Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh

Indulgence Restaurant, Fine Food in a Casual Setting, Ipoh, Malaysia

A good handful of years ago, upon discovering Indulgence Restaurant in Ipoh, I recall being so delighted with the food and setting that Iā€™d happily take on the two-hour journey from KL on frequent occasions just for a lunch date.

The things that kept me coming back were the creative menu, quality ingredients and quirky environment. I recall owner, Julie Song, once telling me that there are no mistakes in cooking ā€“ if the chocolate cake doesnā€™t rise, then itā€™s not a chocolate cake, itā€™s a base for a cheesecake and so on. With an open mind and ability to see the world and all of its kinks in a favourable light, Julieā€™s invented recipes and eye for design leave me inspired on every visit.

And so it is, we return on a little getaway to Ipoh and our first stop is Indulgence Restaurant. Itā€™s a long weekend and full of (I assume) locals taking advantage of the extra downtime to relish a leisurely mealtime. Soft jazz tunes hum in the background and although the dining space is ample, it feels intimate with loose curtains cordoning off the main room and a variety of smaller rooms around its edges too.

In constant desire to improve, explore and invent, Julie is continually traveling, creating and learning new cooking techniques. Sheā€™s recently mastered Korean and Japanese cuisines and highlights dishes from her new skill set four times a year, showcasing fine dining interpretations of these styles in a casual environment.

Tonight weā€™re in for a treat as Julie promises to take us around the world with bits and pieces sheā€™s been experimenting with over the last five years. Regular guests know never to expect sameness, but delight in the fact that they can return week after week and always find something new. Julieā€™s need for excitement and challenge, and love of colour is reflected in an evolving menu ā€“ staying true to the core principals of fine food in a casual setting, but morphing in various directions with new knowledge gained.

Korean begins our international line-up with traditional kimchi accompanied by sticky rice sticks and mozzarella cheese on a skewer. The rice is smooth and oleaginous with the cheese and the sharp kimchi balances it out by cutting through its richness. A sweet onion sauce adds another dimension and I have to guard my plate as Iā€™m taking notes as hubby has tried (twice now!) to swipe my remaining bite from the skewer.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Kimchi and Sticky Rice Sticks

Pan seared foie gras, topped with a crepe of caramelized onion is sided with a petite mound of fresh avocado. We can smell the sweet and fatty combo as itā€™s set down before us and I swear I can see saliva welling in the corners of hubbyā€™s mouth. ā€œVery nice. Sheā€™s good babe,ā€ declares hubby as he takes the first slice. ā€œThatā€™s delicious. You have to eat it hot. Yeah, sheā€™s very good,ā€ he continues with the charade of compliments. Yep. Itā€™s good stuff.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Foie Gras and Caramelized Onion Crepe

Mu-shu chicken has been marinated for many hours and then slow cooked to produce full flavoured and tender chicken pieces (similar in characteristics to char siew). Served in a steamed bun and drizzled with house made barbecue sauce, itā€™s topped with pickled kyuri (Japanese cucumber), which freshens the palate. Thereā€™s no chance a knife and fork will do here. This one is made for the hands and we both pick it up and devour our portions with enthusiasm.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Mu-Shu Chicken in Steamed Bun

Giant curls of fusilli pasta are crowned with prawns hot off the grill in the next dish. The smell of the seafood incites memories of beach barbecues and general summertime fun. Onions, tomatoes, red capsicum, dill, garlic and black olives mix with a light cream sauce that we happily scoop both on its own and with the pasta. Yum.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Giant Fusilli and Prawns

Moist pink ocean trout is wedged between a creamy mash of green peas, and half of a grilled beef tomato. Thereā€™s a hint of horseradish in the green base elegantly harmonizing the natural fish oils. Iā€™m loving the colours on the plate, and the beetroot frites garnished with mixed leaves adds both pigment and crunch.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Ocean Trout

When the next dish arrives we request reassurance from our waiter that this is the last dish (our stomachs are bulging and we donā€™t trust ourselves to show restraint when another delicious plate is set before us). Our waiter gives us the look of, ā€œSheā€™s on a roll. I really have no idea when the onslaught of plates will subside,ā€ and lays an attractive platter of lamb ribs on the table. These beauties are perfectly cooked ā€“ caramelized around the edges and pink in the middle. An unusual trimming of fresh mango slices comes alongside classic roast potato wedges and mesclun. ā€œOh delicious. Amazing. Oh so good,ā€ declares hubby rubbing his stomach and pinching his sides. ā€œTomorrow I need to have an eight hour tennis session,ā€ he continues going back for another slice, ā€œTop notch.ā€

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Lamb

And now the finaleā€¦ mochi! We like mochi. A pretty arrangement of red bean and purple sweet potato filled balls are interspersed with plump red strawberries.Ā Hubby trumpets that heā€™s not having any dessert, and will also forego breakfast tomorrow morning, that is, until he takes his first bite. ā€œWow, what an experience. Oh my, so delicious. I love mochi,ā€ he rambles. The skin is smooth and elastic, and the filling mildly sweet. Needless to say, theyā€™re excellent, and the last three get sent up to our room for finishing off later.

Indulgence Restaurant, Ipoh
Mochi

Julieā€™s recipes have evolved in the five years since we last saw her. European cooking techniques seemed to be the base for most recipes during our initial experience, now the menu is rich with the integration of Asian cookery. In Julie we find culinary muse and find Indulgence Restaurant as a continued source for inspiration. Julie bids us farewell stating, ā€œIā€™m not complete. Iā€™m always learning. I donā€™t think Iā€™ll ever say Iā€™m done. Thereā€™s always more to discover.ā€

Reasons to visit: wonderfully creative fare made with high quality ingredients; charming and casual setting; the menu changes frequently but if you catch Mu-shu Chicken or Mochi on the menu, be sure to place an order.

Indulgence Restaurant
14 Jalan Raja Dihilir
30350 Ipoh
Perak, Malaysia
+6 (0)5 255 5051
[email protected]
http://indulgencerestaurant.com/
Open Wednesday ā€“ Sunday 9am ā€“ 11:30pm
Ample parking

20 Comments

  1. Oh, I remember Julie….she’s a household name in Ipoh. I should have visited this one instead of her other sister restaurants…the food looks good! šŸ˜‰

    • Yes, she seems to have quite a reputation as a top chef in Malaysia – although she humbly wouldn’t admit it. šŸ™‚

  2. Wow! This is in Ipoh. Very impressive. I guess this is a place not to be missed in addition to all the other good food places in Ipoh.

    • There’s much to love about the food scene in Ipoh – and I think one of those things is the variety of good food experiences to be found. šŸ™‚

  3. I really like her open mind and ability to see things in a “poetic” way. I guess the name says it all… Indulgence… really exquisite food, everything looks delicious šŸ™‚

  4. Didn’t know there’s such a restaurant in Ipoh! I’ll make sure to include this on my list next trip!

  5. Nice! The presentation is so dainty & flawless, dear! xoxo

  6. after all these years, i actually still haven’t visited indulgence! but i respect how it has really endured the test of time šŸ˜‰

    • There’s lots for you to love and explore here Sean – and it’s only 2 hours from KL – a great day trip or overnighter.

  7. Indulgence is a well known name in Ipoh.

  8. Lamb! I can skip the rest. šŸ˜‰

  9. Very unique, classy.

  10. The lamb looks delicious and the presentations are lovely!

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