Humility + secret recipe = 3 stalls in 1 yr

I’ve to confess it: I’m a sucker for stalls with Malaysian state names within the title. Once I heard of Jian Zao Ipoh Curry Noodles, it was solely a matter of time earlier than I made my means there to attempt the meals for myself.

A few weeks in the past, I lastly received the possibility. My vacation spot was 332 Coffee House in Ang Mo Kio, the placement of the unique Jian Zao Ipoh Curry Noodles stall. Started by third-generation hawker Steven Cheah, it has solely been open for about 14 months since its debut on the native hawker scene in September 2021.

I couldn’t assist however assume that 2021 should have been a courageous time to take of venture within the fickle world of F&B. That gamble appears to have paid off handsomely, although.

They marked their first anniversary with an growth to a second stall on Boon Tiong Road in Tiong Bahru on 14 Sep 2022. A 3rd stall opened final month on 1 Oct 2022 in People’s Park Centre, Chinatown.

Despite the success, the crew isn’t taking it straightforward. When I arrived, Steven’s son, Jacky was on the wok, working away within the warmth carrying the identical blue uniform as all the opposite workers. Nice.

What I attempted at Jian Zao Ipoh Curry Noodles

When Jacky requested me for my order, I knew I needed to go for his or her signature Ipoh Curry Noodles (S$6). This recipe is now over 30 years previous and within the arms of the fourth technology of the household. It was time to seek out out what the key behind its longevity and recognition.

You can have this both dry or with soup and I went for the liquid-infused model. It was whipped collectively in a couple of minutes.

In my bowl, there have been 4 medium-sized slices of char siew, 5 lengthy, rectangular items of pork stomach, 2 fairly giant slices of tau pok and a few shredded hen. 5 slices of lengthy beans and a handful of taugeh rounded off the checklist of substances.

To the facet, a dollop of red-brown sambal peppered with chilli seeds was bleeding its color into the orangish soup. A sprig of mint accomplished the scene.

I first took a sip of the soup. Without mixing the sambal in, the Jian Zao Ipoh Curry Noodles signature dish isn’t very spicy. You can style the essence of coconut however not in an awesome means. When I did agitate the sambal into the soup, I used to be glad for the stabilising tang from the calamansi half.

With a soup-based dish like this, I prefer to take my time so the person parts take in the liquid whereas concurrently releasing their very own essence into it. This nifty tactic works greatest with tau pok right here however can also be very good with the shredded hen.

A mouthful of the yellow noodles along with tau pok, shredded hen and char siew collectively was sufficient to make me a fan.

The pork stomach was tender and juicy and soaked up the flavours very properly, making each chew extraordinarily juicy.

My favorite a part of the bowl was positively the hen, although, one thing I used to be shocked to understand. In its shredded kind, hen takes on a dry texture. When it absorbs all of the curry and coconut flavour from the bowl, the result’s one thing nearly fully not like its authentic kind. I find it irresistible.

Final ideas

Given that I favored the Ipoh Curry Noodles as a lot as I did, it surprises me that I didn’t see extra of a crowd at Jian Zao Ipoh Curry Noodles. 332 Coffee House does have a little bit of an ulu, laidback vibe, although, so perhaps that’s simply the norm.

This was an attention-grabbing go to, nonetheless. I flip up for evaluations anonymously and hold all tools in my backpack till after ordering so I get to see the identical scene as some other diner. When I turned up, Jacky Cheah, son of the boss was exhausting at work.

It was nice to see that there are based mostly younger hawkers placing within the exhausting yards themselves as a substitute of counting on previous household success and wealth. Delicious bowls of noodles for us to take pleasure in are only a bonus.

Expected harm: $3.90 – $11.90 per pax

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