Gopeng Laifun 务边四会濑粉

Tired of all the cafes and western joints, sometimes I yearn for a simple lunch. Yet, on a Friday long lunch break, I would hope for a nice shop to lepak a bit longer. Gopeng Laifun in Bercham seems to fit the description. Located across Tesco Bercham, it is among the row of relatively new shop facing the main road.

Entering the shop impress me. The owner really put in effort in collecting old items for the retro decoration. We had seen many similar items in other boutiques cafe, but there are one or two things that I had not seen since my childhood, for example the "tikam-tikam" (lottery) game where we spent multiples of 10 cents in front of grocery shop. Not all of my friend even seen these boards at all.

Then comes the menu. Even though it is suppose to be a straight forward noodle shop, but the menu offers different sets with different combination with different add-on that it became so confusing. My friends needed the waiter to help fill in the orders. Luckily the staffs are patient enough to help us through it. Essentially, the list is noodle with different "liu"'s. On top of the list would be the famous laifun. I ordered the mince sauce dry laifun (RM4.30) served with minced pork, while the set of soup laifun plus add on comes to RM9.90. Most of us would find that the noodle and soup is nothing to shout about. Comparing to the ones I had previously tasted in Gopeng (vaguely recalled the market ones and the "big water pipe" place), this version pales in comparison. I even prefer the ones I had in my hometown Kampar market which is served with a simple soup and deep fried taufu. I could still recall eating those cheap bowl of laifun with roasted pork bought in other stall. Laifun, to me, has a different kind of consistency but the version here clearly is bought from generic factory which lacks the after taste.

However, for dining experience, this is a place to start and a place to have a decent meal without breaking the budget. Not all would like to hang out on a long lunch break in roadside stalls. I would still want to see some improvement on the noodle but I have to admit that to eat the authentic laifun, this may not be the place.

ratings: 2 half poink~!
comments: nice place to hang out. I lowered the poink since I expect some nostalgia with my bowl of noodle, but was disappointed of it. Typing this prompted me to go out and get a bowl in the market this weekend.

Gopeng Laifun
30, bercham Bistari 1
Medan Bercham Bistari
Ipoh
05-5412418

Tea place: regularly average

This will be a short review, since this is a short visit to this relatively new joint. Come to think about it, it had been long time since I really eaten outside (minus the family gathering in our usual Chinese restaurant). After our 31st Dec shopping in Tesco Bercham, we decide to go around the area for supper. Coincidentally, my friend's clinic is just beside this shop. Am unsure whether how long this shop had been functioning, but it look decent and new enough for me.

Tea Place is situated in the row of shop opposite Tesco Bercham. This is the same row that house 2+1 Steam Boat Buffet at the corner. From outside, the layout looks like the usual Taiwanese dessert house. Inside, it felt more like any other cafe. This has to be one of the most spacious eateries I have ever been to. Service is fast, considering the small crowd even prior to the new year countdown. I would not blame the patrons, since this is a relatively quiet part of Bercham. The most happening place this side is Giant Bercham, and everyone know that the branch here is a dying one.

The menu is the usual kopitiam fare minus the focus on bread and coffee. Instead, one will find the focus on Taiwanese dessert. The usual bubble tea and ice shave. The food on the other hand is more Malaysian with the usual fried noodle, nasi lemak and rice varieties. We ordered Tornado sensation (RM6.50), which mimics the dessert from Black Ball. With flavored shaved ice as base, just add different toppings to come out with this combination. However, the combination felt bit short of expectation, and felt more like eating toppings with mouthful of ice. Black Ball, on the other hand, is more superior (though not perfect) with the topping and the ice tasting as a single dessert. On the other hand, the fried kueitiao  (RM 5.90) is one of the better version. Though simple, like any other "da cao" stall, it taste quite good with good taste and enough "wok hei". Even by finishing the whole dish, one would not felt too bloated, unlike some cook who used to much oil.

It is still an average shop at best. The good thing here is the ample parking space for all patrons. If I stay in this part of town, I may come here at times for a good supper with comfortable seats.

ratings: 2 half poink~!
comments: good food make up for poor dessert.

Tea Place
42-1, Bercham Bistari 1,
Medan Bercham Bistari, Ipoh.
05-5492352

Lu Shi Fu: nothing to shout about except the comfort

Braised pork or the variant with taufu or chicken seems to be popular among our southern neighbour Singaporeans; but somehow did not manage to find its niche in central area like Ipoh or Kampar. However, it is still possible to find rather good braised pork in some stalls, especially some notable food court.

6 in 1 set meal

Lu Shi Fu, as the name suggested, is supposedly to be the master of its trade. Situated in Bercham Glamour Square, it is in the corner of the complex beside what used to be WongKam food court. The same complex  hosts the laser tag game centre in its building.

From the outside, the restaurant looks rather welcoming and clean. Decorated with lanterns which gave the far eastern feel, and with multiple warm colours, eating here is rather very comfortable. Coupled with the ever attentive staff, and nicely air conditioned ventilation; no wonder even students come here for lunch. It is supposedly open everyday in lunch and dinner time, resting only on Tuesday.

The menu is essentially braised pork and different variant of it. Think of the braised sauce with taufu, chicken, duck and egg. For the more adventurous, try braised pork intestine. Eat it with rice or porridge. When my order came, they even served it on top of a burning (literally) small wok to keep the heat. That is rather thoughtful of them. The portion is rather small for me but then again, it may be suffice for someone who ate less. The price is not too expensive, surprisingly, given the comfortable surroundings. Expect RM4 onwards for the basic braised dishes. Braised pork served with egg, taufu and rice costs RM6.80. My selection was a 6 in 1 combo with braised pork, intestine, chicken, duck, taufu, egg served with rice which costs RM 9.90. It did appeared nice on the menu but just expect 2-3 piece of each. The braised sauce is not the best I had in Ipoh/ Kampar. The pork is not bad, with the correct proportion of fat and meat. The chicken and duck are rather average, expect the usual chicken/ duck rice with braised sauce kind of taste. The intestine is OK, but the egg is evidently not "braised" long enough, and the taste rather bland.

Overall, the taste is really average with nothing memorable. However, dining here is really comfortable and with the ample parking, making this place still a fair choice to dine in.

ratings: 2 half poink!
comments: nothing to shout about. except the comfort, and the ample easy parking space.

Lu Shi Fu
Plot 16G, Glamour Square
Commercial Centre
Taman Bercham Jaya
Ipoh

La Vita coffee: unexpected place for fine dining

This will be a short one. The restaurant is not open for a very long time, the menu is still new. And hopefully they will make some adjustment to the whole pricing. La vita, situated at the corner on a row of shop in Bercham, is a new addition to the choice of food in the area. Look for the row of shops with banks, perpendicular to the main road, this is just next to a former vegetarian shop. 

The menu is true to fine dining. Since the menu is still new, I will concentrate to what is there. I chose the signature breakfast (RM25.90) over breakfast set (RM18.90) or light breakfast (RM13.90). Well, you get the idea. The food is good. However, I am still scratching over my head that would I pay for it a second time.  And given that I am eating in Bercham, would I prefer to eat in a simple stall that would cost a fraction of the price? The logic is the food has to be really good to stand in this location and have people travelling here for the western cuisine rather than the usual fried noodle or roasted pork. The foot long sausage taste good but frankly, is not the best I tasted. I would prefer a good German sausage anytime. The toast is what I would expect, toasted well with bit on the crispy side. The scramble egg is cooked with a tinge of herbs but still taste conventional. Baked beans is ... well, beans. The beef salami is only a thin slice but then again, I am not a fan of salami anyway.

Being a new place, the food is cook real slow. So expect to spend a long while here if coming in a group. However, the place is comfortable so I would not spend the whole Friday lunch here. The only thing that still bugged me until the end of this review is still the price. Then again, I am a real China-man. 

ratings: 2 half poink!

comments: anyone who knows me would know that on I seldom pay that much for food. A friend kept on telling me that free food taste better, in the same argument, would expensive food taste lesser then? 

Ray of Hope: sometimes, it is more than food

 I first heard of Ray of Hope from my grandaunt, I was surprised. Then with some search on the internet; I am further impressed with the settings; with CIMB and Hong Leong bank on board, this place should be a gem.

cheese tarts: simple and nice

The place, however, is not easy to find. Even with the map; and GPS coordinate, it is still hidden. Therefore, do some googling before embarking to find this place. One of the easier way is from Aeon (JJ) to Bercham; you would definitely bound to come pass this place. If you are coming from Bercham, it is hidden behind WongKam food court, go beyond the residential area, heading towards Ipoh Garden, one will pass by some shop lots beside 2 big fields, this cafe is tucked in the corner. However, they are only open from 0900 to late tea time so make sure do not come here for dinner.

Thai fried rice: not so thai though

Something about Ray of Hope. It is essentially a foundation to train less fortunate group. In one of the section had been renovated to serve as a cafe. As far as I know, there is a small bakery beside the cafe as well. The trainee will serve as waiter and waitress beside helping out in the kitchen. So do not be surprise when they actually come to serve you and take your orders. And they are friendly too!

The deco is homely, simplistic and that works well. Service may not be as fast, but it is the heart that matter most. The smile they show is straight from the heart; and that itself, should make the trip here worth it.

cheese baked rice

The menu is essentially western and local. The usual western fare of chicken chop and pasta is there. I manage to come on 2 different occasions and if strictly speaking on food; they fare from good, decent to much room to improve. The western dish is okay, I guess. One of the one we tried was cheese bake rice, which is not so much cheese flavoured. It tasted more like nasi pattaya. The cheese taste was bit too subtle for me. Then again, cheese bake rice is not a true western fare either. The local dish is better on average. The other day, I tried their nasi lemak with rendang ayam (RM5.50), and frankly, that was one of the better rendang I tasted. It suit the nasi lemak well. My friend Ngou tried seafood crispy egg noodle (RM5.00) and his comment was good. Tried their Thai fried rice however it tasted more like nasi goreng kampung though. Then again, it is still nice though.

The dessert is more consistent I guess. The cheese tart are quite good as dessert or even starters. Last but not least is their bakery product. Not exactly the best but definitely decent, and nice.

Overall, if good food is all that you are looking for, then maybe there are many more cafe who serve better food. But then again, if you want good food served and cook with a heart, there is no better place than here.



ratings: 3 poink! (considering the food, and the nice place; if considering the whole concept, the place do deserve a higher ratings)
comments: It is the experience that counts. Food sometimes, is secondary.

Cafe Ray of Hope
26, Persiaran Bercham Selatan 31,
Taman Sri Kurau, Ipoh
05-5488796

Good Taste Chef: bakuteh for lunch is always nice

It is always a puzzle where to get nice lunch for the long Friday lunch breaks. So, I could not resist having pork for lunch; in addition to that it is not that far in Bercham. I did not manage to get the full address, but look for WongKam food
court in Bercham (after Tesco/ Giant if coming from the main highway road); next to it is a big semi empty complex which supposedly is an IT centre. On the ground floor, and it is not hard to find, tucked in a corner is this Bakuteh shop, Good Taste Chef.

Having spend a year in Klang where we try to taste all kind of Bakuteh there, I have my doubts about bakuteh elsewhere. This shop is rather well kept with easy to understand menu, but still lacking the local flavour in Klang where by we eat at roadside stall and everyone share a common kettle for tea, with the gas tong just beside you. Then again, one could not complain about a clean shop, right?!. Anyway, there is set lunch available, good to feed 4-5 persons which cost more than RM10 per person depending what you add.

First the basic bakuteh, they are rather generous with the meats, and I always enjoy the fat part to take with the soup. But alas, the soup lacks the kick, and tasted bit mild for my taste bud. I always enjoy the last bakuteh before any stall close shop because those are the ones with the most tasty bit with the soup boiling whole night with the meat. This, is definitely still lack in that part. The vegetable is good enough. The good part, is the dry bakuteh, which is relatively new to local arena. It actually taste quite good, not too hot but spicy enough to take with rice. It tasted bit like pork cooked with salted fish (hamyu falam) minus the salted fish.

Overall, it is a nice place. I enjoy the dry more than the normal bakuteh. Then again, it may be just me.

rating: 3 poink!

comments: not the best, but I would still come back for the dry bakuteh.

*not sure open not for dinner but certainly for lunch