What does a drive past Ipoh in the morning mean? Dim Sum for breakfast of course! My local friend highly recommended that we try Chooi Yue Dim Sum - a popular Dim Sum spot that's not located at the Ipoh Dim Sum street.
Her warning about a potential queue, unfortunately, came true. We're welcomed with a 45-minute wait for a table on a Saturday morning.
We had ample time to check out the menu while waiting in line. They offer a pretty good mix of both classic and modern Dim Sum delights.
After 45minutes, it's finally our turn to dine! The modern restaurant interior feels much more welcoming than the waiting area outside.
All our menu analysis paid off as we quickly filled in the order chit and waited with more hungry anticipation. Big props to the kitchen for serving the food after a very short wait.
Let's makan!
Siew Mai (4.5/5)
Flavours were spot on for this classic Dim Sum dish. The wrapper was not too thick and the filling was very meaty & juicy.
Shrimp Dumpling/Har Gao (4.5/5)
Generous balls of fresh prawns wrapped in smooth and translucent skin. Delicious!
Spare Rib with Yam (4/5)
The ribs were succulent and there was a good balance of saltiness from the fermented black beans and aroma from the Shaoxing wine. Tasty but I think not as tasty as the one at Wong Chow Dim Sum, Bukit Mertajam.
Chicken Feet (3/5)
The sauce was too thick and sweet for my liking. Chicken feet were also slightly overcooked.
Crystal Salted Egg Yolk Dumpling (4/5)
Not the most traditional dim sum dish but I like it! It's very similar to Har Gao but with a touch of fragrance from the parsley and a pop of umami from the salted egg yolk. Worth a try!
Steamed Rice Noodle with Char Siew (3.5/5)
The skin was slightly too thick but the flavour combination of the fried shallots, sesame, soy sauce and chilli paste was on point.
Porridge (4.5/5)
The porridge was served with generous bits of century egg, salted egg and minced pork. Thick, smooth and flavourful - delicious!
Char Siew Pau (4/5)
Their pau was so soft and fluffy! I loved how generous they're with the chunky Char Siew filling. Would have been better with more fat and sesame aroma for the Char Siew but it's still very yummy.
Overall, the food lived up to the establishment's popularity. The waiters were well prepared to serve the endless stream of customers. While the price is on the higher side, I felt it was justified. The restaurant decor is more "atas" than your regular neighbourhood Dim Sum outlet and they do not stinge on the quality & quantity of ingredients used. I'll be happy to swing by again during my next Ipoh stopover (with a snack in hand to tide through the wait).
Sabbylicious Makan Rating
Food : 4/5
Price : 4/5
Environment : 4/5
Service : 4/5
Must order : Siew Mai, Har Gao, Porridge, Crystal Salted Egg Yolk Dumpling, Char Siew Pau
Operating Hours Friday - Wednesday (7.00 am–2.00 pm).
Closed on Thursdays.
Location Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum 翠月楼港式点心
2, 4 & 6, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak