I was in the Rejang Park area the other morning as I was helping Melissa’s housemate to pay the electricity and water bills for her house in Sibu. That is another problem that they face teaching in a rural school – they can only come back on weekends when all the collection centres would be closed plus the bills always come so late – just a few days to the expiry dates (especially those from Telekom Malaysia – at times, the bill even arrives past the due date for payment) so it may be difficult for them to meet the deadline. They may be able to make it before the offices close on Friday afternoons but that would be quite a rush really.
After having settled what I had to do, I decided to drop by here to try their kampua noodles (RM2.50)…
I’ve had their fried kway teow before and I thought it was pretty good – among the best in town, I must say. This is not a very big area of shops but there are more than half a dozen kampua stalls, some of which I have tried…but not this one and a few of the others as well. I thought this one was all right – not the best here and definitely not the best in town. However, I did like it a lot more when I’ve tossed the minced meat with the noodles as I could sense a hint of garlic – probably they used that in cooking the meat and that brought it to a whole new level.
I wasn’t all that thrilled by the one next door when I had it a long time ago – my favourite around here is still the one here while this place was not too bad either. I don’t mind the one here either but it was their coffee that was the main attraction but since the guy left, it had gone downhill and I, for one, would not bother to drop by there anymore. My friend, Philip, who is currently home from the US, went and tried the one here and he said it was just so-so – not one that would get him rushing back for more. I do recall having the one in the same shop as this stall as well a long time ago, probably before I even started blogging, but I cannot remember whether it was any good or not. All in all, I would say that most would be good enough if you’re in the vicinity and would like to stop by some place for a bite to eat but I would not make my way there on purpose for any of those that I have tried.
I also tried the mixed soup (RM3.50)…
,,,which, like the kampua noodles, was, at best, not too bad. There was quite a bit of liver and intestines inside…and other than those, they also had some fish falls, deep-fried and tau kua (bean curd cake) and some green vegetables. I wished they had some mined meat balls but there wasn’t any – all the minced meat they had in the soup was in the tau kua…
Incidentally, if ever you’re in Sibu, you may notice that when you go and eat at the shops, they will bring you your spoon and chopsticks or your fork and spoon in a mug or cup of hot boiling water. If I’m not wrong, this is a ruling laid down by the municipal council in an effort to ensure cleanliness at all eateries in town but I do get quite worried when they use those plastic ones as there may be some adverse effects resulting from the reaction of the heat in the water with the plastic. In this particular shop, everything is in a basket, all ready for use and once you’re seated, they will bring you the hot boiling water in a mug and all you would have to do would be to pick what you would want to use to eat and dip them in the mug yourself…
I would not know how far this is effective but it is good that at least, some people are trying to do something for the good of all and everyone should give their full support and cooperation.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
I think cleanliness is so important and I am happy to see that places are practicing this. Great post.
I am too. Glad that everyone is cooperating with the town authorities for the good of all.
You are really the kampua expert. I am not looking forward for that mixed soup though, it seems like it has some ingredients that i don’t really like 😡
Not really great, anyway. I love the ones in Kuching, much nicer. You’re coming over? Looking forward to the kampua and not the soup, you said? When?
I were surprised when they served the cutleries in mugs when I were visiting the first time in Sibu. Haha. Seldom seen this practice in Kuching except old coffee shops. Mostly they used those disposable type which I really hate because hardly can scoop your food with those plastic spoon, forks and chopsticks.
next time give me a buzz when you are at Rejang Park. 😉
Not so environment-friendly those plastic cutlery. When I tapao something and they want to give those, I would tell them no need. They should do the same thing in Kuching too. Sure gives a little bit of assurance. I did peep into your SIL’s shop, no sign of anybody so I just guessed you were not around.
Me too. I ask them not to give me the plastic spoons whenever I tapau too.
I stay at home lately. Too hot and lazy to go out from the house unless necessary. Hehehe.
Me too. Every day so so so hot! 😦 Ya, those small plastic spoons that they give you with your chap fan can be quite sharp along the edges. Never like using those.
I like the red chairs and spoons.
Not very good quality these new ones – the red chairs. Some, when I sit on them, the legs will open/stretch wide. At some shops, when they see me coming, they will quickly take the really old plastic chairs for me to sit on. Definitely sturdier, better. They don’t make things as good as they used to anymore these days…
Oooh I didnt know all the eateries would bring you hot water to rendam your utensils.. Here most eateries doesnt do that.. Everything is in a basket like you said, and when the food comes, you just pick your utensils and wipe it with tissue!
Not much help if your tissue is dry – does not “disinfect”. Wet ones are perfumed…not good to use those as well.
Good combination, kampua noodles & mixed soup. Most of the kopitiam here are using plastic cups instead of the stainless steel or mug like in the pix, but at least they practise this cleanliness.
Yup, something’s better than nothing. I prefer the mixed soup in Kuching, Carpenter Street… Yum! Yum!
Decided to go to RP to try that wok hei char kueh tiaw but just my luck, place is closed till Monday. Tried the kueh chap in that chu char place yesterday and it was quite good.
I tried that and also their beef noodles when they first opened. Not bad. Not the best in town, but good enough.
i support keeping eateries clean and hygienic too ! 🙂
been so busy lately with the two kids that i;ve been neglecting my blog ><.. hoping to make a comeback soon!
have a great weekend !
You too. Ya…must help missus with the two – not easy, that’s for sure, don’t blog or go for all those events all the time. Family first!!!
Oh ya, those bills do come in late. My office has the same problem. And they have the audacity to give us those automated reminder calls to settle our bill. Grrrr…..
Here, only the ones from TM – and the people at the office say the bills are sent from KL. 😦
So nice of you to run errands for your girl’s friends too.. that reminds me… I also ran some errands for my boy’s uni friends those days… paid summon, took them to bus station, took them out to makan.. (makan is no errand, I know) hahahaaha..
Not a problem, no big deal. Anything to help. This one gives her a lift back to town every Friday after school – the least I can do to reciprocate.
the hot-water cleaning technique is something i remember from my childhood in malacca at some dim sum outlets too. the container wouldn’t be plastic, i think, it’d be a proper bowl 🙂
They use mugs here mostly – many of them free ones from AlifCafe, I noticed…but some use stainless steel or plastic cups. I do know of tea with lime in bowls or small basins for people to wash their hands after eating crabs.
Have a great weekend ahead ya…
You too.
You’re very helpful. 🙂 Good thing that teacher has someone to care of the bills.
The sanitary scheme made by the local government is effective if the water is indeed boiling not just warm. I bet that will an added cost to the restaurant because they need to keep the water boiling and that consumes fuel. Fuel doesn’t come cheap.
The water comes from the people running the coffee shop – they always keep the water boiling to make hot drinks like coffee, tea and so on. I don’t think they use those electric boilers – that would be convenient as it boils the water in it and keeps it hot and will start boiling again when the water is not so hot or when you add more water. My daughter has one in her teachers’ quarters in her school.
yess… the bills and statements that i received nowadays are all past due datessss.. why?????? 😦
you’re such a sweet person for helping others to make payment on the utilities… your kampua reminds me of Chopsticks famous kampua noodles that i had last saturday .. hehehehe..
It’s all right. I’m retired, so free…nothing much to do, good to have something to do to pass the time.