R U Lohas - Ipoh's First Organic Cafe?

Let's take a hiatus from all the Hong Kong posts. In case someone's lamenting about the lack of real LOCAL food reviews. Here we go ....

Let's go ORGANIC today !!! R U Lohas? =P

The constant travelling-and-indulging cycle took its toll on me. Finally felt the wrath of one too many Nasi Briyani (Benaz Briyani Cafe), Thai Spicy Fried Noodles (Noodle Station) and Kam Heong Mantis Prawns (Hai Nan Village), rendering me incapitated the whole day, & a short anorexic spell ensued.

Operating since not too long ago, R U Lohas has been attracting a steady stream of patrons with its brand of healthy food

Been tempted to give this restaurant/cafe a try ever since reading Dine & Health's take on the place. In fact, I noticed this place during my visits to Onix Jun Korean Restaurant, which is located next door. But somehow the word "ORGANIC" brought to mind an image of chomping on bland & tasteless greens and grains, while STILL paying an arm and a leg for them. No?

But since Motormouth's suffered the impending doom of eating haphazardly, it struck my mind to dine healthily for once, as dining out with family normally translates to Mega-Feast for Carnivores. Yup, we LOVE our meats.

Clockwise from top left : (a) Healthy Blooming Tea (for 2 pax) & Red Dates+Pear Tea (for 2 pax), (b) The funky looking flower/plant in the Healthy Blooming Tea, (c) Strawberry Vinegar Tea, and (d) Hawthorn Rose Juice

The cafe's (let's call this a cafe for the remainder of the post, to ease things a little) alien-sounding name is derived from their motto, aRe yoU Lifestyle Of Healths And Sustainability? Yeah I know, broken English in some parts, but at least the name'll stuck in your head for aeons to come.

The menu's quite impressive, offering items from rice to noodles, and Korean style Bibimbap to healthy snacks, desserts and beverages. As if you're not confused enough with the "healthy-sounding names", you can pick from their set menu as well. Needless to say, by the time we started to decide on our orders, our eyes were crossed (*o*) ... the yellow and dim lighting did not help much either. But no qualms.

The organic teas came in a jar, that serves two. At only RM5.80 per jar, the Pear with Red Dates tea is sweeter yet soothing, while the strange-sounding Healthy Blooming Tea contained a funky looking plant/flower, but tasted smooth and fragrant, without sugar. Quite tasteless in fact, resembling Chinese tea. My Strawberry Vinegar Tea (RM4.80) was served chilled, and gladly not too sour nor sweet. Refreshing. Bro was having second thoughts with his Hawthorn Rose Tea though, claiming the taste to be slightly overpowering (whatever that means).

Drunken Chicken Noodle (RM10.80)

They use their self-made organic noodles in their noodle dishes. Stole spoonfuls of mum's noodles' soup. A strong hint of ginger, and subtle tone of Chinese wine, this serving reminded us of that famous dish concocted specially for women in confinement.

Set of Minced Organic Pork Dry Noodle + Soup + Gui Ling Gao (Tortoise Jelly) + Shot of Kombucha/ Enzyme Drink @ RM9.80

Grandma A had the Set above, and gave her thumbs up. But of course, she has a strong aversion to noodles, in whatever forms. But from the looks of it, the noodles served with braised peanuts, halved egg, and strips of carrots, yambean (Sengkuang) and cucumber, appeared to be healthy, yet savoury.

Japanese Udon Set + Green Tea/Red Bean/Glutinous Rice Ball + Shot of Kombucha/ Enzyme @ RM10.80

BBQ Sakura Pork Rice Set + Soup + Gui Ling Gao + Shot of Kombucha/ Enzyme Drink @ RM9.80

Their BBQ Sakura Pork Rice sounded marvelous, thus Grandma B ordered the set. Sakura pork is a rather revolutionary method of raising premium pigs, feeding them with Lactobacillus (yup, THAT famous strain of beneficial bacteria) thus avoiding the use of antibiotics and chemicals in the animals' feeding grains. The meat is red-der, not so tender but instead leaner and less fat. Somehow they tasted rather artificial, but it could be because the meat was marinated in a sauce that was a tad too sweet.

Nasi Kerabu + DQ Curry Chicken @ RM7.80

The DQ Curry Chicken

No wonder the waiter who took my order warned me beforehand of my Nasi Kerabu's abundance of raw vegetables as garnishing. But stubborn me stick to my choice, and was overwhelmed by the amount of raw vegetables served with the blue rice.

Finely-chopped long beans, four-angled beans, parsley, LEMONGRASS (!!!), various leaves and bean sprouts were all sitting atop the serving of rice shaded with blue dye from bunga telang/clitoria flower. Yup, such healthy choice huh? I love my Lui Cha Rice, but the Nasi Kerabu was simply too dry to be eaten on its own. And the overwhelming scent and taste of freshly chopped, raw lemongrass was indeed, intimidating. Fortunately, the rice is served with curry chicken. NOT your average curry chicken, but DQ Chicken. Fed with unpolluted grasses, and raised in an environment with clean air and pristine mountain water, the chickens are classified as "CLEAN" ones, without any growth hormones, chemicals and the like. (www.dqcleanchicken.com)

Korean Bibimbap + DQ Curry Chicken @ RM7.80

Bro's a fan of Korean food, (so am I) and picked the Bibimbap with the curry chicken. But this one was Bibimbap with a twist. No Korean chilli sauce (gochujang) was served together. But instead the moisture came from the curry chicken. The rice used in all their rice dishes is of organic nature, and definitely healthier choice compared to processed white rice. But the coarse texture may not be everyone's cup of tea.

DESSERTS - Green tea Ice Cream+Red Bean+Glutinous Rice Ball, Red Bean Rice Ball in Ginger Soup, Gui Ling Gao aka Tortoise Jelly, and a shot of Kombucha to aid digestion

The Gui Ling Gao deserves a mention, as the slightly bitter jelly was tampered with some sweet and sour syrup, not overly/sickeningly sweet unlike most dessert outlets. The "tang yuen" like rice balls with red bean fillings, served in ginger soup got the thumbs up from bro and Grandma A. The rich and creamy green tea ice cream with red beans and rice balls was served a tad too early, thus was fully melted by the time we finished our mains. Yet, that plate of sweet temptations was too much to resist, and I finished off a lion's share when everyone was still digging into their mains. Muahaha .... =P

Those who ordered set meals got a shot of Kombucha, either lemon or pineapple flavoured. A tangy drink with ice to end the meal.

Total for 6 = RM79.80, including 5% service charge. Being possibly the first organic cafe in Ipoh, they sell organic produce as well. Deserving of subsequent visits? A definite yes. Especially when I'm feeling under the weather from all the binging. LOL.

Location : R U Lohas @ 33, Jln Medan Ipoh 4, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh. Tel : 05-5453454. Website : www.rulohas.com