Buntong's Cheap Eats

I've a funny story to share with all of you. Or wait, I think the right word should be ...... Frustratingly-funny story.

You see, Buntong in Ipoh consists of a predominantly Indian community (and to a certain extent; Chinese as well), famous for all sorts of cheap and delicious hawker fare, notably the famous Buntong Beef Noodles (here's a branch in Ipoh Garden South), Kacang Putih from Kampung Kacang Putih in Buntong (HERE's one of the outlet selling freshly fried Kacang Putih from home), and even Ipoh's outstanding Nga Choy Kai (Ayam Tauge or Poached Chicken served with Bean Sprouts & Flat Rice Noodles).

Deep in thought, and hands in perpetual chopping mode .....

But the one dish, that made Buntong stood out (and still does, in fact), is the Buntong Wan Tan Mee. Yup, coined as the 'heaviest' meal in the world (not calorie-wise, but the 'One Tonne' moniker), Buntong's Wan Tan Mee has been living its legacy for many years now, and recently moving back into its own premise, renovated and spanking new, but still on the same road. Jalan Sekolah in Buntong.

The name of the shop (or rather, stall, as it has always been affectionately known as) is Cheong Kee. Though I doubt the wan tan mee at Cheong Kee has garnered enough attention and limelight in comparison to Ipoh's Nga Choy Kai, Dim Sum, or even Chee Cheong Fun.

To cut a long story short, I went not once, not twice but THREE times; on different days of the week, and yet failed to sample the legendary homemade egg noodles with slivers of barbecued pork (Char Siew) and dumplings (Wan Tan). Tough luck .... First visit the shop was closed. Second visit was slightly better, as Cheong Kee was preparing for its erm ... RE-opening ceremony on the following day, after moving into the newly renovated premise. Okay ..... so third time's the charm they say?

Nope. Rotten luck clouded my hunt again, the shop was even closed for business on a Sunday night!!! (By the way, Cheong Kee Wan Tan Mee was ONLY opened for business at night, after around 7.30pm. Though I'm not sure of the current opening time after relocating)

Restoran Ayam TAUKE?! Not typo, but definitely easier to remember compared to Ayam Tauge .... is it not?

And there you have it. My pathetic wan tan mee hunt in Buntong. Faltered miserably, I might as well get their number the next time. But wait, I can't do that when they're NOT EVEN OPENED, right?! Geez .......

So on two of those occassions, I seeked solace in the forms of back up plans. First being the rather famous Ayam Tauge/Nga Choy Kai at Restoran Ayam Tauke (hehe, Chicken Boss?), on Jalan Guntong in Buntong. Location map to come later at the end of the post.

Smooth & VERY oily poached chicken, Hor Fun (smooth, flat rice noodles - an Ipoh specialty) in both soup and dry forms, and the crunchy & fat bean sprouts.

Typical Nga Choy Kai meals in Ipoh consist of 3 items. The chicken (poached, NOT roasted nor grilled), blanched bean sprouts (the Tauge), and the slithering-down-one's-throat-with-ease Hor Fun (flat rice noodles). They said it's the water from the limestone hills of Ipoh that 'fattens' the bean sprouts, and resulted in unbelievably smooth Hor Fun (or Kuey Teow, as it's commonly known in other states). Myth or fact?

Aside from the greasier than desired chicken (no thanks to liberal dashing of sesame oil), and the not-so-fat bean sprouts (used to the plump, juicy and crunchy ones from elsewhere), the meal was decent, at best. The Dry Hor Fun which was tossed with soy sauce, dark soy sauce and some sesame oil fared much better than the soup version. As I find the soup rather bland, instead of the usual sweet and flavourful version, from the chicken stock/bones/whatever-else used in boiling the clear broth.

Notice the restaurant is anything but one. You're actually dining in the compound of someone's house. Hahahah ..... So what?

Another surprising find, a stone's throw away from the Ayam Tauke Restaurant

Okay, so you may not be in favour of the bland, simple and some said 'over-rated' Nga Choy Kai in Ipoh. Fine, if that's the case, go jump building. ;)

Or not. OK, OK .... in that case, walk your stoned arse over to ANOTHER house next to the Nga Choy Kai, for some even cheaper, pedestrian food. The omnipresent, ever reliable, Liew Fun stall, also operating from a house. Guess the cheaper operating cost got people opening up restaurants, eateries and whatnots right smack inside their houses' compounds, huh?!

(Liew Fun = A term we Ipohans use to label the fishball noodles stall, serving a combination of noodles and Liew aka Yong Tau Foo)

The almost made for each other combination of noodles and "Liew". What's a "liew" you ask? It's Yong Tau Foo, or Stuffed Fish Paste.

Don't look down on this unassuming outlet. The throngs of people patronizing this stall piqued our interests, and we waltzed in after the initial disappointment of failed Buntong wan tan mee hunt.

You first walk over to the counter (or stall) where they're preparing the noodles and sides almost clock-work like, and pick your favourite pieces 'Liew'. Then choose a noodle of your choice, and the way you want it to be cooked, either in soup, dry, or in curry. They even serve Laksa on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.

Hearty serving of Buntong Beef Noodles @ RM4.30.

Take note that when the crowd swells to its full capacity, the wait for your food may get tedious. My advice? Order some fried Liew, which requires no preparation. And munch/nibble/swallow/throw them at unexpecting customers or staff to vent your frustration.

The pieces of "Liew" were nothing spectacular, pale in comparison to the almighty Big Tree Foot @ Pasir Pinji, or even the astonishingly endless varieties at Kwong Hong in Gunung Rapat.

The beef noodles came in a rather big portion, with generous servings of tender beef, offals, and soft radish. The broth did not pack a punch as I preferred, bordering on being rather bland, but filled up the tummy rather well.

Location : Restoran Ayam Tauke @ No 849, Jalan Guntong, Buntong, Ipoh, Perak.

Tel No : 05-255 7469 or 017-5787251. Closed on Tuesdays. Opens only in the evening.

Location : Liew Fun Stall @ No 851A, Jalan Guntong, Buntong, Ipoh, Perak.

Closed on Wednesdays. Opens from 7-10pm.

Here's a Google MAP to both the places. Realise that both places are within walking distance from each other.

Teluk Intan Nasi Pulut & Buntong Beef Noodles @ New Weng Fatt, Ipoh

Some might be wondering why there's a vacuum, a dearth of sorts, in posts on Teluk Intan food. While Sitiawan's/Manjung's food got the MOST coverage as of late (for reasons undisclosed), even Ipoh's very own lip-smacking goodies took a backseat.

Come to think of it, there's probably NO post at all on Teluk Intan's food here on Motormouth From Ipoh. Hmm ... I gotta repent for my sins. Someday.

Meanwhile, feel free to submit your recommendations for any yummy Teluk Intan food (EXCEPT for Gulam Rasul, THAT famous Liew Kee Chee Cheong Fun, Ah Chai Rojak, and Mastan Ghani) that I may not have knowledge of.

Here's KC in action. Glorified.

That's why I'm making it up with this combination of a post. Killing two birds with one stone, if you will. Firstly, hands up anyone who have heard about Teluk Intan Nasi Pulut (Glutinous Rice) with Prawn, Barbecued Pork (Char Siew), and Curry?

If your hand (or hands, in fits of excitement) shot up faster than Schumacher's adrenaline-charged acceleration, then I can almost guess your age. LOL. I said almost, ok?

Glutinous Rice with Prawn, Char Siew (BBQ Pork Slices), and Curry @ RM3.00

With a strong, long-standing history of dishing out hundreds, thousands, and probably millions of packets of this Nasi Pulut since ~50 years ago (yup, FIFTY!), the stall in Teluk Intan opens daily for business for a mere 2-3 hours only.

From 4am-6am, no less. UnGodly hours eh? Who in the right mind would wake up THAT early to get their fix of sinful glutinous rice?!! But KC (the proprietor for this stall in Ipoh) mentioned that the Nasi Pulut there usually get snapped up within a blink of an eye, literally.

Fried Bihun (Vermicelli Noodles) with Curry Chicken and Char Siew @ RM2.50

Thankfully, this much-loved but under-rated Teluk Intan's delight came to Ipoh not too long ago. Location? Restoran dan Kafe New Weng Fatt in Ipoh Garden South. Sounds familiar? This is also the place for good yet reasonable Western fare come night time, and the capati stall was even featured in the Star last Saturday (click HERE for Alexandra's guilt-free indulgences).

Crispy Fried chicken from KC's stall as well

The first visit to this stall was an un-fruitful one. The Nasi Pulut got sold off real fast, especially on weekends, as it's served for breakfast only. Perseverance paid off, and I went for a second visit not long after, and rewarded with an opportunity to try almost everything KC has to offer.

The Nasi Pulut is served with accompaniment of his brand of caramelized barbecued pork, a whole prawn, and the whole ensemble drenched/drizzled (your call) with curry. Most praiseworthy is the Char Siew here, being a little sweet and roasted to perfection. But more to lean cuts, rather than melt-in-mouth fattier (sinful, albeit unhealthy) versions. The glutinous rice is unlike the sweet nor savoury version, being a cross between both, in fact. Without the curry, the rice is rather bland, therefore the gravy's a must.

KC also serves "Economy Bee Hoon", to be served with curry chicken, with/without Char Siew, or even an extra side serving of fried chicken. Which was no mere pushover itself, being crispy and fragrant, bearing resemblance to Poh Lee's version.

Famous Buntong Beef Noodles

For breakfast at New Weng Fatt, you can also opt for the famed Buntong Beef Noodles (seemingly a branch of the popular one in town; Srimaju Beef Noodles). The wait may be relentless come peak hours (breakfast on a Sunday, for example), but rest assured you'll be served as they're rather organized with their ordering system.

Hearty, warming, and downright Beefy !!!

Sorry, forgot the pricing for this one, but should be in the realm of RM4, if I'm not mistaken. Flavourful broth, with tender slices of beef, and offals, one bowl of this and definitely your day will be perked up in an instance!

Still craving for more? Their Yong Tau Foo (stuffed fish paste) is rather commendable as well, priced from 50cents onwards.

Grab them while you Can!!!

To down all the grease, the guilts, and for that shot of caffeine to start one's morning, go for the Teh C Special, or 3-Layered Milk Tea. A Sarawak import of sorts, I still think the version served here is the BEST, amongst all the others around Ipoh. For RM2 per 'shot', you get a layer of tea, a layer evaporated milk, and a layer of Gula Melaka segregated; awaiting their fate. Of being mixed, and of being slurped. Very milky, a little sweet, and satiate that craving for a good glass of cold milk tea.

But be warned, as there were times when they messed up the tea, sometimes too little milk, sometimes overly sweet. Therefore, cross your fingers and hope for the best. :)

Restoran dan Kafe New Weng Fatt (MAP)

Next change ..... Cameron Highlands Getaway - A Lethal Combination of Work + Play !!!

Meet The Floggers : A Precious (Pea) Story

June 6th, 2009 : Thanks be to the Precious one, who's on such tight schedule recently, warping around eating, gorging, bingeing, swallowing, rampaging, and demolishing every bit of delicious food in sight. And yet STILL remembered her promise on delivering the Hairy Berry to the doorsteps (or rather, vicinity) of that famous Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee in Taman Sri Sentosa.

The icing on the cake? She tagged along not one, not two, not five nor even ten, but FOURTEEN (yup, more than a dozen!) floggers for the event! A not-too-modest breakfast crawl .... of gargantuan proportion's more like it!

Kung Fu Smooth Ban Mee - Even the holy ones flocked to da place for pan mee ..... wait, anchovies/minced pork's not sinful meh?! Or they're there solely for the KUNG FU part?!

And out of the 13 floggers (yours truly not included), I've only met a handful before this. Therefore it was officially my FIRST acquiantance with the other celebrities from the blogosphere.

The Dry version of the famed Kung Fu Pan Mee - Before and After tossing with chilli sauce with a squeeze of lime

Of course, to imagine myself crawling over to this well-hidden outlet in Taman Sri Sentosa is a near impossible task, being a rather lost soul and all. Hence we gathered at SS2, whereby out of the many potentially hazardous-cum-daredevils, 3 were appointed as drivers/chauffeurs to carry the team safely to the desired destination.

The Wet/Soup version of the Pan Mee

Unlike the average version of pan mee (flour noodles) commonly in the form of strands, or uneven blocks (from the 'pinching' action), this version here is as unorthodox as it gets. The noodles is in fact, about an inch or more wide, smooth (hence the given moniker), and very long. Almost too long to be eaten in one slurp. The accompanying bells and whistles ensued; Minced pork, chopped mushrooms, crispy anchovies and tapioca leaves.

Served in either soup or dry version, one can opt for the BIG (RM6) or SMALL (RM5) serving. Condiments include the compulsory chilli sauce and a squeeze of lime.

Pandan Chicken

Of course, one can't be banking on pan mee alone, and wish to satisfy the crowd. They do offer other noodle dishes (which was creatively displayed in their 'menu' of sorts, with photos INSIDE a small album), as well as pandan chicken. Yup, heard that right, the famous Thai signature dish of Pandan leaf-wrapped chicken meat marinated, and deep-fried to perfection. Of course, rather loosely used term here, as looks were deceiving.

Not the most authentic nor delicious version out there, but with a chunkier piece of boneless chicken meat, albeit lacking in flavour.

The lady performing the KUNG FU part of the Kung Fu Pan Mee

Indeed, one might get slightly curious, how can one perform kung fu while cooking a harmless, mild-mannered bowl of pan mee? Of course, the secret Shaolin technique of cooking (or rather, whipping up a storm?) the almighty Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee lies in .............................................

The Stretching Part. Or so it seemed. Since she mentioned that the cooking area's off-limits to nosy, pestering kids (read : us), I could only stood from miles away and watched intently. The dough (yup, the flour noodles were rolled up in a block of dough-like material) was prepared beforehand, then rolled out, stretched, and erm, 'kung-fu-ed' until became flat, long & smooth slabs of pan mee to be cooked in the broth.

Location : Red Tea Junction aka Kung Fu Smooth Pan Mee @ 28, Jalan Seri Sentosa 9A/133, Taman Sri Sentosa, Bt 6 1/2, Jln Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +6016-288 3911 (Jesmond Molly).

Dry Beef Noodles

This being a breakfast crawl (aptly titled : Kung Fu Moo Moo Cow by Pea herself), it was a no-brainer where we headed to next. Yup, something beefy, something stocky .... Beef Noodles.

A wiser choice of Lou Shu Fan (rat's tail noodles/short rice noodles), Bowl of beef balls and offals, and Stewed Beef Brisket with Radish

A thoroughly disappointing affair, save for the beef balls, tripes etc. The mee was a bit off, losing the bouncy/springy texture, and even admitted by the lady boss to be such. The stewed beef briskets with radish looked promising; Rich, dark broth immersing chunks of tender beef briskets and radish. But once again proving looks are NOT everything, the bowl of briskets lost the previous Midas touch, according to Pea. Thankfully, we did not order another bowl to be shared.

Yang Kee Beef Noodles & the Pricelist.

Location : Yang Kee Beef Noodles @ No 52, Jalan Hujan Rahmat 2, Taman OUG, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel No : +603-7784 3739.

Business hours : Tuesday - Saturday 8.30am - 6.00pm. Sundays & public holidays 8.30am - 4.00pm. Mondays are off-days.

So what's NEXT after the double breakfasts?! Let's 'Butter Up the Mic, and Yodel Away?!!

The simple, yet satisfyingly rich butter cake from the OUG wet market. (Thanks Simon! Muahaha .... The consequences of too busy jivin' away to Jai Ho to see his cake disappearing in a flash!!!)

Since Pea and wmw had been giving sc the jitters PRE-karaoke session (hehe), I can't possibly miss a star-studded FREE concert, attended by not only the aforementioned stars, but the localised Jackie Cheung (now exported to Singapore on weekdays) as well!

Only at Neway, baby. And the butter cake from OUG market (click HERE for thenomadGourmand's raves and directions) cleansed the palate really well. With intermittent roars of laughter and rounds of applause courtesy of those 'priceless' performances, one just couldn't help but wished that the curtain did not call.

And after much screaming and screeching, we adjourned to our last stop, the Otak-Otak Place at One Utama. The half an hour wait for their 3pm Tea-Time Specials was hilarious, with us spending time playing Happy Family (bet some of you techies have no recollection whatsoever of this classic card game) while waiting.

And that's a wrap, folks.

List of Attendees (in no particular order) :

Precious Pea - The organizer, the celebrated and the one with 2 dogs, and soon a kangaroo.

wmw - Don't scold me for my Houdini disappearances. Least I stayed til the END that day?

Boo-licious - The idol. Nuff said.

Jason - Ipoh Mali, and far from Sombong. P/S : Rmbr the CENDOL post ok?!

Citygal - one half of that cute couple, kampungboycitygal, and from Ipoh as well.

Nic - Extraordinaire of a photographer, striving for perfection in every shot.

Simon Seow - Wacky guy, with flawless just-wake-up hair!

Unkaleong - ANOTHER Ipoh guy, and far from being an uncle, nick's misleading sometimes.

Rebecca - The nomad gourmand, who discovered the butter cake.

Foodcookies - Serene whom I first met in Cheras ages ago.

SC - Savvy traveller/backpacker, serial when it comes to BKK. Help! Can't find myself a room lah, sc ... be needing your help REAL soon.

Kusashikeat - Another Ipoh guy! Wow ... I'm amazed. Now if I can only remember where's the dim sum restaurant he mentioned ....

Tankiasu - A sexy beast. on the Xanga platform.