THE 1ST RECOGNISED IN GOPENG, MORE THAN 30 YEARS 2-GENERATION “WAH ZAI SEAFOOD” BY CHOO FAMILY
Been years, there are lots of local eateries being introduced and favourites by visitors when reached Perak such as Beansprout Chicken at Ipoh, Seafood Porridge at Matang Taiping etc. Here in Gopeng, one of the local chinese new village carried a decade of age, we found and recognised the 31 years Choo’s family seafood recipes which running into 2nd generation still presenting their authentic cuisines to the public.
The local originated Mr. Choo Mooi (1949-2008) was the founder and initial owner of the famous “Restoran Wah Zai”, together with wife Madam Chang Say Moy (born 1955) introduced their home recipe seafood cuisines at Gopeng, Perak since 1984. Recently being running by eldest son Kenny Choo Kwai Keong (born 1983), being assisted by wife Ching Kit Ee and sisters continue serving their family recipes to the locals and visitors in the oldtown.
Founder, Choo Mooi or well known as “Wah Zai” who stepped into the f&b industry began as kitchen trainee under-employed at Ipoh, Perak, who also been travelled to Brunei to expose his profession, later in year 1984 at his age of 35 years old returned to hometown Gopeng, Perak successfully established his very first and owned food stall at the Gopeng Bus Station named “Wah Zai Seafood”, assisted by wife presenting his recipes for few years. Later on moved to the Gopeng fresh market operating for another 12 years reached 2001, where Wah Zai began to have his regulars increased.
Subsequent to the great response from public, enabled Wah Zai expanded his career into a shoplot restaurant along Jalan Taman Bertuah officially registered as “Restoran Wah Zai” continued his explosure in the seafood cuisine industry at Perak. While his eldest son Kenny Choo who at his age of 32 years old currently, touched the industry since year 1995 at his age of 12 helping parents in their food stall at the fresh market, stepped into the career at his 16 years old as chef. And in year 2008 being taking over to run the family restaurant untill recent, still serving his father’s authentic eateries to the visitors.
In Restoran Wah Zai, Kenny’s top recommended in menus will be their Nyonya Talapia Fish, which is one of the restaurant 2-generation recipe. Local fresh Talapia fish with weight of about 700-800grams selected, deep fried, then poured onto their homemade nyonya sauce made from 5 recipes mixture and served wrapped in river leaf mixed with ‘petai’ beans, onions and season beans brings sour & spicy taste you must taste when reached Gopeng, Perak.
Secondly will be their Signature Oat Chicken, which is one of the restaurant’s top seller. Chicken prepared in cutted pieces, marinated with few ingredients mixture, deep fried, then served topped with their home fried dry recipes mixture with curry leaves, butter, egg yolk and oat shredded brings excellent crispy and exotic taste you never regret after taken.
Another will be our local traditional eatery favourites by most of the locals and visitors, the Sambal Petai Prawn. Sea ‘Ming’ prawn being selected, stir fried with ‘petai’ beans and their in-house sambal paste made from 6 spices mixture brings exotic spicy taste you cannot aside. This is also one of the founder Wah Zai’s home recipe since 1980s, still carried by son Kenny Choo today.
Moreover, their Claypot Rice Wine Chicken also among the recommended in the restaurant. Chicken prepared in cutted pieces, seconds deep fried, then stir fried with ginger, ‘Fa Tiew’ rice wine, herbals and their home recipe ingredients. Served boiled in claypot after few minutes stewed, will be one of the best eatery in town.
Nonetheless, their home recipe Fried Bittergourd with Fish Paste will be their regulars most wanted. Homemade fish paste from the mixtures of fish and squid, few minutes stir fried with local fresh bittergourd brings sweet and exotic taste you cannot missed when stepped into the “Restoran Wah Zai” seafood restaurant at Gopeng, Perak.
RESTORAN WAH ZAI
Address: No. 2A,
Jalan Taman Bertuah,
31600 Gopeng, Perak.
Business Hours: 11:30am to 3:30pm
5:30pm to 11:00pm (Daily)