Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Ipoh Food Frenzy In 4.5 Hours, Dai Shu Geok - Part 1

When bro picked me up from the airport last Friday noon, he asked me to join him and Spare Change for a day trip to Ipoh on Monday. I wasn't too sure whether I would be coping well with the change of the hot climate and hours after being away for two months and told him that I'll let him know later.

Fast forward to Monday early morning....there I was, hopping into bro's car for a day trip. So, straight from San Francisco, I now bring you Ipoh food! We clocked in 7 food stops (there would have been more if not for some of the places being closed!) in total within 4.5 hours in Ipoh - no, we didn't eat at all of them, there were some stops for take away goodies. It will take me longer to blog on all the stops we made than the actual time spent in Ipoh that day! Hahaha...

First Stop - Dai Shu Geok (Big Tree Foot)

Having called Motormouth just the night before, he told me that he'll meet up with us for lunch but since we arrived during brunch time at around 11, he joined us at our intended first stop in Ipoh...curry noodles at Yee Fatt...which was closed (not open on Mondays). We then adjourned to the next venue suggested by Motormouth, Big Tree Foot - Dai Shu Geok.

Well, I have been to Dai Shu Geok during one of my earlier Ipoh visit but had gone to the newer extension rather than to the original spot. This time round, we chose the original as I've not eaten at this place yet. Well, we knew the most of the famous eating places in Ipoh would be packed since it was a public holiday but we had no idea how packed it would be till we arrived at this place.

The crowd at Dai Shu Geok - Big Tree Foot

Busy, Busy, Busy

It was a really busy, busy place - almost a madhouse (or mad shack!). There was an endless stream of customers lining up jostling for pole position to get to the goodies that were placed before them. I left the task of picking the Yong Tow Foo/Yong Liew to the over 6 foot tall Spare Change as he definitely had the advantage and could reach out with his longer hands too! Hey, whatever it takes to get 'em (I stood behind him, assisting in carrying the goodies laden bowls whenever we filled one up). It was a case of "you snooze, you lose"! On the side, one staff would be frying up batch after batch of Yong Liew while another would be busy cooking noodles, plate after plate, bowl after bowl.

Then proceed to the left if you're doing take away or to the right if you're eating there. A staff took our noodle orders and table number and placed the paper onto one of the three filled bowls we had, using one of the Yong Liew as a paperweight :o)

Fried Yong Tow Foo a.k.a. Yong Liew
A closer look at the fried goodies - Yong Liew as those locals in Ipoh would call them


Red Bean Ice & Corn Ice Drinks
As we waited for our food, we ordered Red Bean Ice & Corn Ice (RM3 each) to quench our thirst.

Fried Carrot Cake
Bro who was really hungry ordered a plate of fried carrot cake (which definitely arrived way earlier). This dish was actually quite good - ample beansprouts, daikon, egg and spring onion for garnishing, the fried carrot cake pieces were firm and had good wok hei.

Dry Curry Hor Fun (Flat Noodles)
Finally, our order of Dry Curry Hor Fun (Flat Noodles) came. It was lovely to look at and turned out to be tasty too. Mixing the noodles in the dark sauce with the curry gravy, the aromatic whiff told me that it was gonna be good. The noodles were al dente and smooth - we all nodded in agreement while chewing and proceeded to eat the rest of the meal in silence. It was either that it was good or 'cos we were just too hungry! Hahaha.... Oh, put the sambal chilli on the side though before you mix it as it's on the salty side - you wouldn't want your noodles to be overpowered by the sambal. This goodie is a steal at RM1.20!

Fried Yong Tow Fow a.k.a Yong Liew
Of course, one would definitely have to try the fried Yong Liew here, especially the Fried Stuffed Turnip (bottom right in pic above)! Not as greasy one might expect of fried food, the fried Yong Liew here is crispy and wonderfully fragrant. The Fried Stuffed Turnip/Sar Kok Liew, a mix of turnip, flour and "other secret ingredients" wrapped in bean curd skin (foo chook) is clearly my favourite amongst the lot and takes primary place above all the other goodies including the noodles.

Prices
Check out the prices! RM0.50 per piece of Yong Tow Foo/Yong Liew. Take note of the operating hours too...

Big Tree Foot (Dai Shu Geok)
located behind Tuck Kee Restaurant
Jalan King, Pasir Pinji,
31650 Ipoh, Perak

Read Spare Change's take on the Ipoh Frenzy HERE


The Food Frenzy Continues ... Stay Tuned for Part 2




25 comments:

boo_licious said...

Sar Kok Liew!!!!!!! Yums, my absolute fav and Tai Shi Kiok does it so well. Can't wait to read the other entries, Ipoh is always my fav place for food.

Anonymous said...

most of the YTF (or Liew) stalls all around Ipoh (and then some) are serving the sar kok liew.
but tai shu keok does the BEST version. the other one near to poh lee pasir pinji also does a rather good sar kok liew.

next time ok? :)

Anonymous said...

really fav stop for ppl who loves Liu....EAGER TO see what's other Ipoh food you guys have!!!

ilene said...

Ah...here comes my Malaysian food guide! So nice to have you blogging on food back home. Can't wait for Ipoh mali, part 2.

jason said...

Hahaha, you said the place looked dirty, but that's the charm!

Must must must have my fav sar kok liew when I go back next month.

minchow said...

Wow no break from food tripping huh?? That fried lor bak kou looks stupendous! I swear my heart stopped when I saw that pic! I want some now!!

wmw said...

Boo : Yah lah, the best yong liew I've tasted. Plus you know I don't like the fishy stuff, this one is just my type!

J2Kfm : Too bad, had to make space in the tummy for other food, else would have eaten more sar kok liew! Next time, yes, surely there's a next time!

Simple Girl : Yes, can see by the crowd, lots of us love it! Hahaha...

Ilene : Stay tuned! :o)

Jason : It wasn't me who said it was dirty, my friend lah...I have no problems with this place. Just don't ask me to eat near a rubbish dump! :p

Minchow : Yes, enough of everything! That's the beauty...

New Kid on the Blog said...

you know what?? until today I still can't find where is this place!!!! grrrrr.....

ai wei said...

wa... 7 food stops in 4.5 hours! we didn't manage that. we were here for yong liew too. it was a great one. too bad, their business is too good. we managed not much variety...

HairyBerry said...

wah liao wei, u really terror la. from san fran to kl to ipoh. *respect* ipoh is one of those places that i must go cari makan one day!

~Christine~Leng said...

it was our first encounter with LIEW in Ipoh. usually call them YTF.. haha
7 stops in 4.5hours? amazing!
We stopped by dai shu geok too!

foodbin said...

i spied char sar kot.

wmw said...

NKOTB : You go Ipoh often? Never call on the floggers there?

Ai Wei : You all were there for 3 days right? How envious! ;p

Nic : Yes, Ipoh/Malacca/Seremban...can go cari makan!

Christine : Wasn't the Sar Kot liew nice???? Yummy!

foodbin : You spied correctly! :o)

New Kid on the Blog said...

not that frequent anymore. calling ipoh floggers? no time for that, unless stay there for couple of days.

Kenny Mah said...

You are truly a food blogger's food blogger lah, WMW. Back from San Fran and already off on a day trip to Ipoh. Salut! :)

Cynthia said...

I really have to turn my dream of visiting your neck of the woods into reality.

sc said...

very very nice! and so wonderful to have a makan trip immediately after you return!

iamthewitch said...

OMG! Never have I seen THAT many people queuing up just for YTF! This place has got to be good :)

Rebecca Saw said...

Ipoh!
Darn..so long didnt go makan there di..and my Melaka trip been postphoned for like the 4th time!

wmw said...

NKOTB : Don't need to spend a long time in Ipoh to call on them, I was there just 4.5 hours!

LFB : Yes, life is wonderful! :o)

Cynthia : Come visit Malaysia...I'm sure a bunch of us can take you on a food adventure!

SC : Hey there....we still have an outstanding k appointment! Hahaha...

iamthewitch: Oh yes, you gotta try this place for the fried yong liew, especially the sar kot liew!

thenomadGourmand : Ah, I'm planning to go to Malacca next! Good food there too...but more gems in Ipoh :o)

Unknown said...

haha u guys are really good! quan fang curry noodles was closed on monday too

Simon Seow said...

Good food in very affordable price. That's why it's so popular here.

wmw said...

KBCG : Wish I had more time/more food like you all did! :p

Simon : You said it! ....Simon Says...Hahaha...

Bumblebee said...

Hey, good to see Ipoh food being publicised. The only thing is that not many people know how to find them except when there are locals to lead them. There's a very famous 'chee cheong fun' stall not too far from the big tree at Pasir Pinji. Well, famous amongst the locals anyway and we visit every time we are home without fail. You have to get a number (their way of a queing system) and normally one has to wait up to at least an hour plus to get served. So normally we get our number and then go to the big tree to eat first and come back to the chee cheong fun stall. It's worth every minute's wait though.:)

wmw said...

Bumblebee : Thanks...will take note. CCF is my favourite food! :o)