Moon De Moon @ Ipoh

We were in Ipoh three weekends ago for a day trip to attend to some private matters.  Traffic was smooth and by the time we reached Ipoh, we were just in time for breakfast.

I've heard (and read) many rave reviews of the kai see hor fun (shredded chicken kuey teow) in Restoran Moon De Moon @ Ipoh (Taman Mirindi to be exact, in the vicinity of Kampung Simee).

Being aware of their popularity and notoriety of 30 - 45 minutes wait for their noodles, I was bracing myself for the worst when I decided to drop by.  Surprisingly, the wait for a table wasn't too long, just around 10 minutes, even though there were less tables because we were still in the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) period (on normal/usual days, the tables would spill onto the road).

It took only about 10 minutes for the noodles to arrive, so it looks like I owed the shorter wait to the enforced RMCO since less people were travelling inter-state (and the lesser tables, of course).  I was here for one thing...and one thing only....a bowl of Ipoh kai see hor fun @ RM5.50 (small) that was filled with firm, sweet prawns (some were halved lengthwise), shredded chicken and chives finished with a garnishing of chopped spring onions and freshly fried shallots (not ready-made from a packet).

The translucent hor fun, of course, lived up to its highly reputable name of Ipoh hor fun that's notably velvety and silky smooth which slips down our throats with ease.  I tend to shun away from hor fun as my choice of noodles in KL since most are nothing like the ones in Ipoh.  In fact, many come with an offensive smell (and taste) that I cannot stomach though there are a handful that passed the test but they still aren't as slippery smooth as the Ipoh ones.

Besides the extraordinary quality of the hor fun which is vital, the most important factor of a good kai see hor fun lies with its broth without doubt.  And this one (as you can see) was thick, rich and sweetish, finished with a layer of aromatic prawn oil on top.

At first glance, when the noodles arrived, I realised this was no ordinary stock, not the usual clear broth I'm used to or had before.  This one was really thick and rich, judging by the bright orange hue of the broth, a stock that was obviously boiled for hours from a blend of chicken bones and prawn shells.  This one is difficult to top in my opinion...that's how good it was! ^o^

And because the robust broth had such depth of flavour that very little of it was given, just enough to cover the noodles.  I can understand (and even excuse) that since it will be a much valued, precious stock of prawny umami.

Clearly the broth was excellent, so not a drop was wasted...and an empty bowl was the best compliment I could give to this bowl of exceptional Ipoh sar hor fun! ^_*

Luckily, they also do a dry-style kai see hor fun here.  That's how my spouse likes to enjoy his kai see hor fun.  I could see that the dry-style comes with Ipoh's well-liked, fat and crunchy beansprouts instead of chives.

I didn't get to taste my husband's dry version, so I don't know how it tastes but since he didn't say much, I'm assuming he enjoyed it.  The reason I didn't try was that the portions were so small I didn't want to tax his already meagre, barely-enough portion.  I could have easily eaten two bowls myself while my spouse said he could eat three! >_<  No wonder the lady who took my orders asked if I wanted to add a bowl of curry chicken or yong tau foo on the side (I should have taken her up on her offer).

If I had known about the smallish size of the noodles, I would have ordered myself a plate of dry curry mee too even though I've never been a fan of Ipoh-style curry mee.  I reckon that their dry curry mee must be equally good judging from the fact that every table had either an order of curry mee or kai see hor fun...or both (I'll definitely have both the next time I'm here).  I envy Ipohans who get to savour these noodles on a regular basis.

When in Ipoh, of course must order Pak Kopi Ping-lah (Iced White Coffee)....hee..hee...which was frothy and decent! ;)

My Personal Opinion

Is this the best kai see hor fun in Ipoh?  Well, I wouldn't know about that since I've not tasted other good (and famous) kai see hor fun in Ipoh yet (like the notoriously busy and touristy Thean Chun which many have vouched isn't as good as the one here).  I've only had a few non-memorable ones in Ipoh coffee shops thus far.  What I do know is this.....it's the best kai see hor fun I've eaten in Ipoh thus far!  This one is already so good, I don't think I need to look for a better one in Ipoh.

The thick and rich soup that was all the rage for me, with a profound sweetness from the prawn stock, was quite unlike some of the better ones I've had in KL where the soup base is usually lighter and clearer (I'm not saying they weren't any good that way, some were).

If you're a super fan of kai see hor fun like I am, you need to seek this one out (and have a dry curry mee while you're at it) the next time you're in Ipoh.  It might turn out to be one of your best kai see hor fun experience yet.

Moon De Moon's kai see hor fun is a 'triple d' yo....definitely darn delicious...but is it the best in Ipoh?  You decide. ^_~

Restoran Moon De Moon
148 Hala Wah Keong
Taman Mirindi
31400 Ipoh
Perak
Tel: 012-516 0485

OldTown Grand @ M Roof Ipoh

After sampling the breakfast at The Morning After the day before and not being too pleased with the portion sizes, it was time to give our other choice of breakfast venue a try.

And this one was a more familiar name, OldTown Grand @ M Roof, Ipoh and since it would be a buffet breakfast, we can (at least) be assured of a more filling meal.

I actually noticed their menu board (the day before) detailing what would be served...but before you get excited over the menu, let me tell you that it details the entire menu which will be rotated (probably on a daily basis).  So, I'm giving you the heads up that you won't be getting everything that's listed on the menu board (especially in some categories, you might get only one)! :P

To start, there was a selection of different types of bread and I went for their signature brown bread with butter and their housemade kaya.

Also available were soft-boiled eggs, which were found submerged in a pot of lukewarm water, so don't expect the eggs to be all that hot.  I saved half of my brown bread for the soft-boiled eggs.

Their western breakfast options included chicken sausage, ham, fried omelette, hash brown and baked beans (this was everything listed on the menu board).

For the Rice Section, the options were Nasi Lemak, Fried Rice and Kampong Fried Rice.  We got Nasi Lemak that day.  I had none since I've already tried their nasi lemak.  For Noodles, the options were Chicken Hor Fun, Curry Mee, Laksa, Prawn Mee and Fried Meehoon.  They served Chicken Hor Fun and Fried Meehoon that morning.

The Chicken Hor Fun failed miserably.  Luckily, I took only two spoonfuls of noodles.

The Fried Meehoon fared much better and was probably the most satisfying dish though it tasted a bit bland, so I added some sambal (the same one served with the nasi lemak) and fried omelette to bump up the taste.

There were also stations for porridge and cereals.  As for the fresh fruits component of our breakfast, it was between watermelon, honeydew or papaya...and we were given watermelon.

For chilled juices, the options were orange, apple, guava, grape or mango.  The orange juice came from those cordial types and this one was diluted in nature.

Luckily, the coffees saved the day morning with white coffee, kopi-o and black tea available.  The kopi-o was really "kaw" (concentrated)...hey, I like kaw! ;)

And that was pretty much our simple and plain breakfast, nothing quite in the same calibre as the one offered by MH Hotel.

We also dined here for supper one evening.  I had the Old Town Nasi Lemak with Turmeric Fried Chicken @ RM15.85 served with a piece of fried chicken thigh, sotong sambal, keropok lekor (a traditional Malay fish cracker snack), a whole hard-boiled egg, stir-fried kangkung, fried ikan bilis and peanuts.

The fried chicken was acceptable, the sotong sambal was made from those crunchy rehydrated cuttlefish (which I don't like), the keropok lekor was chewy and the sambal was fiery (even the stir-fried kangkung had a kick to it).

We also had the BBQ Chicken Dry Egg Noodles with Minced Chicken & Fried Wantan @ RM11.89.  The fried wantans were nicely crispy, the egg noodles sauce had a strong hint of sesame oil but what caught us by surprise was how spicy the minced chicken was (so beware if you can't take the heat).

I remember having OldTown's white coffee in KL and not liking it but surprisingly this White Coffee (Cold) @ RM5.66 was pretty ok.

My Personal Opinion

The menu board states the price for this buffet breakfast is RM21.  As a free breakfast that comes with the room, it served its purpose but I certainly wouldn't pay RM21 for such a limited selection...I wouldn't even pay RM17 (the price for hotel guests).  I'd rather have the one in MH Hotel (which cost around the same price) instead.

Though I really liked the accommodation, I can't say the same for their breakfast.  One (The Morning After), the choices were too limited and portions too little and the other (OldTown), the food too plain (both in taste and selection) to offer any sort of satisfaction.

With both on-site restaurants not hitting the mark in terms of the complimentary breakfast, I'd rather take my RM17 across the street to Medan Selera Stadium for some cheap (and good) food.  Unfortunately, there was no offer for just the room only from the hotel booking websites I booked with...haiz :(

OldTown Grand
M Roof Hotel & Residences
Lot 37499 Jalan Dato Lau Pak Kuan
31400 Ipoh
Perak
Tel: 05-5412901

The Morning After @ M Roof Ipoh

Our room at M Roof Hotel & Residences came with complimentary breakfast, either at OldTown Grand on the left or The Morning After on the right (if you're walking into the lobby of the hotel).

We decided to hit The Morning After @ M Roof, Ipoh first.  When we walked in, I could immediately see that the place was rather deserted with only one table occupied (and we weren't that early, I think it was around 8.30am) though a few more tables filled up soon after.

I also noticed quite a few people walking in and checking out the menu...before leaving to walk to the other end (or the other alternative), OldTown Grand.  Hmmm.....never mind, I thought, we'd try this one first.

Looking at the menu, I can understand why...there were very limited options for the breakfast sets....only three! O_o  And you know Malaysians, they love variety....and they love quantity...and that's why most would prefer the buffet-style breakfast offered by the other cafe.

Actually, there were only two choices since Muesli with Milk & Fresh Fruits wouldn't be a very popular choice for breakfast for many (it certainly wasn't mine). ^_*  So, I opted for Egg Benedict with Turkey Ham served with hollandaise sauce on top of an English muffin (more like half a muffin) with baby spinach and cherry tomatoes.

I think the menu said Egg Benedict coz there was only one egg.  There was no faulting the cooking of the eggs benedict...erm, I mean egg benedict (like singular) that was cooked right.  Couldn't fault the taste either as the hollandaise sauce was nicely done and the ingredients used were fresh.  But the portion was just too small.  Ideal if you're on a diet or looking to have something light...I wasn't.

The other choice was the Scrambled Egg with Turkey Ham resting on half an English muffin topped with arugula.  I'm not even sure if you can cook scrambled eggs with just one egg coz that was what it felt like as the portion was (again) so tiny.

Both breakfast sets come with a choice of Americano, Latte or English Breakfast Tea.  We chose an Iced Latte....

.....and a Hot Latte.  I don't particularly fancy 'western-style' black coffee aka Americano.  When it comes to black coffee, there's nothing quite like our "kopi-o-kaw" (thick local coffee)....kekeke! ;D

In my haste to add on something more substantial to our complimentary breakfast, I didn't notice the title section of the food I was ordering and just zoomed into the details.  I ordered The Morning After Special @ RM33 as it had all the essential breakfast items I sought.

So, you could imagine my surprise when this arrived.  What!  A pizza?  For breakfast?  O_o  Then's when I looked at the menu again and realised I ordered something under the pizza section.  Oops!

Now who would have thought that the words I saw....chicken sausages, crispy beef bacon, scrambled eggs, diced potatoes, caramelised onions and cherry tomatoes...wouldn't be the description of a breakfast platter but a pizza instead! :P

Anyway, the pizza was pretty big (a 9-inch one I think, cut into 8 slices) with a nice, crisp thin crust.  Taste wise, it was decent...how can it not be with such generously-laden ingredients.  I have no idea what cheese they used but it looked a little weird, like noodles, not the usual gooey-stringy mozzarella cheese, maybe it wasn't melted enough.  In the end, we couldn't finish the pizza and had to ask for a take-away.

There's also The Beer Factory Express next to The Morning After, the former for some late night beer drinking (I suppose) and the latter for the morning after (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) to get rid of the hangover? ^_~

My Personal Opinion

Though the food was alright, the portions were just too little.  And the reason for that I suspect is because M Roof doesn't have their own F&B outlets and so have no control over what they serve.  I say this because we weren't allowed to charge our extra order to our room (like we did in MH Hotel) but was asked to settle the bill directly with the cafe.

The breakfast voucher actually cost RM17 (if we were to buy extras from the hotel).  So, I can understand the reason for the small portions (if no subsidy is provided by the hotel to the cafe).  Ultimately, the F&B outlet needs to be profitable...and RM17 for a western breakfast with coffee...well, you do the math!  If the hotel does pay some kind of a subsidy, perhaps they need to increase the subsidy so that we can get better food or bigger portions! ;P

I believe if I ordered a la carte and pay 'proper' prices, the food should please.  After all, their menu which includes brunch dishes, handcrafted pizzas, delectable pastas, signature sammies, savoury selections, gourmet burgers, snacks and soups looks promising enough.

The Morning After
A-G-3 Pusat Perniagaan Taman Ipoh
Jalan Dato' Lau Pak Khuan
31400 Ipoh
Perak
Tel: 012-565 2021

M Roof Hotel & Residences @ Ipoh

After staying at MH Hotel for the past two years (here and here) and Regalodge Hotel (here and here) the two years before that, it was time to move on to yet another hotel this year.  It wasn't because we weren't happy with our stay in MH Hotel but, after 3 consecutive days of breakfast at the same place two years in a row, I thought I needed a change.

We actually noticed this hotel, M Roof Hotel & Residences @ Ipoh, when we were here during the last Chinese New Year but it looked unfinished (then) although I was told by the front desk (this year) that it was opened in January 2017 already.

It's a 3-star hotel with 9 floors and 150 rooms (though I noted that the lift goes all the way to the 12th floor). Perhaps the higher floors are for the 2 to 3-bedroom apartments since they offer that as well.

The guest rating for this hotel is even better than MH Hotel, so I had no qualms about booking our stay here. Our Deluxe Room (with free breakfast) costs RM413.80++ for 2 nights (around RM240 nett a night).

Straight away, as you approach the hotel, the exterior itself gives you that 'grandeur feeling' with its brightly lit roof at the entrance.

Stepping in, the lobby looked really classy with its marble flooring, bright lights, tasteful decor, plush sofas and splashes of greenery.

Spacious Waiting Area in Hotel Lobby

Comfy Seating Area in Hotel Lobby

On one side, you'll find one of two cafes, OldTown Grand.....

...and The Morning After on the other for your breakfast picks (posts on those later).

As for the room size, it seemed a wee bit more spacious than the one we stayed in last year.  Since the hotel has only been in operation for a little over a year, I obviously appreciated the newness and pristine condition of everything.  I also preferred that the room had laminated flooring (instead of carpet) with only a rug but I did get a bit of that musty smell when I first entered the room which soon dissipated very quickly (it was the same musty smell that greeted me when I first entered the lobby).

I liked that the room came with a long couch which was ideal for TV watching.  No complaints on the cleanliness of room + the room was brightly lid.  One drawback, no mirror (or full length mirror) in the room (other than in the bathroom).

The bathroom, a lot more spacious than the one in MH, was spotless too.  The separate shower compartment had great water pressure.  What I particularly liked about this bathroom was the availability of a separate hand shower (besides the overhead rain shower).  Well, I don't have to tell you what's that good for...wakakakaka! :D

Ironing facilities, hair dryer, toiletries (they even replaced the toothbrush + toothpaste once used) and even bathrobes were provided.  For once, I appreciated that the clothes hangers were detachable (unlike some hotels who make them non-detachable for fear that the guests might leave with them)! :P

There's also coffee (OldTown brand, of course) and tea making amenities with sufficient complimentary bottled water (replenished daily).

My Personal Opinion

When we stayed at Regalodge, we enjoyed our stay.  Then we went to MH Hotel and we were happier with our stay.  Now, we like M Roof even more! ;)

More so when the location is so convenient for us....just a mere 2 - 3 minutes away from my husband's family home in Ipoh.  It'll probably be our choice for next year's stay too.

For the price paid (which is still slightly cheaper than MH Hotel), it's definitely a choice I'd recommend the next time you visit Ipoh...with two venues for breakfast and walking distance to plenty of hawker stalls (the hotel is just opposite the Medan Selera Stadium).  The stadium is currently undergoing rebuilding works which should be completed by the first quarter of the year.

M Roof Hotel & Residences

Jalan Dato Lau Pak Kuan

Taman Bandaraya

31400 Ipoh

Perak

Tel: 05-547 1777