Review: Sun Marpoh, Ipoh

67-69, Jalan Lau Pak Khuan,
Ipoh Garden,
31400 Ipoh
Tel# +60 5-545 5127

 You know this restaurant is your host's favorite joint because they never fail to bring you here each time you are in town. With food this good, it isn't hard to understand why. Its' appeal lies mainly in the simplicity of each dish which evokes a feeling of home. The place is usually packed during the usual meal times and it can get rather noisy when the place is filled up.

Stir fried kailan or Chinese broccoli (such a misnomer. How does it remotely resemble the Western broccoli?) in soy sauce with deep fried shallot. Conventional Chinese stir fry of veggie involves frying the shallots before adding the greens which translates into soggy shallots. Deep frying the shallots separately allows them to retain its pungent note.

Spinach in anchovies and goji berry soup.
One of my favorite dishes, the soup can be either light/diluted or heavy/thick. I personally prefer the former as it tastes lighter on the palette. Stupid but true. Like me.

Braised egg tofu with mixed veggie of baby corn, carrot, kailan, snow pes and shrimp.
This is my niece's favorite dish and it is one of those dishes that is simple but pleasant when done right and this they did.

Steamed tri egg.
Another of my niece's favorite, it is mine too. With a trio of chicken egg, salted egg and century egg, it sets my tummy on a tone and my heart into cardiac arrest.

Stir fried chicken in dark soy sauce with chopped chili padi.
This isn't so kid friendly due to the chili but it goes well with rice. Not overly sweet or spicy.

Braised kampung ayam or village chicken.
Instead of the conventional (boring) steamed dry version, you get a nice gravy with a hint of sweetness from the berry. The meat was well marinated and oh-so-tender.

Sweet and sour pork.
By now, you should realize when you have kids, most of your meal preferences would centre around them. My kid (if ever. God bless you) would either develop buns stomach of steel from eating so much of chili and spice or be on life support.
Slightly crunchy, these are slightly better than Extra Super Tanker's solely because you do get a bit more of flesh with each bite.

Sweet Thai style deep fried fish.
I'd force feed this to my kid if he/she won't be wailing like some banshee and someone threatens to call social services on me because come on, it's deep fried and Thai style. You don't know what you are missing out on, kiddo.

Deep fried fish in light soy sauce with fried ginger slices.
A milder version and by golly, any kid would like this but I am concerned with the amount of sodium in it. Hence, it pairs well with rice.