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What The Locals Eat In Ipoh That You Should Try

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Cover image via Amayzing/Burpple & @awiratedja (Instagram)

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1. Lim Curry Laksa

Locals love going to Lim Curry Laksa for their curry noodles, which come in large sizes topped with lots of siham (cockles) and crispy char siew. The curry is said to be thick and spicy. It can get pretty crowded but there's usually a numbering system for customers.

What to order:

Nyonya-style curry noodles

Address:
893, Persiaran Bercham Timur 1,
Kampung Bercham, 31400 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
7am - 1pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)
Closed on Mondays.

2. Restaurant Kam Wan Aneka Selera

If you're in Ipoh in a group, this is a one-stop eatery to add to the itinerary. It has a variety of yummy dishes that everyone can order and share. At peak hours, there might be a queue for the popiah stall, so just be prepared.

What to order:

Ikan bakar, nasi kunyit, popiah, and balitong

Address:
Lengkok Canning, Ipoh Garden
31400 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
5.30pm - 12.30am (Daily)

3. Restoran New Hollywood

For those who want to enjoy the different popular Ipoh dishes, head to New Hollywood. You'll find almost everything under the sun, from chicken rice to chee cheong fan. There's also a chakoi/youtiao stall that reviews highly recommend. 

What to order:

Chee cheong fan, char kuey teow, Ipoh white coffee, wantan mee, yong tau foo, and roti goyang

Address:
Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
7am - 10pm (Tuesdays to Sundays)
Closed on Mondays.

4. Buntong beef noodle (文冬口茶餐厅)

Image via YunA/Google
Image via j c/Google

Famous for their beef noodles, which are said to be fragrant and packed with flavour – even locals themselves recommend it.  

There's a yong tau foo section where you can add on fried wonton, springy fish balls, and more. One review notes that a 'hidden highlight' of the restaurant is the satay stall next to it, which serves tasty pork satay.

What to order:

Beef noodles and pork satay

Address:
75, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee,
30300 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
5.30pm - 10.30pm (Mondays to Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays.

5. Chang Jiang White Coffee

Image via Eyvon/Google

Located in an old-school single-storey bungalow, Chang Jiang White Coffee will bring you down memory lane. It's almost as if you're entering a grandparent's home with its vintage tiles, marble tables, and stools.

The coffee shop is mainly known for its white coffee. However, it also serves a variety of heavier and lighter meals, along with different roti bakar styles that are a must-try.

What to order:

Chang Jiang toast and Chang Jiang Golden Beach

Address:
7, Jalan Windsor,
30250 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
8am - 6pm (Daily)

6. Sin Yoon Loong

As one of the older coffee shops in Ipoh, Sin Yoon Loong is naturally a popular spot for both locals and visitors. Head there early if you want to find easy parking. It's definitely one of the top eateries for many of Ipoh's best tea time food.

What to order:
Ipoh white coffee, kaya and butter toast, roti goyang, caramel custard, egg tart, and chee cheong fan

Address:
15A, Jalan Bandar Timah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
6am - 2.30pm (Daily)

7. Choong Kee Pokok Besar

Choong Kee is relatively easy to spot. As its name suggests, it can be found under a 'big tree'.

It's one of the more popular Ipoh eateries where you'll find affordable yong tau foo and asam laksa, among other dishes. The asam laksa broth is legit. Overall, a great spot for groups to enjoy a variety of Ipoh's famous hawker delights.

What to order:
Ipoh white coffee, asam laksa, yong tau foo, and curry mee

Address:
1213, Jalan King, Taman Hoover,
31650 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
8am - 5.30pm (Daily)


8. Nam Heong White Coffee

What's a trip to Ipoh without getting its famous white coffee? Located just opposite Sin Yoon Loong is Nam Heong coffee shop – the OG of Ipoh's culinary heritage. It's been around for over 60 years, selling egg tarts, dim sum, and other breakfast goodies.

Several reviews also shared that the prawn mee, curry mee, and hor fun are worth trying. However, be sure to head there early to get parking and a table.

What to order:

Ipoh white coffee, char kuey teow, dim sum, and egg tarts

Address:
2, Jalan Bandar Timah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
6.30am - 5pm (Daily)

9. Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum

Almost every trip to Ipoh should include a stop at a dim sum shop. At least once. :D

Ming Court is one of the more popular ones that serve a good assortment. The paus here are especially fluffy and tasty. Head there early because they can sell out quite quickly, especially on weekends.

What to order:

Dim sum

Address:
36, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, Kampung Jawa,
30300 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
6am - 12.30pm (Daily)
Closed on Thursdays.

10. Foh San

Image via Hanako M/Google

Located just opposite Ming Court is Foh San, which is also known for its dim sum. The area takes up two floors and is much bigger and airy – great for larger groups.

What to order:
Dim sum

Address:
51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, Kampung Jawa,
30300 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
7am - 2pm (Daily)
Closed on Tuesdays.

11. Thean Chun Restaurant

Although popular for its different hawker food varieties, Thean Chun's signature is its caramel custard. It's located near Concubine Lane, so you take a stroll and explore Ipoh's shops and art after all that eating. ;)

What to order:

Chee cheong fan, popiah, prawn mee, satay, hor fun, and caramel custard

Address:
73, Jalan Bandar Timah,
31650 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
8am - 4.30pm (Daily)
Closed on Thursdays.

12. Restaurant Moon De Moon

Image via Tripadvisor

Many recommend Restoran Moon De Moon's hor fun because of its smooth noodles and fragrant soup. Some might even say it's one of the 'best' shredded chicken noodles in Ipoh.

Apparently, the dry curry mee is the bomb as well. It comes with a thick, slightly spicy gravy along with a small lime to squeeze for that tangy kick to the spices.

What to order:

Hor fun and curry mee

Address:
148, Hala Wah Keong, Taman Mirindi,
31400 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
7am - 1pm (Wednesdays to Sundays)
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

13. Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong

Ipoh's bean sprouts have always been popular because of how crunchy and tasty they are.

Lou Wong
serves bean sprouts that are especially plump and juicy, and pair perfectly with its chicken rice. Aside from those, it also has other dishes like char kuey teow and oyster mushroom.

What to order:

Chicken rice and bean sprouts

Address:
49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee,
30000 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
10am - 12am (Daily)

14. Funny Mountain

Not too far from Lou Wong is the ever-so-famous Funny Mountain – one of Ipoh's most popular tau fu fah stalls that has gained a good reputation over the years. The curd is so smooth and silky, it will leave you wanting more than just one bowl.

And you certainly can't leave Ipoh without packing back one of its bottles of fresh soya bean. Trust me.

What to order:

Tau fu fah and soya bean

Address:
50, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee,
30300 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
10.30am - 7.30pm (Daily)
Closed on Tuesdays.

15. Yong Suan

Image via Tripadvisor

There's almost always a queue at Yong Suan and it's not difficult to see why. The shop has been serving nasi ganja since 1957!

At peak hours, a crowd is often there to take away or enjoy its specialty, which comes with rice topped with five to six types of curries, fried chicken, cucumber, salted egg, and a pinch of chutney. 

What to order:

Nasi ganja

Address:
2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee,
30300 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
10am - 5pm (Mondays to Fridays)
10am - 3pm (Saturdays and Sundays)

16. Chee Wah Restaurant

If you're looking for good comfort food, check out this family-run business, which serves mainly two dishes – helpful if you can't decide what to eat. :P

Its claypot lou shu fan broth comes with pork balls, two eggs, and fried garlic bits.

What to order:

Chicken wings and claypot lou shu fan

Address:
12, Jalan Che Tak, Taman Jubilee,
30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Operating hours:
5.30pm - 10.30pm (Fridays to Tuesdays)
Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

17. Nam Chau

This humble kopitiam has most of Ipoh's popular dishes such as hor fun. But customers particularly love its dry curry noodles, which come thick and creamy, along with its roti bakar. The ambience is also said to be pretty laidback and clean, making it a nice place to chill.  

What to order:

Dry curry noodles

Address:
54, Jalan Bandar Timah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
8am - 4pm (Daily)
7.30am - 3.30pm (Thursdays)

18. Kedai Makanan Dan Minuman Taman Timur

Here's one spot that serves plenty of hawker food from morning to night. Especially since some hawkers in Ipoh tend to close by a certain time, this is a good place to head to if you're planning on sleeping in or want to do some sightseeing first. 

What to order:

Chicken rice, nasi lemak, Hakka mee, and mee goreng

Address:
59 & 61, Jalan Perajurit, Taman Ipoh Timur,
31400 Ipoh, Perak

Operating hours:
6am - 10pm (Daily)

19. Chung Confectionery

Image via Google

Before leaving Ipoh, don't forget to tapau the city's popular snacks. Chung Confectionery is well-known for its kaya puffs and egg tarts, which usually sell out by the afternoon.

What to order:

Portuguese egg tarts and kaya puffs

Address:
21, Laluan Rasi Jaya 4b, Taman Rasi Jaya,
31450 Menglembu, Perak

Operating hours:
6.30am - 6.30pm (Daily)
Closed on Mondays.

If you're in the Klang Valley area, check out these other eateries:

For staycation ideas:

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