IT IS remarkable how a simple bowl of noodles can serve as an anchor to one’s past.

Ipoh Yong Tau Fu Hakka Mee and Noodles stall in Shah Alam, Selangor, holds a special place in my heart, as its flavour profile is remarkably similar to the authentic taste found in my hometown of Ipoh, Perak.

The stall within Jin Ho Chiak Kopitiam in Setia Alam is run by a dedicated husband-and-wife team, who are also originally from Ipoh.

Stall owner Kong Chee Tooi, 55, said he and his wife had maintained the business for the past seven years.

“The main specialities here are Hakka Mee, as well as lai fun which are thick rice noodles served either in a clear soup or tossed in a soy sauce mixture in the dry version.

Hakka Mee.

“We also source our yong tau fu from suppliers in Ipoh and strive to replicate the soup base to taste as close as possible to my hometown’s version,” he explained.

Kong ran a fashion boutique in Kuala Lumpur two decades ago.

However, after being diagnosed with nose cancer in 2014, he was forced to shut that venture to focus on his recovery.

“After four years of treatment and recovery, I decided to start a small business.

“My lifelong enjoyment of a hearty bowl of Ipoh noodle soup sparked the idea to open this stall in 2018,” he said.

Kong’s Hakka Mee is crowned with a rich, savoury minced pork topping that delivers a burst of umami when combined with the chewy, springy Hakka noodles.

A selection of fried delights.

The secret, he revealed, lies in the addition of minced mushrooms which refined both the texture and flavour of the topping.

The noodles are delicious on their own, but pairing them with a few pieces of yong tau fu elevates it to a truly satisfying meal.

I usually opt for their pork tendon balls, which are a relatively rare yong tau fu item to find in Selangor.

They have a firm texture with a hint of ginger taste.

I pair them with a selection of cuttlefish and pork balls, fried bean curd skin, fried wonton and fried brinjal yong tau fu.

'Yong tau fu’ soup with pork tendon balls.

Paired with a hot cup of teh-C, it makes for a satisfying breakfast.

Jin Ho Chiak Kopitiam is located at the corner unit on Jalan Setia Utama U13/AV in Setia Alam.

The kopitiam can be crowded on weekends, but there is plenty of parking available around the area.

The Ipoh Yong Tau Fu Hakka Mee stall opens at 7am and closes when the food sells out. It is non-halal.