Chee cheong fun business still thriving after 50 years

The chee cheong fun the Loh’s have been making for 50 years has fans from outside Kampar.

LOH Chee Meng used to ride a bicycle to sell chee cheong fun from dawn to dusk.

There was nothing that could stop or slow down Chee Meng, not even the 60kg of chee cheong fun he carried with him on his bicycle.

“The thought of having eight mouths to feed at home kept me going rain or shine.

“I only returned home after selling off all the noodles,” said Chee Meng, now 80, recalling his days selling chee cheong fun around Kampar and Bidor.

He and his wife, Choong Fong, had to struggle to raise their four children and take care of his aged parents.

Chee Meng said he and his wife prepared the chee cheong fun at home.

He said he started his chee cheong fun business after he lost his job at a tin mine in Bidor in 1965.

Jing Hoo said the quality of the chee cheong fun must be given top most priority at all times. — Photos: FOONG PEK YEE/The Star

After 30 years on the road, Chee Meng finally set up Meng Kee Chee Cheong Fun stall under the porch of his house porch in Aston Settlement (New Village) in Kampar.

He went into semi retirement when his son Loh Jing Hoo took over the business 10 years ago.

Chee Meng is still the familiar face at the stall, helping out his son and chatting with his regular customers. They also have regular customers from other towns.

Asked about his secret for making silky smooth chee cheong fun and the delicious sauce, he maintained that there is no secret.

While a friend had taught him how to make chee cheong fun, Chee Meng says he had to keep learning to perfect the dish.

“Learning means getting feedback from customers and experimenting with the ingredients and cooking,” he explained.

Chee Meng’s passion for chee cheong fun was evident when he spoke to MetroPerak at his stall recently.

Recounting the good old days, he said the price of a plate of chee cheong fun was 10 sen to 20 sen in the 1960s.

Today, he said a plate of plain chee cheong fun is priced at RM3.

Chee Meng still rides his bicycle around Kampar.

The price can go up to between RM4 and RM5 for special types of chee cheong fun.

Meng Kee sells three types of chee cheong fun: plain, with shrimp, and shrimp plus chives.

Jing Hoo, in his 40s, proudly points out that the chee cheong fun with shrimp and chives is his creation.

The family business has been around 50 years now, and while many things have changed over the years, their trademark – fresh and high quality chee cheong fun – remains.

Like his father, Jing Hoo wakes up at 2.30am daily to prepare the chee cheong fun in time to open their stall at 7am.

The stall at 27, 1st Avenue, Aston Settlement in Kampar stays open until the chee cheong fun for the day is sold out.

Customers, especially those from out of town can call 012-5889280 to make sure the stall is open before they make a trip there.

In his golden years now, Chee Meng continues to ride his bicycle around the village and town for leisure.

“I do not have to pay for petrol and parking,” he quipped.