[NON-HALAL]
When it comes to Ipoh hawker fare, favourites tend to be Ipoh hor fun, bean sprout chicken rice, and perhaps dry curry noodles.
But if you happen to be in Perak’s charming capital city anytime soon, one place you should definitely check out for a more unusual offering is Kedai Kopi Keng Nam.
This old-school coffee shop is located a few streets north of the city centre, and its location means you’ll have an easier time looking for parking. That said, the place tends to get quite crowded, especially on weekends, so go early!
So, what’s so unique about Keng Nam? Well, here you can find a less common – some might even say rare – hawker dish: nasi pulut.
The stall here is operated by an old lady who dresses straight out of the 1960s. Her offerings are simple but oh so tasty: freshly steamed glutinous rice with your choice of curry chicken or, for sweet-tooths, homemade kaya.
The nasi pulut is made without kunyit (turmeric), allowing it to retain its original white colour.
You won’t go wrong with either version, although this writer’s unbiased opinion is that the sweet, fragrant kaya is rich and absolutely sinful, pairing perfectly with the warm and sticky rice.
Other items available at Keng Nam include dry curry noodles, which is pretty good, even though some might prefer the spicy sauce to be thicker.
You can order it with roast pork, and the generous serving of fresh mint leaves that accompanies the dish adds a pleasant refreshing tang to the piquant gravy.
Since it’s Ipoh, Keng Nam also offers delicious toast with telur goyang (half-boiled egg) and, of course, its famed white coffee (although the one served here is decent at best).
So if you’re in the vicinity, do check this place out, especially if you’re hankering for a good breakfast. The only question is, will you end up overordering?
Kedai Kopi Keng Nam [NON-HALAL]
127, Jalan Raja Ekram,
Kampung Jawa,
30300 Ipoh, Perak
Business hours: 6.30am-11.30am daily
Read the original article here. Trying to influence your cravings since 2005, Kar Yeong was Guest Judge on Versus 1001 Rasa Baba’s 2018, R.AGE Food Fight Judge 2015 and NTV7 Foodie Blogger 2014. To read more about Kar Yeong’s food journeys, visit his blog at KYspeaks.com.