Curry noodles is a dish unique to Malaysia, and a favourite among Malaysians from all walks of life. The spicy curry soup gets its flavour from a combination of coconut milk and chilli. Some hawkers will add a kick with sambal or their own secret blend of ingredients. Besides noodles, the dish will have a combination of some of the following ingredients – dried tofu, small to medium-sized prawns, chicken meat slivers, hard-boiled egg slices, mint leaves and cockles. The choice of noodles available include the thin yellow noodles, string-thin rice noodles, flat rice noodles and lo shi fun. Lo Shi fun are short, fat rice noodles. The Cantonese name literally means rats’ tail noodles – not the most appetizing name, I know.
Ipoh is a favourite place for many people to look for yummy things to eat. To me, Penang ranks No.1 on the Malaysian foodie paradise list, but Ipoh ranks a close second. Well, at least in terms of Chinese food. A famous curry noodle shop in Ipoh, called Xin Quan Fang, is one of the must-see places for every foodie dropping by. Legend has it that this curry noodle business has been around for decades, and was previous located near to the police station in the area. The relocation to its present shop was a rather recent development. Its fame is prominently displayed on the aged shop walls in the form of multiple framed newspaper cuttings featuring articles of various sizes, all detailing the shop’s famed delicacies and singing its praises.
Since it was a long holiday weekend, we had to stand around tables waiting for somebody to finish and leave before we could sit down and order. That took 10 to 15 mins. Then, we sat down and waited for the boss to come around to take our orders. That took another wait of 10 to 15 mins. If one were to lose patience and demand to order at the counter or at the lone stall at the store front, prepare to be ignored. At last, we ordered four bowls of curry noodle soup and a bowl of dry curry noodles, as well as a bowl of extra ingredients. Our food came maybe 15 to 20 mins later. So, if one were easily prone to boredom or fits of rage, please bring some forms of entertainment as distraction, like a smartphone, iPad or other gadget with various gaming apps installed, or Internet-enabled to watch random YouTube videos.
Curry noodles featuring flat rice noodles at Xin Quan Fang, Ipoh
Our patience was duly rewarded. The curry noodle soup was not too spicy, but thick and richly flavourful. The curry leaves in the soup lent the concoction its authentic fragrant curry aroma. The flat rice noodles were thin, soft and smooth with a slightly chewy texture, which the Ipoh-made rice noodles were famous for. However, this shop’s curry noodles did not come with cockles, which is a staple ingredient in most curry noodle dishes served elsewhere.
The bowl of extra ingredients consisted of slices of chicken meat, roast pork with crispy skin, BBQ pork slices (char siew) and bean sprouts, topped with shelled prawns. The bean sprouts are located right at the bottom of the bowl.
Bowl of extra ingredients
The extra ingredients came with individual servings of special dipping sauce. The sauce is made up of thickened curry soup mixed with chopped garlic and laced with zesty lime juice. Only this shop serves this kind of dipping sauce. On another note, if you feel your bowl of curry noodles does not have the adequate level of heat, feel free to pour your dipping sauce in to up the level of excitement.
Curry dipping sauce at Xin Quan Fang, Ipoh
All in all, the curry noodle shop lives up to its name of being one of, if not the best, curry noodle shop in Ipoh. Do try it if you are passing through Ipoh and have a bit of time to spare for breakfast or brunch.
Curry mee hoon soup (front); curry dipping sauce (middle); bowl of extra ingredients (back).
XIN QUAN FANG CURRY MEE (non-Halal)
174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Tel No : +6016-531 4193
Business hours : Starts 7.30am and finishes around noon (Please arrive early to avoid disappointment)
GPS Coordinates : 4.593135,101.08422
Hui Min's Kitchen 