioned earlier), lontong, mihun soup and local kuih. And of course, the usual variations of roti canai such as roti bawang and the works.

It is advisable to head here early to beat the crowd and to grab the best of the breakfast spread as some items sold out quickly.

Roti Canai Kayu Arang
Lot 459
Kampung Bakar Batu Mukim,
75350 Bachang, Melaka, Malaysia.

Waze: “roti canai kayu arang”

Hours: DAILY 7:00 am – 12:30 pm
Puasa month: 5:00 pm to late.
Contact: Kak Ayu – +6 016 -6612 434

My intimate affair with Neubodi started in 2013.

My first Neubodi bra is as pictured below.
You can read about my professional Neubodi fitting session –> HERE.

After the professional and educational fitting session with the Neubodi specialist in 2013, I was convinced that Neubodi makes inner-wear with true understanding of a woman’s need.

But back in 2013, there weren’t plain, strapless Neubodi bras available.

But Neubodi is a brand that listens to its clientele.
No doubt many women had asked for strapless bras, and in 2014, the Annabelle was launched. I was thrilled that Neubodi finally offers strapless bras!

I had my eyes on them for a long time, and my chance to own one materialized at the opening of the Neubodi Mid Valley store.
I took advantage of the opening special to buy 2, one nude and one black.

Both were ridiculously lasting, and it has in fact lasted until today, May 2016.

See? I can still wearing my Annabelle now!

I worn them alternatively; the nude and black for 3 years. In our 3 year-affair, I hardly wore any other brands or any other bras.

These Annabelles were washed (with care of course) once to twice a week for 3 years and until today, they are still in perfect shape (cup and overall) with no frays or loose threads.
The underbust strap is loose now due to wear and my overall weight lost but the bras are in good condition still, a testament to Neubodi’s quality.

I paid almost RM150 for each (due to the opening special), and had great memories wearing both.
They fit perfectly (my size is 70B, 32 cm, B cup), stay on securely and doesn’t show under sheer or thin fabrics.

Now that both my Annabelles were loose around the bust, I’ve decided to buy 2 more strapless ones from Neubodi.

The latest range for plain nude and black strapless is the Kaitlyn.

The Kaitlyn offers seamless shape and support and really pushes up the bosom.
It is perfect for those in need of a “lift” and added “volume”.

I’ve worn both for the last 6 months and frankly, found them too thickly padded for me.

What happened was that the top of the bra kept jutting out a bit, and while it is wearable, it is best to be worn under thick clothing or under outfits with straps which could push the cup back to the bosom.

Still, one can’t deny that the Kaitlyn series are wonderful for that extra boost/push up. The deep plunging centre displays your cleavage to an advantage, and its smooth finish (material) provides the invisibility any woman would want.

The supportive, side boning anchors the body and the seamless construction goes undetected under clothings. As you can see here, if you are wearing the right size, there should be no bulging flesh between the straps.

The same can be said for Neubodi’s Zeroline and Freeline range for underwear.

These smooth, literally invisible under any clothing undies are made from the renowned SITIPTM fabric from Italy, this panty undergoes the thermo-fusion process, guaranteed to be completely imperceptible under your clothing.
It is ultrasoft with no binding elastic, developed through thermo-fusion and laser cut fabric to prevent any panty lines while providing full back coverage.

See?
A tight fitted dress and no panty lines.

If any lines shows under your clothing, then perhaps you might want to make sure you have the right fit.

I was wearing the M size for a while and under some clingy material there were slight VPLs (visible panty lines).
I consulted a Neubodi specialist and was advised to wear L instead so that the panty material doesn’t cut into my flesh causing VPLs.

Below: The difference between M and L.

The material is superbly smooth and hugs the curves of your buttocks nicely.
They are quick to dry and easy to wash too.

The bra fitting professionals are experienced and you are assured of a warm, genuine and heartfelt fitting service that is geared towards the goal of sharing the methods of wearing and choosing the right bra for oneself.

Hmmm.. a nasi lemak sandwich?

Yes, you read right. The Nasi Lemak sandwich exists for real.

Fest at Jaya One rendition of our beloved nasi lemak came in the form of a thick chicken patty cooked in a waffle pan (hence the shape) in between thick sourdough, each side spread with spicy sambal and stuffed with julienned fresh cucumbers, crispy baked anchovies (less oil, less calories), crushed peanuts and egg omelette strips.

This sandwich is hearty thanks to the chunky, almost-100% chicken meat patty and the compact sourdough.
For RM14.00 nett, I thought it could pass as a burger more than a mere sandwich.

Some might find it dry as there are no additional sauce to the whole assemble and the sourdough can be pretty rough to chew.
I however, had no complaints since I never liked my burgers or sandwiches soaked in mayo or any sauce.

As a crazed nasi lemak enthusiast I’ve done my rounds of savouring these nasi lemak novelties.

And after sampling so many nasi lemak “permutations” I would rank Fest’s Nasi Lemak sandwich pretty high up on my list of “must-try nasi lemak creations“in the Klang Valley.

The nasi lemak sushi at Ruyi and Lyn  was excellent but the nasi lemak maki roll at Boxes Cafe barely passed muster. I personally thought the nasi lemak cheesecake at Lepaq Lepaq is a waste of money  while the nasi lemak gelato by Cielo Dolci has been a success since its inception.

Nasi lemak salad?
Yes, our beloved nasi lemak can be quite a delicious salad, and this is only available until end of May at Chai Bar.

Meanwhile this Nasi Lemak sandwich at Fest looks like it will be a permanent fixture for now.
I won’t mind a weekly dose of it for sure!

Another favourite of mine at Fest is their affogato with teh tarik ice cream. Fest’s standard Affogato (RM12) is served with coconut ice cream but I had requested for it to be swapped with their teh tarik flavoured one instead.
This terrific combination would be my standard order from now; plus a Nasi Lemak sandwich of course.

For a twist out of the ordinary, Fest offers a Soy Chai (RM15).
I love chai and this soy version didn’t disappoint.

Just so you know, this pot pours out 2 full glasses so it can be shared by 2 pax.

I’m planning to be at Fest more often.
If you see me, #BelanjaKopi ok?

Fest at Jaya One
(right in front of The School by Jaya One with maroon awning, and we are neighbours of Fontera and Morning After)
E-83-G.3G, The Square, Jaya One,
72A, Jalan Universiti,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Mon-Tue: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wed-Thu: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

I’m back with more of my Ipoh’s best food lists!

Short on the heels of my Ipoh Best Dim Sum list, today it is all about my quest in seeking out the best Chinese restaurants in Ipoh.
This whole compilation is possible thanks to Brian, an Ipoh-lang true and through with a discerning palate that I trust wholeheartedly.

With his input, the list below are outlets popularly known as “dai chow” or the family dining (chinese food, cook upon order, eat-with-rice and dishes, family sit-down dinner) type of restaurants.

I’ve personally tried 11 of them in Ipoh so far and you can be assured there will be more over the coming months.

As per my standard protocol, I paid for my food, all visits are incognito and the number of diners varies from 2 – 6 partners.

I’m open to suggestions/recommendations so do drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog!

As of now, my personal preference for Ipoh’s best chinese restaurant goes to (1) Sun Marpoh, (2) Ipoman, (3) Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House, (4) Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain, (5) Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh, (6) Restoran Makanan Laut Yam Yam.

To be frank, from the total of 11 restaurants that I’ve dined in, only O Cafe, Canning Garden and Choy Kee in Taman Ipoh were particularly disappointing.
The rest has its merits.

Anyhow my reviews are based on the dishes I had during my visit, so there are bound to be hits and misses.

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1. Ipoman Seafood Ipoh
60-62 Laluan Tawas Damai,
Anjung Tawas Impiana,
30010 Ipoh.
Tel:  +6 012 506 1714 (Advisable to call for directions)

Waze: “Laluan Tawas Damai”

Hours: Daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm
Closed: Mondays every 2 weeks.

What’s good:
I’ve visited twice and I would recommend the Indonesian Curry Prawn as well as the Iced Pork.
Other dishes of merit are the Golden Sliced Fragrant Pork and the special 3 Taste Fish.
We love the reasonably priced home-cooked style food here and the sweet and friendly lady boss.
The restaurant is air-conditioned.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipomanseafoodipoh/ 

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2. Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House
32, Laluan Perajurit 1,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Waze: “Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House”
Tel: +6012-565 7723 (Fanny).

Hours: 11.00am – 2.30pm,
5.30pm – 10.30pm.
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Crabs, fishcake padded with crispy chicken skin, steamed egg, braised eggplant, pork ribs.
Service is attentive and food is well proportion for the price.
The restaurant is air-conditioned.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-8-restoran-makanan-laut-crab-house/ 

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3. Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain

69, Persiaran Medan Bercham 2,
Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham,
31400, Ipoh.
Waze: “Rasa Lain”
Tel : 012-5128407 (speaks Chinese only)
Reservations advised.

Hours: 5 – 10pm
Close on Wed.

What’s good:
Fishballs, ginger lala (clams), pork ribs, claypot crab.
I’ve been here 4 times so far. The gruff manner of the round, bald boss can be a put-off for some (there have been a number of complaints).
Fortunately for me I’m always there by 6pm so I never had to put up with bad service (yet).
The restaurant is perpetually busy so patience is required to dine here.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-for-dinner-part-i-kedai-makanan-rasa-lain-bercham-claypot-crab-fishballs/

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4. Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh (Pork Free)

5 Persiaran Greenhill (New Town).
Waze: “Yum yum”
Tel: 05-253 7686

Hours: 12 -3pm and 6pm-10pm.
Close on Wed.

What’s good: 
Yum Yum’s Golden Lime Sauce fish, Basil Curry Prawns, Vietnamese Chicken, Mango Kerabu.
This restaurant straddles the “fusion” of Thai and Chinese cuisine pretty well and thus there are some unique delicious dishes here that I personally enjoyed.
A plus point is their pork-free/halal status.
The outlet is air conditioned and the decor nicely done.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-4-yum-yum-for-halal-delicious-nyonya-thai-food/ 

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5. Wong Koh Kee
3, Jalan Panglima, 31650 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia.
*Exact location: From Kwong Heng and Plan B look opposite for this lane.

Waze: ‘Wong Koh Kee’
Tel: +605-241 9474, +6016-531 3826

Hours: 10.30am – 3pm – ONLY LUNCH.
No fixed off days, so call in advance.

What’s good:
Handmade tofu stuffed with fish paste dish served in eggy gravy and most of their signature dishes.

Dining in this old institution is an experience itself.
It is perpetually packed so patience is a prerequisite trait. Service is brisk, dining condition is cramped but the food is good and the prices unbelievably cheap.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-5-wong-koh-kee-a-classic-cu-char/

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6. Sin Hup Kee Restaurant
17 Jalan Leong Sin Nam,
Ipoh, Perak.
Waze : “Sin Hup Kee”.
Tel: +605 2423128

Hours: 11:00am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:00pm.
Close. Every Tuesday.

What’s good:
Economical set meals, sweet and sour pork, soup.

Prices are cheap for the portions served and the service efficient. It’s location in Ipoh town makes it rather accessible.
The restaurant is air conditioned.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-10-sin-hup-kee-jalan-leong-sin-nam/

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7. Restoran Cathay Ipoh
17A, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar,
30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Waze: “Kim Bali” – this restaurant is on Waze but Cathay is not. However it is on the same row so I’m using Kim Bali as a landmark.
Tel No : NA

Hours: Open from breakfast until dinner (7.30am – 8pm).
Close on Saturdays.

What’s good:
Traditional pork chop, french toast.

I’m so in love with their kaya and French Toast!
Meanwhile this is the only (or 1 of the very few) outlets where you are able to enjoy traditional western style dining, though limited to the chicken/beef/pork/fish chops.

Other than the dishes we had (full review link as below), you can order dai chou dishes such as noodles, sweet and sour pork and the works, though I was duly informed that the cooks’ strength aren’t in the dai chou department.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-3-restoran-cathay-for-old-school-pork-chopchicken-chopfish/

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8. O Cafe, Canning Garden
2, Jalan Raja Kam, Canning Garden,
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Tel: +6014-3393796

Hours: 11:30am – 4:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Close: Every Friday.

What’s good: 
Crabmeat Crispy Mishua, Spicy Sour Spare Ribs, Ginger Chicken.

Come here if you are seeking a true “home dining” experience. We were not particularly impressed with the items we had that evening so perhaps a revisit is in order.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-5-o-cafe-canning-garden-ipoh/

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9. Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee
111, Jalan Dato Lau Pak Khuan, Taman Ipoh,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Waze: “Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee”
Tel: +60 5-549 9127

Hours: 6pm – 10pm
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Can I say nothing?
But that won’t be fair of course, since we didn’t order everything from their menu.
A revisit is in order, and I’ll be sure to avoid ordering the same dishes that we had that evening.

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-9-restoran-makanan-laut-choy-kee/

10. Yam Yam Restaurant
9, Lebuh Raya, Ipoh Garden South,
31400 Ipoh.
Tel: 012 5651 510.

Waze: “Yam Yam”

Hours: 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-10:00pm
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Sweet and Sour Pork, Lamb with Fu Chok, Steamed Frog with Chicken Essence.
Brian, my trusty Ipoh guide recommended a few more dishes from his many trips and I’ll update them here when I remember!

Full review: http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-7-yam-yam-restaurant-for-dai-chow-in-tmn-ipoh/

11. Sun Mar Poh Restaurant (To be updated)
67-69, Jalan Lau Pak Khuan,
Ipoh Garden,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Tel: + 605 545 5127

Waze: “Sun Marpoh Restaurant Sdn Bhd”.

Hours: Open Daily:
Lunch: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Dinner: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm.

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So there we go, 11 chinese restaurant in Ipoh!
There is no excuse for you to say “I do not know what to eat in Ipoh besides curry mee, kai si hor fun and dim sum” now!
Most of them are open for lunch and dinner and compared to KL, prices in these Ipoh restaurants are much cheaper.
Well, maybe not for the crabs, but overall yes!

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Ipoh Best Restaurants series:

Part 1: Ipoman Seafood Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipomanseafoodipoh/
Part 2: Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-8-restoran-makanan-laut-crab-house/
Part 3: Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-for-dinner-part-i-kedai-makanan-rasa-lain-bercham-claypot-crab-fishballs/
Part 4: Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-4-yum-yum-for-halal-delicious-nyonya-thai-food/
Part 5: Wong Koh Kee http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-5-wong-koh-kee-a-classic-cu-char/
Part 6: Sin Hup Kee Restaurant http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-10-sin-hup-kee-jalan-leong-sin-nam/
Part 7: Restoran Cathay Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-3-restoran-cathay-for-old-school-pork-chopchicken-chopfish/
Part 8: O Cafe, Canning Garden http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-5-o-cafe-canning-garden-ipoh/
Part 9: Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-9-restoran-makanan-laut-choy-kee/
Part 10: Yam Yam Restaurant http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-7-yam-yam-restaurant-for-dai-chow-in-tmn-ipoh/

Part 11: Sun MarPoh Restaurant – (To be updated).

The best dim sum in Ipoh?

Well, I’ve tried so many and while I can’t guarantee you that you will like the ones that I prefer, I’m certain that you would be able to find one that you enjoy from the list of Ipoh’s best dim that I’ve compiled here.

Like always, I paid for my food, all visits are incognito and the number of diners varies from 2 – 6 partners.
I’m open to suggestions/recommendations so do drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

As with all food, bear in mind that taste is subjective and all outlets will experience ups and downs.
Constructive feedback/reports (if the food standards has dropped, service was bad on your visit) and recommendations are most welcome.

My top choice (as of April 2016) goes to (1) Zui Le Xuan alongside (2)Dynasty Palace, (3) Chooi Yue, (4) Lok Hin, (5) Sun Kim Aik and (6) Sun Kok Kee.
For HALAL, there is only one which is Greentown Dim Sum which I personally won’t recommend to anyone, but like I said, it is the only halal dim sum option available.

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These are the other dim sum outlets in Ipoh that I’ve tried but won’t personally recommend:

11. Chef Fatt on Cowan Street. 
** About 3 years back (2014) and unable to locate the photos for now.
Dim sum were so -so.

12. Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant
– will update again as I’ll be visiting soon.

13. Ming Court – my visit was years back (circa 2013 – 2014) and the experience was bad enough that I’ve haven’t visited since.

14. Yoke Fook Moon– similar case to Ming Court.

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Below are the other dim sum outlets in Ipoh that’s in my list for future visits:

1. Tai Woo Hong Kong Dim Sum
22, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 11,
Taman Ipoh Selatan,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: –
Tel: + 6017-256 1115
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.

2. Sun Hor Lok
SERVES PORK.
Persiaran Greenhill, Kampung Jawa,
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Pusat Makanan Sun Hor Lok”.
Tel: –
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm.

3. Tang Yuan Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
25, Jalan Perajurit,
Taman Ipoh Timur,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Tang Yuan”.
Tel: +6012-354 7178
Hours: Open Daily:
Lunch: 12:00 am – 2:30pm.
Dinner: 7:30 pm – 12:00 am.

4. Restaurant Rich Food
19, Jalan Pasir Puteh,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restaurant Rich Food”.

5. China Chuan Kwong (Qi Yuan)
SERVES PORK.
74, Persiaran Greentown 2,
Greentown Business Centre,
30450 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Qi Yuan Restoran China Chuan Kwong”.
Tel: + 605-253 3551
Hours: Open Daily: 7:00 am – 2:30 pm.

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**These are the one I’ve visited but has since ceased operations: 

1. The Xiang Palace
SERVES PORK.
Soho Ipoh, Block A G-4,
Jalan Sultan Iskandar,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “The Xiang Palace”.
Tel: + 6012-542 9354
Hours: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Off day: Wed.

2. Restoran Lei Yue Moon
SERVES PORK.
7, Medan Stesen 19, Stesen 18, Ipoh,
31650, Ipoh, Perak, 31650, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Lei Yue Moon”.

Tel: + 6012-523 3186
Hours: Open Daily: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm.

3. Restoran Ying Fa
SERVES PORK.
Jalan Sultan Yussuff,
31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Ying Fa”.
Tel: + 605-254 8061
Hours: Open Daily: 6:00 am – 12:00 pm.

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** Haven’t visited, closed down: 

1. Kao Lee Dim Sum Restaurant
SERVES PORK.
48 & 50, Lengkok Canning, Ipoh Garden,
31400, Ipoh, Perak, 31400, Malaysia.
Waze: “Restoran Kao Lee 高麗點心”.
Tel: + 605-546 5384
Hours: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Off day: Tues.

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So there we have it!
My reviews of all the dim sum restaurants (18 of them) that I’ve tried in IPOH.
I have spent a lot of cash to write this post so do share it around! THANK YOU!

No doubt there are many more that I haven’t tried so please do send suggestions my way by commenting here or drop me a message me via fb.com/wackybecki / fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog.

** Constructive criticism welcomed. Rude comments or insults will not be tolerated, especially those by coward keyboard warriors hiding behind anonymity.

I’m back with more of my Ipoh’s best food lists!

Short on the heels of my Ipoh Best Dim Sum list, today it is all about my quest in seeking out the best Chinese restaurants in Ipoh.
This whole compilation is possible thanks to Brian, an Ipoh-lang true and through with a discerning palate that I trust wholeheartedly.

With his input, the list below are outlets popularly known as “dai chow” or the family dining (chinese food, cook upon order, eat-with-rice and dishes, family sit-down dinner) type of restaurants.

I’ve personally tried 11 of them in Ipoh so far and you can be assured there will be more over the coming months.

As per my standard protocol, I paid for my food, all visits are incognito and the number of diners varies from 2 – 6 partners.

I’m open to suggestions/recommendations so do drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog!

As of now, my personal preference for Ipoh’s best chinese restaurant goes to (1) Sun Marpoh, (2) Ipoman, (3) Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House, (4) Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain, (5) Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh, (6) Restoran Makanan Laut Yam Yam.

To be frank, from the total of 11 restaurants that I’ve dined in, only O Cafe, Canning Garden and Choy Kee in Taman Ipoh were particularly disappointing.
The rest has its merits.

Anyhow my reviews are based on the dishes I had during my visit, so there are bound to be hits and misses.

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So there we go, 11 chinese restaurant in Ipoh!
There is no excuse for you to say “I do not know what to eat in Ipoh besides curry mee, kai si hor fun and dim sum” now!
Most of them are open for lunch and dinner and compared to KL, prices in these Ipoh restaurants are much cheaper.
Well, maybe not for the crabs, but overall yes!

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Ipoh Best Restaurants series:

Part 1: Ipoman Seafood Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipomanseafoodipoh/
Part 2: Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-8-restoran-makanan-laut-crab-house/
Part 3: Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-for-dinner-part-i-kedai-makanan-rasa-lain-bercham-claypot-crab-fishballs/
Part 4: Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-4-yum-yum-for-halal-delicious-nyonya-thai-food/
Part 5: Wong Koh Kee http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-5-wong-koh-kee-a-classic-cu-char/
Part 6: Sin Hup Kee Restaurant http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-10-sin-hup-kee-jalan-leong-sin-nam/
Part 7: Restoran Cathay Ipoh http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-3-restoran-cathay-for-old-school-pork-chopchicken-chopfish/
Part 8: O Cafe, Canning Garden http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-5-o-cafe-canning-garden-ipoh/
Part 9: Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-9-restoran-makanan-laut-choy-kee/
Part 10: Yam Yam Restaurant http://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-7-yam-yam-restaurant-for-dai-chow-in-tmn-ipoh/

Part 11: Sun MarPoh Restaurant – (To be updated).