Proclaiming my Undying Love .... Curry Mee, anyone?

My undying love for anything remotely resembling curry mee, be it dry or wet, santan-full or santan-less, spicy/sour/sweet, from north to south and everywhere else, led me to this place near to Medan Gopeng in Ipoh, a hop and skip away from the famed cave of Sam Poh Tong.

DA boss himself in action .....

This stall is operated by the owner of the shop itself. Specializing in Hainan style curry noodles, as well as other items such as Hainan toast with butter + kaya, and steamed bread, it seems the husband to the owner of the shop (her name's Elise by the way) is a relative of Yee Fatt's, hence the specialty of Hainan curry noodles.

Curry Mee with Chicken, Potatoes, Cockles, and Prawns (RM3.50)

Mr Z had the soup version of the curry noodle, which came brimming with cockles (a LOAD of them, to be exact!), which were passed on to me as he's no fan of cockles. It's lucky to dine with people who don't take certain ingredients I tell you, like KYT for the shrimps/prawns he always gave up on. But I wonder what FCOE doesn't take and would forfeit to the Motormouth. Hmm .....

Tastewise? The curry is very thick, laden with coconut milk (santan), and redolent with spices, albeit a little sweet. A little oily and rich for breakfast, but there's nothing more satisfying than a bowl of luscious, filling bowl of curry noodles.

Dry Curry Noodles with plentiful of ingredients (RM3.50). Look at all those cockles !!!

No doubt I'd opt for the dry curry version. The gravy's different from the curry soup variety; thicker, but not too much santan. Equally potent, nonetheless. Reminded me a lot of Yee Fatt's version actually, which was a good thing. With beancurd (tau pok) as well, soaking up all the delicious gravy. But the sheer amount of tiny cockles was mind-boggling, I was practically munching on them throughout the experience. No char siew (BBQ pork) or siew yoke (roasted pork) though, which makes this a PORK-free version.

Other items they dish out include - Curry Mutton Rice, Nasi Lemak and Sizzling Noodles

Toast with Kaya and Butter (RM2)

A little greasy/messy from all the curry? Curry-phobic (hehe) from all the spicy/fiery food you've had lately? No sweat. They take pride in their Hainan toast or steamed bread with homemade kaya and butter.

Looks aside, the toasts was pretty good, with a REAL slab of butter (no margarine business), and generous pairing with authentic, homemade kaya, raised the bar a few notches. You can choose to have them with some half-boiled eggs, but between the two of us, after the curry noodles, we were filled to the brim; lasting us until lunch.

Teh C Ice & Barley drink

Beverage-wise, the Hainan milk tea, Hainan coffee, and even the Sarawak's famous 3-Layered Tea (tea + evaporated milk + gula melaka syrup) are the recommended ones. My glass of cold Teh C (tea with evaporated milk) was satisfactory, though I agree to fully enjoy the beverage, you have to order the hot version, undiluted.

Location : Pusat Makanan Medan Lapangan Lagenda @ 69-71 Medan Lagenda 1, Taman Lapangan Permai, 31350 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP !!!

From Simpang Pulai toll exit, towards Ipoh on Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, you'll pass by this row of shops on your left, before reaching Sam Poh Tong cave on your right.

UPDATED 4/6/09 = Opening hours : 7am til 11pm (the shop), 7am til 3.30pm (curry mee stall). Info thanks to Elise, the owner.