Keng Nam Curry Mee

Ipoh Curry Mee

Located in Jalan Yang Kalsom, Kedai Kopi Keng Nam is one of the best in town which serves tasty Ipoh Curry Mee. Usually busy on the weekend, it is advisable that you come early to get a place. Be quick as curry mee will be sold out by 11am usually due to overwhelming response.

Sticky Kaya Glutinous Rice

While wanting, perhaps one can try the sticky kaya glutinous rice as a starter. This little appetizer may look simple but it will land you in cloud nine as you take your first bite.

'Kedai Kopi Keng Nam' is situated at the end of Jalan Yang Kalsom. It is very near to the Ipoh City Hall Complex at Greentown.

After a sumptuous meal, perhaps a short visit to the distance missionary school Main Convent, Ipoh will be a good way of discovering the legacy left behind by the missionaries? MC is just few blocks away from Kedai Kopi Keng Nam.

Restaurant Keng Nam

Name: Kedai Kopi Keng Nam.Location: Jalan Yang Kalsom.Operation Hour: Morning until Afternoon.

Ipoh Curry Mee

Curry noodle has been a synonymous food in Malaysia and Singapore. While some called it Curry Laksa, we the folks of Ipoh simply called it Ipoh Curry Mee.



The Ipoh Curry Mee is different from the KL's in the sense that Ipoh curry mee has more spices and stronger aroma. While KL curry mee is stuffed with 'tau fu pok' and cockle, Ipoh Curry Mee is enriched with roasted pork, shredded chicken and of course, fresh cockle.

The roasted pork is not only delicious but crispy and tentalising as well. Shredded chicken is just cooked to perfection and a bite on that juicy, succulent chicken will definitely remind patrons of the excellent tau geh-chicken type of texture.



The curry is cooked according to a special concoction that has been inherited generations to generations. A quick look at the ingredients of spices used in the soup include:


i) Curry Powder



ii) Star Anise (Bunga Lawang)



iii) Curcumin (Kunyit)



iv) Lemon Grass (Serai)



v) Cassia Bark (Kayu Manis)



vi) Cloves (Bunga Cengkih)



vii) Curry Leaves (Daun Kari)



viii) Dried and Fresh Chili



ix) Secret Family Recipe



Together with coconut milk a.k.a. santan, this special blend gives a strong aromatic taste which is not only pungent but irresistible. You will yern for more.



Did you know...?

1. Ipoh Curry Mee is quite similar to Sarawak Laksa?
2. Ipoh Curry Mee is the legacy of Hai Nan people, who are well-known for the culinary art and has been opening many colonial cafes in Ipoh?

Main Convent and St. Michael's: The Missing Link

Main Convent, Ipoh (Before repaint)

Main Convent, Ipoh has always had a traditional strong link with St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh. Convent girls study form 6 in SMI. Perhaps, the main reason is because both MC and SMI are missionary schools under the same faith, the Roman Catholics. There are also many couples from this both schools got married and are now living happily ever after in their far away land.

Other than that, MC and SMI are indeed linked in many aspects.

Badminton Court

Spiral Stair

During the 2nd World War (WWII), SMI was made the Administrative Centre and renamed Perak Shu Seicho. Class rooms were used as office for the Japanese officers. The La Salle Brothers managed to salvage some of the furniture in SMI before the occupation and they were temporarily stored in MC.

Walkway to Main Hall

The tiles used in one of the walkways in MC were imported from Marseilles, France. If you take a look on the underside of the walkway, the manufacturers name and place is still visible. SMI used to cover the roof with the same tiles from Marseilles. However, the recent roof replacement has changed them with new tiles made locally. Pictures below, spot the differences.

SMI (Before)

SMI (After)

Leads from Lower Hall to Classroom

Besides, rumour has it that there is an underground tunnel that links SMI to MC. The Brothers used this tunnel to carry the furniture to MC during WWII. Some said the entrance of the tunnel in SMI is below the stage in the school hall. However, no one has ever proved its existence. Whether or not the tunnel is true will have to be discovered by archeologist cum thrill seeker like Harrison Ford.



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Related post:

1. Main Convent, Ipoh (Part I).

Main Convent, Ipoh (Part I)

Main Convent, Ipoh

The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, or fondly known as Main Convent (MC) was founded by Mother St. Victoire, and set up with the support of Mother St. Anatoli, Assistant General to the Priests' Assembly in Paris in a modest wooden building.



It was opened in 1907 with eight pupils. With 7500 strait Dollars (roughly RM500,000 today) from the British government at that time, the first buildings on Jalan Sultan Idris (Brewster Road) were constructed in timber, the school office, a chapel and the Sisters' quarter.

Lord Jesus Christ's Statue

Just like St. Michael's Institution, Main Convent adopts the neo-Gothic design. The main building's facade shows a series of pointed arch. On top of the building lies the statue of Lord Jesus the Saviour.

Spiral Stairs

Volleyball Court

Back Field near the Orphanage Hall

The building of Convent is unique in the sense that several buildings are linked by a maze of covered walkways, corridors and verandas with open spaces in between the buildings used for outdoor assembly, sports and games.

Bird's Eye View

If you have the chance to catch a bird's eye view from Ipoh Parade, you will find that Convent reveals an irregular quadrangle, with oldest building dating back in 1927.

Pond near the canteen

Did you know...?

The famous bond girl Datuk Michelle Yeoh is an ex-convent girl? MC must be really proud of producing this famous Hollywood star that made our Malaysian proud of. Not only she is the first Asian Bond girl, she is also the first Malaysian who made her fame in Hollywood.


p/s: Pictures are credited to Mabel. Thank you.

Foh San Dim Sum

Many people flock to Restaurant Foh San during weekends to get a taste of what has been well-known for, Hong Kong dim sum. It is kind of ironic as the name 'Hong Kong dim sum' tells you it should not be Ipoh's authetic. Well, ask anyone who have tried and they are sure to be more than wailing to vouch for its tastiness.

Chee Cheong Fun (Rice Noodle Roll)

Siu Mai (Chinese dumpling)

Cha Siu Baau (Cantonese Barbecue Pork Buns)

Yuu Dan (Fish Ball)

Loh Mei Kai (Glutinous Rice with Chicken)

Tan tart (Egg Tart)

The restaurant offers excellent ambience to those who wish to get an authentic, classical taste of real 'yum cha' experience. Getting a table would be a daunting task on weekend so be sure to wake up early.

What's unique, the cashier of Foh San has been using abacus to calculate the bill for generations.

Name: Restaurant Foh San
Location: Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar (Osborne Street)
Operation Hour: Morning until Afternoon.
Telephone: 05-2540308


Why is Ipoh famous with HK dim sum?

The credit must go to our forefathers, those miner towkays who often meeting their Chinese business partners or the British colonial master in these dim sum restaurants. Because of their constant crave for good 'yum cha' business deal, it gave these restaurants opportunity to improve on their dim sum and now you have nice, delicious, delicate, and tempting HK dim sum that gets a little touch of Ipoh-ness.