Lunch at Good Idea, Chai Leng Park, Prai, Penang

I went to this Sa Hor Fun Restaurant with my boss, H and their specialty is only Sa Hor Fun dry or wet with soup. Other offering are either green vegetable “ Choy Sum” or “ Wan Tan soup”. I had two bowls of Sa Hor Fun (dry) and it was already very filling.

The owner used to operate in a stall in a coffee shop and now, they have branch out to operate a restaurant on their own. The setting was pretty simple with mable tables and chairs and it was airy and bright. I think it looks more like a franchise now.

Talking about franchise business, it had been very popular a few years ago and the success of Secret Recipe and Old Town Café was born during those years. Many others have fallen apart and failed miserably.

Recently, I read an article that Starbuck is branching into India and of course, they have been very successful in China operating 3000 to 4000 starbuck outlets. In India, there is already many local coffee shops and all of them are enjoying good business. Coffee Bean is not far away from Starbuck in the coffee business.

Coming back to this Sa Hor Fun shop, the taste and its success will based heavily on the quality of the raw materials and in this aspect , it is very difficult to maintain. The quality of Sa Hor Fun can be manageable but in a limited way because it depends a lot on the maker or “Sifu” of the day handling the making of the noodles. Some slight variation will make the noodle having different taste or textures. Worst still, the supply of the green veggies. The source of supply ie from which farm is very important as it is the product of the weather and the earth. These two factors are the most difficult to control or manage. It is never easy to maintain the same texture or the taste.

In food business, one wrong taste or wrong handling, it could drive away the customers permanently and that will the start of an end to the business.

Nevertheless, the Ipoh “ Gek Choy Kai “ have been very popular for many years and people are flocking to Ipoh to taste this dish and this idea have spread to other states like their Good Idea restaurant and another one is “ Mei Fong “ in Kampong Bangali.

Best of luck to the food hunters and please try out at this joint.

Namaste.