Retired Falcon
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 1,168
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Hi Kayes, Soon Fatt serves very good old style dim sum with no frills. You should also try the Sang Meen (Crispy Deep Fried Mee). I think they only operate in the morning and from evening onwards. They also have Voo Kok, Kai Sow, Siew Pow and Egg Tart. Drool!!!
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Ken Chan
Registered: July 2008
Location: Chicago. IL, USA
Posts: 1,170
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November 24, 2008 10:29pm
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Hi Joe,
I am a fan of old style dim sum too. These tasty morsels are not as refine and dainty as Hong Kong style dim sum but I like them chunky because I can really sink my teeth into those meaty pieces. As far as I can remember, Soon Fatt is one of the few surviving old style dim sum restaurants that has been around since the 1950's. Another famous purveyor of old style dim sum is Hoong Toh Restaurant in Leech Street, across from the coffee shop that is famous for white coffee. I am not sure if this restaurant is still open for business but my folks really like their food, and their porridge is very famous too. In fact, there are three other very popular old style dim sum places along Anderson Road and Clare Street but sadly, all three had closed for good many years ago. Kam Loong and Toh Yuen were located next to each other, at the intersection of Anderson Road and Clare Street (where Wisma Kamdar is situated). Chee Kong was located in Clare Street, on the same row of shophouses where the Cold Storage (now McDonalds) was. During its heyday, these three restaurants were the mainstay of Ipoh's dim sum circuit. On weekends when I don't need to go to school, my dad would wake me up at the crack of dawn and take me to 'yum char' at one of these restaurants. Incidentally, there is also a Toh Yuen Restaurant in Penang's Campbell Street and this is still a popular place for old style dim sum.
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Retired Falcon
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 1,168
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November 24, 2008 11:22pm
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Hi Ken, thanks for reminding me of Kam Loong and Toh Yuen. I totally forgot about them. Yes, they were very popular joints for their dim sum in those days. The Hoong Toh restaurant is still around but folks seem to bypass it these days. I remember another restaurant near the old Majestic theatre called Diamond restaurant which was famous for their char siew pau. Sadly, the place has been flattened so we are left with only a few old style restaurants in Ipoh.
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hokin
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 118
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There use to be another old style dim sum place, the corner shop across from the market and behind Yik Foong Complex. I cannot remember its name. It use to be the haunt for night birds or those who just finishrd their night shift. It gets busy just before midnight and stays open until the wee hours.
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Ken Chan
Registered: July 2008
Location: Chicago. IL, USA
Posts: 1,170
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Joe, Diamond restaurant is not only famous for char siew pau, its voo kok is good too. In those days, late evening dim sum was very popular and places like Kong Chow (near Odeon) and Diamond were flourishing with night time crowds. Now, I don't think there are many restaurants that sell dim sum at night. Hokin, thanks for jolting my memory about that old style dim sum place in Laxamana Road near Yik Foong Complex. I can never remember the name of the restaurant but this place comes alive after 9.00 pm and it would be swinging after 12 midnight when the 'night fever' crowds start to trickle in. Most of us who have done the club circuit would adjourn there for a nightcap before calling it a night. Joe, I am sure you are pretty familiar with this restaurant too. Is this place still 'staying alive' now?
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Retired Falcon
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 1,168
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Ken & Hokin, I used to frequent that corner shop in Laxamana Road because of its Voo Kok. I would be there at the stroke of midnight to buy it because thats the time when the voo kok comes out fresh. The guy who used to man that shop looked like a Sumo wrestler and had a loud voice. That area was a happening area for the night birds with kai keok, dim sum and curry mee. Sadly this shop has changed hands and I have to go elsewhere to look for voo kok.
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kayes
Registered: July 2008
Location: Penang Malaysia
Posts: 4,807
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Joe, you rang a big bell! I now remember that shop in Laxamana Road when you mentioned the Sumo guy  I used to eat there if I don't have the kai keok after a bout of booze, usually well past midnight.
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Retired Falcon
Registered: August 2008
Posts: 1,168
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Yes Kayes hehe. That Sumo guy always wore his singlet rolled up to his chest. He's actually a nice guy except that his voice is booming. Somehow, after a bout of booze, the kai keok always tasted nice.
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kc73
Registered: September 2009
Location: SG
Posts: 89
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September 28, 2009 8:26pm
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Hah Chay Seng famous for paper mercedes burn for those dead...
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Orange
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 3,163
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September 29, 2009 9:28pm
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The shop keepers from Hah Chay Seng are very well versed with "Tong Sing". Mum used to consult them for those auspicious times and dates for "Spring Cleaning"; cleansing of the praying alter; to "welcome the God of Prosperity" on Chinese New Year Eve and many more. They are the friendlier lot. Wonder how they are doing now with many households switch to electric candles instead of the traditional red wax candles. But then again, those red wax candles are only a small fraction of the many items sold in this shop. We have a family friend had to close down his wax candles factory in Jelapang due to the low demand.
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Ken Chan
Registered: July 2008
Location: Chicago. IL, USA
Posts: 1,170
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September 29, 2009 10:04pm
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Hi Orange,
Some of these old Chinese shops are born survivors and they seem to be around forever. As for Hah Chay Seng, there will always be a ready market for all the 'sembayang' paraphernalia they sell. They not only deal with goods for the dead; during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, the whole shop is decked with lanterns of all shapes and size, and it is quite a sight to behold.
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Orange
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 3,163
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September 29, 2009 10:17pm
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Hi Ken,
If I remember correctly, the shop next to Hah Chay Seng used to sell the same stuff. The name was "Fook Seng" if I am not mistaken.
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Ken Chan
Registered: July 2008
Location: Chicago. IL, USA
Posts: 1,170
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September 29, 2009 10:38pm
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Hi Orange,
At one time, there were three shops that are in the same type of business in that block. In addition to Hah Chay Seng, and Fook Seng, the 3rd shop is Heng Kee (New Pinyin Spelling Xin Ki). I am quite familiar with that area because I am a fan of old style dim sum and Soon Fatt Restaurant is quite famous for that.
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kc73
Registered: September 2009
Location: SG
Posts: 89
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September 30, 2009 12:09am
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there is another shop forard down ...opp the pasar besar....near the lorong...my parent use to buy lantern from there...
beside the lor got one tai kau meen in the morning
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kc73
Registered: September 2009
Location: SG
Posts: 89
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September 30, 2009 8:34pm
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this shop row at the left last shop famous for egg tarts and sak kei mah....
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Orange
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 3,163
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Hi kc73,
Are the 'Tai Kau Meen' you mentioned are those baked in big flat wok with lot of crashed groundnuts srpinkled on top. Love this type of 'Tai Kau Meen' but not those baked in small wok with fillings like corns and coconut. Wonder they modified them. Food just like songs; always prefer the original version. Love the version of "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush even though Celion Dion is my favourite singer.
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kc73
Registered: September 2009
Location: SG
Posts: 89
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hi orange
yup they baked in the big flat wok....my dad after breakfast at foh san on the way back will stop at the road side opp great eastern building
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Orange
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 3,163
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A relative from China who was born during the 70's joined us for 'Hung Ching' (praying to ancestors). He was surprised there are many practices (for praying to ancestors) which he himself has not seen in China but they are still being observed here in Malaysia. Offering roast piglet at the graveyard is one of them. He told us people in China don't have this ritual.
Our elders here always remind us when choosing paper clothes to be burned during 'Ching Meng', make double sure female clothes for female and vice verse. The receiver's name and sender's name must be clearly and accurately written - so that those paper clothes can be recieved.
Through a Chinese medium, a complaint was conveyed to us: "As for shoes, don't send 'Pei Hai' (leather shoes)!" It was indeed a mistake for sending those paper leather shoes to this relative who spent his entire life in kopitiam. Patrons to kopitiam may wear leather shoes but the one who takes orders or sends 'kopi' and 'roti bakar' doesn't. It's mere common sense and we have since stop sending paper leather shoes after that complaint!
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Orange
Registered: February 2009
Posts: 3,163
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'Hung Ching' is also known as 'Bye Sun' - 'Bye' is to pray and 'Sun' is tomb.
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