Ipoh hor fun with prawn & chicken

The newly refurbished Maxwell Chambers, which is located next to Tanjong Pagar MRT (and near hubby’s office), houses a number of new F&B outlets. When we were there about three weeks ago, not all were opened yet. Among those already in operation is Funan Weng, which specializes in Ipoh hor fun.

Set meal of hor fun, dumpling soup, and vegetables with oyster sauce.

Rick and I both tried the signature prawn & chicken Ipoh hor fun set meal, which is usually S$7.80, but was at a promotional price of S$6.90.

Comparisons with my favorite Ipoh hor fun specialist Lee Tong Kee were inevitable. Mmm…I’d say it’s almost as good as Lee Tong Kee’s (LTK)! The hor fun here is sufficiently smooth, soft, and silky, but LTK’s hor fun seems to be slightly superior when it comes to that melt-in-the-mouth quality.

But when it comes to size, Funan Weng offers more value as portions here are more substantial. They’re generous with the toppings, too. There’s a good amount of tender boiled chicken and big, fresh prawns. The gravy wasn’t spectacular, but it was flavorful without leaving one feeling thirsty after the meal.

Gourmet Dumpling Soup

We were also impressed with the shrimp dumpling soup. See, there’s a whole prawn in the dumpling! It tasted fresh and homely, and the soup didn’t taste artificially tasty.

Bibs for big babies!

Rick and I had a good laugh when we saw this sign on the table. Shortly after, Rick’s shirt “kena” a gravy stain. Hahaha! Lucky for him we were here for dinner, so home was the next stop. I must say the owners of Funan Weng are very thoughtful to offer bibs for “accident-prone” diners. But I wonder how many actually take up the offer?

Delicious horfun, nice portions, good value, and comfy setting, there was a lot that we liked about this place. It’s a self-service joint, and prices are nett. According to their website, Funan Weng has a long history. They used to be a hawker stall, but have now gone upmarket, but still remains affordable. Click here for their history and menu.

Funan Weng
32 Maxwell Road
#01-07 Maxwell Chambers
Singapore 069115 Tel: 6238 5038
URL: www.funanweng.com

Mon to Sat: 11am – 9:30pm
Closed on Sun & public holidays

Fried wanton Ipoh hor fun, S$3.00.

This stall was a serendipitous find that’s surprisingly good! We were here to grab a quick meal and were wondering what to eat when I spied some tables having these irresistible-looking fried wantons and Ipoh hor fun.

My hunch was right! The golden, crispy wantons were delicious! Instead of minced pork, they were stuffed with a bouncy paste of minced fish and chicken. Tastier and smoother than the conventional pork version!

The wanton skins were very light and crispy, and stayed that way right to the end. Absolutely more-ish, impossible to stop at one! Lucky they were generous with the wantons!

Shredded chicken Ipoh hor fun, S$3.00.

Besides fried wantons, there are other toppings to choose from, like the more familiar shredded chicken wanton. No points for presentation, but the rice noodles were sufficiently silky, and the stewed mushrooms flavorful.

I also liked that the gravy here was pleasantly light and tasty, without being too starchy. I even spied wolfberries (goji berries) in it. How homey and generous! The stall owners here are also generous with the portions.

We also tried the “phoenix claws” hor fun, but the chicken feet hadn’t been simmered long enough to acquire that tender, “fall-apart” texture. For me, I’m sticking to the fried wantons, which are also available a la carte for those who can’t get enough of them.

Ah Liang Ipoh Hor Fun
450 Clementi Avenue 3
#01-271, Kopitiam (corner coffeeshop next to Clementi MRT)
Singapore 120450

Lee Tong Kee Tanjong Pagar Style Hor Fun (S$5.80).

Also famed in Malaysia and Singapore is the Ipoh hor fun. Situated north of Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh is a town in Malaysia where nearly 70% of its inhabitants are Chinese. It is known for its delicious Chinese cuisine, especially the super soft and silky Ipoh hor fun, which is credited to Ipoh’s hard water (high alkali content). Here’s more info on Ipoh cuisine.

Lucky for us that we don’t have to travel 500 kilometers (310 miles) for a taste of Ipoh hor fun. It’s been many, many years since I last visited Ipoh, but if my memory serves me right, the hor fun at Lee Tong Kee seems almost as authentic as the real deal.

R had the Tanjong Pagar Style Hor Fun (first picture), which is hor fun topped with chicken meat, prawns, Chinese chives, and braised mushrooms smothered in dark gravy. I didn’t try it, but it looked really mouthwatering.

Lee Tong Kee K.L Style Hor Fun (S$4.20).

My K.L. Style Hor Fun was delicious, with the star ingredient being the ultra thin, smooth and slippery hor fun. It was so soft that it seemed to melt in the mouth. The chicken was tender and moist, and the generous amount of beansprouts provided lots of refreshing crunch.

Prawn Wanton Soup, small (S$6.00).

We ordered a small prawn wanton soup to share. There were altogether 12 prawn dumplings, which was the perfect amount for the two of us. The wantons were delightful morsels of crunchy and juicy prawns. Though small, we were impressed with the freshness of the crustaceans. The broth was robust with the flavor of prawn heads, but we felt it was a tad too salty. This was fixed by the home-brewed barley drinks (S$1.50 each glass) which were lightly sweetened.

One word of caution: if you only order a hor fun dish, it might not quite fill you up as the portion is rather inadequate. Because hor fun is relatively light, we left still feeling not quite full. Nevertheless, dining at Lee Tong Kee, housed in a refurbished and air-conditioned Chinatown shophouse, was a comfortable and pleasant experience. Considering the freshness and quality of their food, the prices seem quite reasonable; they don’t impose service charge and GST here.

Lee Tong Kee Ipoh Sar Hor Fun
278 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058827
Tel: (65) 6226 0417
Website: http://www.ipohhorfun.com

cheers!