Situated in Medan Ipoh Bistari, within the vicinity of Tesco and Kinta City Shopping Center in Ipoh Garden East, Ipoh, Fu Tien has been operating for quite some time. What sets this vegetarian restaurant apart from your typical vegetarian food outlet is that, they serve fusion choices such as vegetarian and fruits sushi, on top of the routine servings of dishes, fried rice and noodles, soups, and so forth.
Appetizers of pickles and nuts to stimulate your appetite
Golden Dragon
Vinegared rice rolls filled with carrots, kampyo, and crunchy flakes topped with fresh, tangy and sweet mangoes. One of the best-sellers in this restaurant, promising an alluring entree to the forthcoming dishes.
Sakura
Sakura rolls, aptly named to describe the Japanese-influenced sushi rolls filled with red cabbage, mangoes, 'abalone' and turnips. The resemblance to the non-vegetarian sushi is uncanny-like, the vegetarian abalone strips mimicking the real stuff quite well.
Stir-fried Spicy Sweet Potato Leaves
We ordered some white rice for the remaining dishes, as binging on sushi alone did not seem to cut it for lunch. The recommended greens of the day was sweet potato leaves, stir-fried with a spicy gravy, akin to sambal style, and crispy fritters masquerading as prawns I supposed.
Salad Prawn Rolls
Of course, drop that hope of chewing into REAL crustacean flesh, but these deep-fried rolls of mock-prawn meat came pretty close. Drizzled with mayonaise, the rolls were crispy and delicious, a perfect snack to appease the cravings for something savoury. The portion's barely enough for the eleven of us, which was basically all I had to lament about.
Signature Beancurd Braised with Brinjals
The gravy complemented the fluffy white rice well, although the beancurd was nothing special. Those who prefer simple, home-cooked style dishes would appreciate this dish though.
Sweet & Sour Vegetarian Pork Ribs
The "Pai Kuat Wong", vegetarian-style, was an interesting dish, suitable for the young and the old. The mock spare ribs resembled their boneless counterparts, cooked with sweet and sour sauce, and liberately sprinkled with sesame seeds. Once again, remember to ask for double servings if there's a big eater in your group, as we were left wanting for more after a piece each.
Thai style Mock-Fish
The garnishing of julienned cabbage, carrots, and pineapple cubes enveloped the whole slab of 'fish' hidden underneath. Another recommended dish, the sauce appeared to be slightly sweet, sour, and spicy at the same time, quite alike Thai chilli sauce. A good dish to go with white rice, though they could do better with more gravy.
Bento D
Of course, if you're dining alone, or with one companion, it's wise to choose their set lunches (bento meals) for individual portions. Available from Monday to Saturday only, from 11.30am til 2.45pm, they serve a few variety of sets, reasonably priced from RM3.50-RM5.50 per set. The Bento D set came with vegetable tempura, a plate of cucumber sushi rolls, vegetables, and soup of the day. Nothing too fancy, but quite filling, nevertheless.
The meal for eleven of us cost RM117, including drinks and rice. The place can be quite packed during lunch hours, especially on weekends, and public holidays.
Fu Tien Vegetarian Restaurant
34, Jalan Medan 18,
Medan Ipoh Bistari,
31400 Ipoh, Perak
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