A Mid-CNY Post - How 'bout some Capati & Mee Rebus Ramli instead?

This year's CNY celebration may be slightly on the sombre mood, what's more with blatant intrusion of human rights (aka killing without mercy) over at the Mid-East & the economic turmoil that's looming over our helpless heads. But still, there's always a silver lining somewhere on the horizon, I believe ....

Birch Memorial Clock Tower @ Old Town, Ipoh

For those celebrating the festive season, I highly doubt any has yet to 'Lou Sang', or stuffed their faces full with either extravagant (read : exorbitant) Chinese dishes at the restaurants, homecooked fare, or even hawker food (prices a tad inflated, no less).

Fluffy capati and milky teh tarik @ Medan Selera Dato Sagor

What if you're 'trapped' in Ipoh, for a week or more this CNY holidays, and slowly (but surely) starting to get sick of Chinese food? No brickbats, please!!

Still reeling from all the indulging, here's a short post on simple Indian and Malay food in Ipoh. Which, by the way, was what I ate on the same day, last week.

Medan Selera Dato Sagor is a very famous place for halal food under one roof, housing more than 15 stalls (at least) selling a variety of nasi campur, nasi lemak, every type of mee imaginable, roti and kuih, as well as Indian food. Located in Old Town area of Ipoh, right behind the Ipoh town hall, the food court like diner occupies a rather spacious lot, next to the Birch Memorial Clock Tower. Come join the crowd for breakfast, and treat yourself to a cup of teh tarik, or kopi-o kau, accompanied by either a capati, roti bakar with half-boiled eggs, or nasi lemak.

Location : Medan Selera Dato Sagor @ Jalan Dato Sagor, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. Got MAP!!! (From Ipoh Utara PLUS highway exit, using Jln Kuala Kangsar).

Mee Rebus Ramli @ Jln Kuala Kangsar, Tmn Tasek Jaya, Ipoh

As for lunch, since we were on a roll, we opted for Malay food instead for lunch. The hype surrounding Mee Rebus Ramli was evident, ever since they started business some years ago, now they have 3 branches all over Ipoh (do correct me if I'm wrong, ok?).

With a name like that, surely you don't need hint as to what's their signature item is. The safest choice? Mee Rebus.

A satisfying bowl of Mee Rebus at RM3.50.

With those luscious thick gravy that's slightly spicy, and sweet, accentuated by the tangy lime squeezed DIY, and brimming full with ingredients such as the compulsory potatoes, chopped green chillies, spring onions, yummy fritters, and of course, ONE whole egg sliced into pieces.

All for a mere RM3.50. If you're thinking ... nah, just another Mee Rebus/Mee Jawa clone, you're half right, half wrong. Yup, it looks like another run-of-the-mill Mee Rebus, albeit served in a bowl, but tastewise, it's gotta be one of the better ones around. Even the yellow noodles did not contain the annoying/repulsive alkaline taste.

Do ask for the fritters to be served separately, as they tend to get soggy very fast. Or better yet, ask for EXTRAS. They're good when crunchy and dunked into the gravy. Slurp them up!!!

Btw, their Nasi Ayam is delicious as well, though white rice is served. At RM4.20 per plate, you get a generous chunk of chicken, with their killer chilli sauce and gravy combination. Plus a bowl of soup. Other items include chicken/lamb chops, laksa, etc.

Location : Mee Rebus Ramli @ 767, Taman Tasek Jaya, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 31400 Ipoh, Perak. Tel No : 605-547 2026. Opens daily from morning til night. Got MAP !!!

Now, let me retract back to my nest and hibernate for the remaining week ...... Holidays are no doubt, god-sent. Happy Chinese New Year !!!

The Southern Escapade (Johor Bahru) - Part 2

Really apologetic for the lack of updates the last few days. Spent the weekend (and then some) over in KL, a "getaway" of sort for me, from the mundane, routine life here in Ipoh. Though come to think of it, other than the FOOD, and shopping, what else is there in KL? Hmmm, ponder on THAT ... =)

Continuation from Part 1 of The Southern Escapade (Johor) ....

The ZON Regency Hotel ... (Geez, the management seriously owe me some promo wages !!!)

KAFE ENAMPULUHAN - Opens from evening onwards (not sure the actual operating hours)

A short post, as I've to UNpack, and then REpack for another trip up north, to Hulu Perak district for 2 days starting tomorrow. And I was about to lament on my backache from long rides. Sigh ....

Mee Rebus Stulang Laut (RM3.50?)

One of Johor's specialty is the Mee Rebus at Stulang Laut. Yup, it's famous enough to warrant Jeff Ooi's attention. (Click HERE for his take). Mee Rebus is basically yellow alkaline noodles in sweet-curry gravy with lots of potatoes for a thickened consistency. (Still in doubt, click HERE). One familiar sibling of this is Mee Jawa.

So, what makes the Mee Rebus in Johor Bahru stand out from the rest? The loads of fritters sprinkled liberately on top, for one. Delivering crunch and fragrance to the otherwise lacklustre noodles, this simple, unpretentious, supporting character is the STAR of this dish. The gravy is not spicy at all, but rather a tad sweetish. But on a bearable scale, no worries. Squeeze some lime, mix them up well, and slurp away. Good stuff. No wonder people throng this restaurant til no end ....

Otak-otak Kempas (50 cents each)

Still remember my April excursion to JB? Where me and my colleagues had seemingly unlimited supply of Otak-Otak (click for explanation). Yup, this delicacy has various transformation in various states/countries (M'sia, Indonesia and S'pore serve them). Even Johor has TWO, a version from Muar, and another named Kempas. The ones served here is the latter, bloody red in colour, but very addictive in nature. Before you know it, you would've popped a few.

Shop away at the duty-free zone at erm, The ZON. (no pun intended)

The hotel is located within the duty-free zone, therefore a duty-free shopping complex is directly situated inside the hotel itself. Chocolates and liquor are good bargain, (especially the latter, as cans of beer go for less than RM4). Needless to say, KYT made a deal with the devil, the lure of alcohol somehow got him ending up with a few. =P

Sigh ..... that's all this fatigued mind, and restless fingers could manage for the night. Further updates on JB (and of course, the July KL Mini-Food Tour) in upcoming posts. Now, I can get back to my UNpacking and REpacking activity. Oh, what fun ...