Foodie Friday: Food Around Ipoh Town

Right after we done with the food adventures in Medan Selera Kampar, my friends and I drove to Ipoh which is less than half an hour distance away. As it was still early to check-in into Le Metrotel, we didn't waste any longer of our time but for another round of food adventures. That's what suppose to do when one in Malaysia - Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan!  

Ipoh Mali

Funny Mountain Soya Bean & Tau Fu Fah 

49, Jalan Theatre, Ipoh Town 

As my friends and I were quite full, we decided for light meal instead and we're lucky this popular and famous soya bean and beancurd shop is only one block away from our hotel. Don't be fool by it's funny name cause their handmade beancurd was exceptionally soft and smooth. We even ordered their soya bean and it taste so good too - not too sweet and not too blend for our liking.

Surprisingly, they are too popular until they have "unofficial" drive-thru lane where we saw quite number of customers were eventually stopped by their vehicle in front of the shop and the workers will deliver their orders directly to the customers. 

Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong
49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin



I had it once but it was like almost 10 years ago and now I had it again. I believe this most famous restaurant specialised in chicken bean sprouts and kuetiau in Ipoh no longer need another introduction as it's well-known among the local as well as the tourists.

Complete your meal by ordering a plate of the fat, short and crunchy bean sprouts, tender and juicy roasted chicken together with a bowl of kuetiau.

Tuck Kee Restaurant
61, Jalan Yau Tet Shin


Same row with Lou Wong Restaurant is another tremendously famous restaurant for its delicious fried noodles. We were there by 6.30 pm but unfortunately it was full house and just when we're about to walk away with disappointment, they arranged seats for us at the shop opposite of their restaurant.



Imagine that 4 people ordered 9 meals but luckily we managed to finish them all. Proved that their dishes were pretty good. We also ordered legendary salted chicken (not from Tuck Kee Restaurant) but turned out the taste was so-so only. One of their dishes which is highly recommend is the "Wat Tan Hor".

Foh Sang Restaurant
51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam


And so what's for breakfast? None other than the dim sum as it is quite popular whenever one in Ipoh. Everytime I visited Ipoh, most of my friends would definitely brought me to dim sum for breakfast. As I tried the one in Ming Court Hong Kong Tim Sum previously, hence we opted for Foh Sang which located opposite of it. As it was weekday on that particular day we arrived, hence it was not crowded.

Dim Sum - Simply touch your heart!

Eventually there are more list of what to eat in Ipoh but I doubt my small tummy can fit in all. Sometimes I wonder how a foodie blogger can actually have like more than 10  different meals in a day. A day seriously, not a week.

Foodie Friday: Medan Selera Kampar of Malaysia

Date Visited: 28th May 2015

Travel and food are interrelated, it's hard to separate them apart apparently. And when travel in Malaysia, hunting for food has always indirectly been part and parcel of the itinerary. So when my friends and I were in Kampar last month, my local friend's parents brought us to Medan Selera Kampar (Kampar Food Court) for breakfast.

#1: The bustling of Medan Selera Kampar

Medan Selera Kampar is indeed one of the best place to have variety type of food for breakfast in Kampar. With more than 50 hawker stalls selling different type of food under one roof, for sure we were spoilt for choices. But thanks to my friend's parents for helping us to decide and order the food which the local think are the best one.

#2: This uncle is famous among the local who sits on a stool while frying char kuey teow. 

Once we stepped in the food court,  the first thing came into our sight was this uncle who sat on the stool while frying char kuey teow and we were truly intrigued with the way of his cooking style. My friend's parents told us that his char kuey teow is too popular to the extend that you need to wait for more than half an hour just for the sake of a plate of char kuey teow.

#3: Verdict: This plate of char kuey teow (Stall #32) is full with the amount of "wok hei" as charcoal is being used for frying. Taste wise, it's still acceptable but nothing to shout out somehow. 

Next to the char kuey teow stall is another popular stall among the local, Curry Chu Cheong Fun (Stall #30). Yes, you heard it right - it's chu cheong fun dipped in curry sauce instead the sweet sauce.

#4: Somehow most of my friends preferred the sweet sauce than the curry sauce but for me, this is something unique. 

#5: Kampar version of Lou Shu Fang (literally means rat's tail noodles) - Not a fan of this type of noodle but I tasted the broth and it's taste good.

#6: We supposedly order Ice Blended White Coffee which claimed to be the popular one but as it was too early for freaking cold drink, we substituted with Ice White Coffee instead. 

Another food gained fame in Medan Selera Kampar is the glutinous rice from Stall #42 but unfortunately it closed by the time we were there. Sad, luck wasn't on our side.

Frankly speaking, without the help of my local friend's parents and family who helping to order all the food above, for sure we will miss out the best food in Kampar town. Another thing I love to try is the Curry Chicken Bread but blame our small sized tummy. Perhaps Kampar town again for food adventure?

Medan Selera Kampar
Address: Between Jalan Masjid & Jalan Ampang,
Kampar, Perak, Malaysia.
Operating Hours: 7.30am – 2pm, 7pm-12am

Hotel Review: Le Metrotel of Ipoh, Malaysia

Staying in stylish, chic and trendy boutique hotel has always been part of my travel wishlist, provided still within my budget. Initially before going to Ipoh, I plan to stay in M Boutique Hotel Ipoh but unfortunately it couldn't fit in three of us. And after looked into few factors, we finally chosen to stay in Le Metrotel of Ipoh Town.

#1: Beautifully decorated in the lobby of Le Metrotel

Upon check-in, we were served by a staff with the name of Jessy and she requested a refundable security deposit of RM50. She was indeed friendly and helpful by providing us guide and info about what to eat around the vicinity. However, as it was still early, we're not allowed to check it yet but Jessy allowed us to place all our luggages first.

#2: Internet station solely for hotel guests

#3: Stylish lamp

One of the main factors we chosen this hotel is for its strategic and excellent location. The hotel is located right in the middle of city center surrounded by many famous eateries such as salted chicken, popular Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken, Funny Mountain Tao Foo Fah, Foh San Dim Sum and more. Beside eateries, there are even quite number of shops selling confectionery and infamous White Coffee. You will totally be spoilt with variety of choices.   

#4: Our triple room with one queen sized bed and single bed

#5: Television LCD/plasma screen

#6: Complimentary drinking water with coffee and tea making facility

The only downside of this hotel is the size of the room which was pretty small to fit in into three people. Quite surprisingly the size of the room is almost similar to most of the hotels I stayed in Singapore. Perhaps the room is most suitable for two pax instead of three.

#7: Clean bathroom with powerful rain shower

:

#8: So vintage

Free Wifi internet connection within each and every of the room and for the hotel guests with car, there is a free parking space provided. Although the room was basic but it was fairly comfortable and adequate.

All in all, ignore the size of the room, I could say this hotel is definitely an ideal place of stay for travellers seeking cheap, comfort and convenience in Ipoh town.

Tip:
If you are light sleeper, try to request room facing away the main road instead.

Date Stayed: 28 May - 29 May 2015 (1 night)

Rate We Paid :  RM138.00 per night for a triple room without breakfast (Booked via Agoda.com)

Le Metrotel
26-8, Jalan Theatre,  
Ipoh 30300,  
Malaysia.
 

Disclaimer:
This review is truly based on my own personal experience and is my genuine and honest opinion of this hotel, and that I have no personal or business relationship with this establishment.

Art of Old Town, Ipoh

I may sucks at arts and don't even understand at the sophisticated art but that doesn't stop me from loving arts especially the art street. I have to admit that I admired the beautifully painted art street by London-trained Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic which I found they are exceptionally meaningful and interesting, especially across the heritage area of George Town city of Penang. You can't imagine how much fun and trilled I was for hunting down all these colourful art street and wall paintings within the inner city two years ago right after I attended my best friend's wedding in Penang (click here for Penang's Art Street, Wall Paintings & Steel Sculpture)

So when I was in Kampar, Perak last month for another best friend's wedding of mine, besides hunting for the best food in Ipoh town, the first thing to do in my mind was scouting for another art street collection by Ernest Zacharevic himself in Old Town of Ipoh. 

Collaboration together with OldTown White Coffee which is the leading white coffee manufacturer in Malaysia, currently there are 8 unique murals within Old Town of Ipoh:

#1: An Old Uncle Drinking Coffee

Location: On the side wall of OldTown White Coffee and opposite of Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh.

#2: Two Kids on A Paper Plane

Location: Walk further down the road from the first mural which just next to Standard Chartered Bank to be precise. 

#3: Huge Packets of Kopi O

Location: At the car park opposite of Maybank branch in Jalan Tun Sambanthan

#4: Yellow Hummingbird

Location: At the car park in Jalan Panglima (Both #3 and #4 are located nearby to each other)

#5: Tin Mining Town With Chinese-Style Painting

Location: Jalan Bijeh Timah

#6: Old Man with Trishaw

Location: At the small alley of Jalan Bijeh Timah

#7: A Bag of Coffee

Location: Jalan Bandar Timah

#8: Little Girl with Bird Cage

Location: Jalan Bandar Timah

To ease your search looking for all the above arts, I have included map as the following:

[Source] 

Frankly speaking, these 8 art streets are located not far from each other but because my friends were too lazy to walk around and plus, it was raining in the middle of scouting around, we travelled by car instead. Thanks to my friend in black shirt (photo #8) for bringing us around Ipoh.

Oh wait! I heard the latest addition of Ernest Zacharevic's collection is in Kuching town. Can't wait to be back Kuching again.

[Credit To: Ipoh Tourism Board Official Website, Always Travelicious]