What The Locals Eat In Ipoh That You Should Try
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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)
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
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
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
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
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
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.