When it comes to chee cheong fun, most either prefer the savoury Hong Kong-style version or the sweeter local version. I, on the other hand, have had my heart taken up by curry chee cheong fun ever since I had my first taste of it in a humble breakfast spot in Malaysia.
The dish is unfortunately somewhat of a rare find here in Singapore. So, imagine my delight when I discovered that I could get a long-awaited fix at Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面!
Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面 is situated in the staff canteen at A’Posh Bizhub in Yishun. As promised by its name, the stall offers Curry Chicken Noodles (S$4.80) and Curry Chee Cheong Fun (S$4.30) among a variety of Ipoh-style noodle dishes.
The storefront also boasts a glorious display of tantalising roasted delights like char siew, sio bak and roasted chicken. That’ll give you an additional reason to pay a visit.
Don’t let the seemingly ulu industrial location lead you astray; a short bus ride from Yishun Bus Interchange will take you right to its doorstep. Moreover, the coffeeshop is well-ventilated and spacious, with tables that sufficiently cater to steady streams of lunchtime crowds.
What I tried at Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面
The selection of roasted meats glistening in the counter’s glass display threatened to lure me away from my mission to secure my curry chee cheong fun fix. Then, I noticed the heaven-sent Ipoh-style Curry Char Siew & Roast Meat Chee Cheong Fun (S$6.30) – it’s like Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面 knew I’d be torn for choice!
The dish stood differentiated from the get-go. Unlike the light orange hues of curry that I’ve been acquainted with, the gravy here was of a deeper shade coloured by red specks of oil. A quick scoop also revealed it to be soupier than most others I’ve tried.
Don’t let its fiery appearance fool you, though. The curry carried a mild yet satisfying spice and was pleasantly creamy though not jelak. It was fragrant and easy on the palate, so you best believe I wiped the bowl clean.
The chee cheong fun came in the form of long strips that resemble kway teow – easy to pick and slurp up. They were incredibly silky and smooth, with an almost melt-in-the-mouth consistency. More importantly, they absorbed every bit of the gravy well, with a mild earthiness that complemented the lemak curry flavour.
The roasted meats stood well on their own. The lightly caramelised char siew was decently thick but not overly tough and chewy, tied together nicely by the slight smokiness of its char. Likewise, the sio bak was meaty and had a salt crust that retained a crunch despite having soaked in the curry for a while.
Roasted delights on curry is a combination I never thought I’d see or try, to be very honest. For good measure, I helped myself to a spoonful of all elements combined. Spoiler alert: it works. To say the least, it was a perfect medley of flavours and textures in one bite.
The tau pok pieces were a perfect finishing touch to my bowl of Curry Chee Cheong Fun. They sopped up the curry like little gravy sponges, allowing me to leave no delicious drop untouched.
Curry chicken noodles showdown: Ah Heng vs Da Po vs Hock Hai
I resisted the urge to get another bowl of curry noodles and got a classic Ipoh Hor Fun (S$4.30) as my second dish. It’s a pretty straightforward bowl of thin hor fun topped with strips of steamed chicken breast and several leaves of bok choy.
Like its chee cheong fun counterpart, the silky hor fun noodles were slurp-worthy, coated well in the thin brown sauce. Taste-wise, the sauce was savoury with nutty hints of sesame contributing to an overall light umami flavour profile. It’s also worth mentioning that the chicken breast strips were surprisingly tender.
While there may not be much to shout about for the Ipoh Hor Fun, it’s a simple dish you can’t go wrong with, especially on days when you crave something clean.
Nonetheless, if it’s a little too one-dimensional for your liking, help yourself to the stall’s sambal. Riddled with hae bee, its blend elevated my noodles and lent it a much-needed spicy kick.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never tried curry chee cheong fun, Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面 is the place for your first taste. Even if you don’t reside in Yishun or nearby, I promise it’s worth the trip. It’s safe to say that I’ll certainly be returning to satiate any curry cravings.
I highly recommend going straight for the Curry Char Siew & Roast Meat Chee Cheong Fun. The divine combination of silky chee cheong fun, aromatic curry and delectable roasted meats is sure to give you the best of what the stall has to offer.
While you’re at it, you can give their range of other Ipoh-style noodle dishes a try, or perhaps savour a platter of their roasted delights on their own.
Expected damage: S$4.30 – S$6.30 per pax
11 Malaysian-style food places in Singapore to enjoy without having to cross the border
Price: $
Our Rating: 4.5 / 5
Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面
1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, A’Posh Bizhub Staff Canteen, #01-12, Singapore 768160
Ipoh Curry Mee 怡保咖喱面
1 Yishun Industrial Street 1, A’Posh Bizhub Staff Canteen, #01-12, Singapore 768160
