Imbi Market @ ICC Pudu
We've been coming here a few times since we got reacquainted with our favourite (if not the best) curry laksa that moved from Imbi to the Imbi Market @ ICC Pudu.
But we were saddened, absolutely gutted would be putting it mildly, to find that our no. 1 curry laksa has moved again during our last visit. The stall is no longer in ICC Pudu. I repeat....the curry laksa is no longer in ICC Pudu! We have now finally lost all contact with this curry laksa stall (even after enquiries were made about her whereabouts)! T_T
So, without our curry laksa, I had to settle for the Sam Kan Chong Noodles. The sauce was a little bit more watery than the norm and the noodles were not as thin and smooth as Imbi's famous sam kan chong noodles in Win Heng Seng.
The usual pork balls, or rather squares, came with the noodles. The roasted pork sausage ("siew cheong"), on the other hand, didn't have enough wine flavour nor the well caramelised fragrance I sought.
When having this, the taste felt familiar and that's when I realise that I recognised the stall owner. He's the same one from Mei Sin Eating Shop in Imbi (where my favourite curry laksa used to be).
The same stall also sells Pig Stomach in Hot Pepper Soup that came off fairly decent with a pepper soup that wasn't too peppery hot.
I noticed a poached chicken stall right at the front because of the sheer amount of chickens hanging at the stall, so I ordered Poached Chicken Rice for one. The rice was ok albeit slightly broken grains.
They use kampong chicken ("choi yin kai" or village chicken) here and the flavour and taste was certainly more than decent. If they're confident of selling so many chickens, it had to be good.
We also had the Nasi Lemak with Squid Sambal & Chilli Potatoes. This one is more like those reconstituted cuttlefish, the overly crunchy type like "yau yee ong choy" (squid with water spinach). We also tried the nasi lemak with "ayam goreng berempah" (spiced fried chicken).
I can't remember the prices of what we ate as I wasn't paying attention (but most were priced around RM7) since I had no mood already after being confronted with the thought that I've "lost" my favourite curry laksa for good this time...haiz! :'(
Even the other curry and wantan mee stall here (supposedly from Pudu) has left and, in its place, another curry and wantan mee stall had taken over. I don't know why but the stalls here seem to come and go very quickly.
This was the Wantan Mee I packed for later from the new stall that took over. Again, it was just an edible wantan mee, that's all.
My Personal Opinion
That (unfortunately) pretty much sums up what happens to a lot of stalls in general. We would find a good one, blog about it and the next thing we know, the stall has moved to some other coffee shop. Worst still, most times another stall selling the same type of noodles would have taken over at the previous stall. And when our readers (who read about that particular good eat) go and try, they find that it isn't as good as claimed but that's because they are not aware that another stall has taken over from the good one. I had even experienced the same stall moving from place A to place B and then finding them back at place A again. That's the ongoing problem we have with stalls (unlike restaurants, I guess) who can just pack up (at their whim and fancy) and relocate to another place with a cheaper rental or which they think will bring them more customers.
On hindsight, if I had known, I probably should have asked for curry laksa lady's phone number (but that would be too weird). Perhaps, one fine day, if I'm lucky enough, I might bump into her again elsewhere or maybe find one that's as good (but I won't hold my breath). How to beat a curry that looks like that...till then.....!
Imbi Market @ ICC Pudu
Jalan Kijang
Pudu
55100 Kuala Lumpur
I still have not visited Imbi market. I need a guide.
ReplyDeleteThis new place doesn't have the charm of the old Imbi market...I doubt you'll like it.
DeleteYou are cute like a little girl getting emo over the loss of the favourite curry laksa. I really heard that they have located but now I could not recall who told me this. The owner of Mei Sin Eating Shop might be able to help you with the curry laksa's contact.
ReplyDeleteI always passed by Sam Kan chong's outlet inside One Utama and they are always enjoying brisk business with full house. I agree that they are watery even at 1-U and I don;t eat there again ever since.
The owner of Mei Sin Eating Shop was the one who told us she moved to ICC Pudu. I'm too shy to go back to the shop to ask them for her contact again.
DeleteWhat a bummer! I wonder why she moved. Business there not good? If she is still in business, chances are you might bump into her again if fated hah..hah... That bowl of curry laksa sure looks gorgeous and it would be such a shame if she closed for good.
ReplyDelete*Fingers crossed* that I might bump into her again. Her bowl of curry laksa is difficult to beat. For now, I have to get my fix from the one in Pandan Jaya.
DeleteEeks. Hopefully someone who knows her reads this and alerts you about what happened to her or where she has relocated. I’ll be happy to hear if she’s moved to Sri Petaling :D
ReplyDeleteWishful thinking, Sean. Yeah, hopefully someone who reads my blog knows where she's gone. Someone once did (tell me) about a tai chow restaurant in my neighbourhood that moved.
DeleteOh gosh, that is really a good bowl of laksa which I've tried, hopefully someone can tell you where is their new location. Or I think you should have asked other stalls regarding their new location though
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you managed to try it out once (before they moved) and concurred that it was indeed a very good bowl of laksa. I did ask around the other stalls but she only moved to ICC Pudu for a few months, so I don't think she was well known to the other stall owners.
DeleteHi, the curry me you mentioned moved to Malaysia Boleh is the one side by side with chicken rice?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. Have you had the chance to try that yet?
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