What should you try and where can you find the most authentic versions of Ipoh’s most famous food?
Get set to plan your bucket list with our recommendations of authentic local eateries! And yes, this list could have been much longer, but we will leave it as it is.
This list has both tourist and local spots that we have tried.
List Of Famous Food
- Taugeh (Beansprout) Chicken Rice
- Ipoh White Coffee
- Hakka Mee
- Gai Se Hor Fun
- Caramel Egg Custard
- Curry Mee
- Dimsum
- Tau Fu Fa
- Kaya Puff @ Sin Eng Heong
- Peanut Candy @ Sin Weng Fai
- Wantan Mee
- Cendol
- Assam Laksa & Yong Tau Foo
- Tambun Pomelo
- Snow Beer
- Salted Chicken by Aun Kheng Lim
- Chee Cheong Fun
- Popiah
- Restoran New Hollywood
- Tong Sui Kai
- Medan Selera Stadium Perak
- Restoran Tuck Kee
- Nasi Ganja
1. Taugeh (Beansprout) Chicken Rice At Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
Ipoh is famous for tauge ayam (beansprout chicken) or nga choi kai (Cantonese for tauge chicken).
Many Ipoh-rians swear by this shop that specializes in nga choi kai! And we agree that it’s one of the best in Ipoh.
They have very limited opening hours though:
3 to 4 days of the week (not fixed)! And only in the evening, Moreover, expect a crowd (of tourists and locals alike) to quickly appear an hour before the official opening time.
Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant doesn’t serve rice with their chicken. Instead, expect a hearty bowl of hor fun (flat white rice noodles) with strong chicken flavor!
Read about our experience at Cowan Street Chicken Rice Restaurant.
- Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: Thursday to Sunday – 6pm to 12am, Sunday from 6pm to 10pm; (Closed from Monday to Wednesday)
- Contact: +6012-520 3322
Other famous options:
- Lou Wong
- Ong Kee Bean Sprouts Chicken Restaurant
More options for the best taugeh chicken rice is in Ipoh.
2. Ipoh White Coffee
Coffee enthusiasts must try Ipoh white coffee at least once. Here are a few spots you can try a cup of this quintessential Ipoh staple:
You can usually spot locals at these places as early as 7am.
2.1. Sin Yoon Loong
They have good Dan Chi (soft-boiled eggs on toast) too! That’s about it besides Ipoh-average wantan mee and chee cheong fun.
- Address: 15a, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 6:30am to 2:30pm
- Contact: +605-241 4601
2.2. Nam Heong White Coffee
Try their egg tarts and Muah Chee while you are there!
Want to see what else is worth trying at Nam Heong White Coffee Shop?
- Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 7am to 5pm
- Contact: +6012-588 8766
More options for Ipoh white coffee.
3. Hakka Mee At Restoran Cathay
You can find this simple noodle dish made with soy sauce and topped with succulent minced pork (and sometimes, beansprouts) almost anywhere in Ipoh.
Many offer side dishes (like yong tau foo) to go with your noodles!
We recommend Restoran Cathay if you’re exploring Ipoh New Town or Ipoh Old Town. Because Restoran Cathay has other must-try food.
Hainanese chicken chop and other staple fried noodles like mee hoon can be ordered here! The Hainanese chicken chop is simple. But we feel that this is an authentic version of an affordable Hainanese chicken chop in a traditional coffee shop setting.
- Address: A17, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 7:30am to 4pm (Closed on Friday & Saturday)
- Contact: +605-241 9414
4. Chicken Ho Fun (Gai Se Hor Fun)
A bowl of chicken and prawn shell soup topped with prawn oil. Typically filled with pieces of shredded chicken, a few prawns and hor fun noodles.
With some chopped scallion as garnish!
4.1. Restoran Thean Chun
My family’s personal favorite is at Restoran Thean Chun. It has a notable prawn flavor. You have to go early before they start thinning out the broth.
Note: Many gai se hor fun stalls in Ipoh get their noodles from the same supplier so the texture is more or less the same from stall to stall
But beware, the queue is quite terrible on public holidays and weekends though!
There is great pork & chicken satay here too and for dessert, make sure you order the caramel custard!
See what else is worth ordering at Thean Chun Restaurant in Ipoh.
- Address: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 8am to 4:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays & Thursdays)
4.2. Loke Wooi Kee Cafe (乐会居茶室)
Unlike the first two places, it’s easier to get a table (and parking) over here:
The gai se hor fun here is delicious too!
It can be quite stuffy in the restaurant so you can opt for the nostalgic ice cream float!
- Address: 26, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 8am to 2pm
- Remark: Beef soup, apam balik (大块面) and hor hee is good too!
4.3. Moon De Moon
Here’s another local favorite breakfast spot. This coffeeshop is famous their flavorful gai se hor fun which can sell out by 11am.
Some patience is required if you want to dine here due to long waiting times! Especially during breakfast on weekends (peak time of 9am).
- Address: 148, Hala Wah Keong, Taman Mirindi, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 7:30am to 1pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
- Contact: +6012-516 0485
5. Caramel Egg Custard
This is a sweet dessert of jelly-like texture that can be found in some, food courts (i.e., hawker centers) and coffee shops (i.e., kopitiams) around Ipoh:
- Restoran Thean Chun
- Sin Yoon Loong
6. Curry Mee At Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodles
Curry noodles are noodles eaten with tasty curry sauce. You can have them in soup or dry form.
The fabulous dry curry noodles at Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodles are worth the trouble of parking! And thus, crowds are present at both breakfast and lunch.
PS: You can try the soup version of curry noodles here as well.
Coffee is average but the tea egg is a must-order here.
- Address: 39, Jalan Kampar, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 7am to 2pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact: +605-242 1043
See more places to find curry mee in Ipoh.
7. Dim Sum At Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to where to have best dim sum in Ipoh!
Many of these open early in the morning and so you have less to choose from if you come around lunchtime:
Foh San and Ming Court are the most well-known and they’re across from each other! But these days, the most popular dim sum restaurant in Ipoh is Chooi Yue Dim Sum Ipoh.
Whenever Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum Ipoh is open for business, expect heavy congestion in Ipoh Garden South in the daytime.
The wait for an available table can take more than an hour. Even if you hope to beat the crowds by going early, many of the dishes aren’t ready until 8am.
However, the dim sum delicious, and affordable. And they have white coffee!
Note: Expect heavy congestion in Ipoh Garden South in the daytime.
See what else should you know about Chooi Yue Dim Sum Restaurant.
- Address: 2, 4 & 6, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 7am–1pm (Closed on Thursdays)
- Contact: +6016 534 5965
Other option: Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum.
See our personal opinion of Foh San Restaurant In Ipoh.
See other worthy dim sum restaurants in Ipoh!
8. Tau Fu Fa At Woong Kee Beancurd
Tau fu fa is another dessert you can try in Ipoh. It is a block of silky tau fu (tofu or beancurd) sitting in either white or brown sugar syrup.
You can eat it cold or warm. Some creative variations include toppings like mango, ginger or even durian!
We have never come across bad tau fu fa in Ipoh – all have smooth textures and are enjoyable. But our favorite place to get tau fu fa is at Woong Kee Beancurd stall on Taman Jubilee.
This stall doesn’t have many seats or a proper seating area, but you’ll forget that once you taste their tau fu fa – it’s unbelievably smooth.
Woong Kee Beancurd has another prominent stall in Ipoh at Bercham. They have a new branch in Kuala Lumpur too.
- Address: No.32-38A, Jalan Ali Pitchay, Taman Jubilee, 30250 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 11:30am to 6pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: +6012-5177452
Other nearby options:
- Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd
- Big Mom Beancurd
There are more places to try tau fu fa in Ipoh!
9. Kaya Puff @ Sin Eng Heong
The frustrating queue for Sin Eng Heong kaya puffs is just as famous as the kaya puffs themselves. However, you might be able to skip most of the crowds by arriving at the shop at 9am.
Either way, you might still have to queue for at least 45 minutes (even on weekdays). 2 hours is not unheard of.
Note: If you’re getting in line, always ask if they’ve sold out as they won’t tell you until you’ve reached your turn
And if you’re not here for the kaya puffs, you can still buy other pastries without having to join the queue.
But is the wait for the kaya puffs worth it? Yes, the freshly baked kaya puffs are exceptionally flaky, and the kaya (coconut custard) is fragrant.
- Address: 64, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 9:30am–6pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
- Contact: +605-243 9659
10. Peanut Candy At Sin Weng Fai
Because of how popular the peanut brittle/ peanut candy at Sin Weng Fai is, each customer can only get a fixed number of the 300g packets (RM11/packet).
The queue can take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours including the time it takes for the staff to pack the freshly baked peanut candy.
PS: If you don’t see the infamous crowd that snakes outside the shop, the peanut candy isn’t ready yet! They only come out past 10am.
What’s so good about this peanut candy? It is crunchy but not hard, and tasty but not overly sweet.
Note: If you’re not picky, there are other places to buy fresh peanut candy in Ipoh so if you don’t have the time to queue for these, don’t beat yourself up!
- Address: 69 & 69A, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 9am–9:30pm
- Contact: +605-243 1211
Other places to buy peanut candy: 5 Famous Ipoh Peanut Candy Stores To Check Out In Ipoh
Read more on other ipoh biscuits and souvenirs that you can bring back home.
11. Min Chee Wan Tan Mee (No.36) At Medan Selera Stadium
This is another Chinese noodle dish (alternative spelling: wantan mee or wanton mee) which is served in soup or dry form.
The dry version typically has black sauce and strips of char siew (pork slices). It comes with a bowl of anchovy soup on the side that contains wanton dumplings and choy sum (green leafy vegetable).
For the soup version, the noodles just go into the soup (no black sauce). And there will often not be any char siew.
Dumplings may have pork or prawn meat as the filling. Some places deep fry the wantan dumplings.
Even if the portions are small and the char siew is not appetizing, the wanton mee at Min Chee Wan Tan Mee is exceptional. The main reason for this is the bouncy texture of their noodles.
This humble stall has been run by the same family for generations. And it consistently tastes and looks the same. Portions run small.
- Address: Ipoh Town Lot 36, Medan Selera Stadium, Jalan Ghazali Jawi, Ipoh Garden
- Opening hours: 6:30am to 4pm (Closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Other places for wantan mee:
- Cheong Kee Wan Tan Mee
- Restoran Yin
12. Cendol At Cendol Wawasan In Bercham
Cendol is a cold dessert best enjoyed in the heat of the day.
A mixture of brown sugar syrup and coconut milk (or evaporated milk) is poured over shaved ice in a bowl. Topped with green worm-like jellies and red beans.
The very best cendol uses fresh coconut milk and gula melaka (palm sugar) instead of regular brown sugar.
Our favorite spot for cendol is Cendol Wawasan at Bercham, Ipoh.
There’s often a line (up to 30 minutes) at this roadside stall under the hot sun for a hefty bowl of this creamy cendol!
The cendol has coconut milk and gula melaka syrup. You can request for different toppings like cendol, red beans, canned corn, etc.
- Address: Petron, Jalan Bercham, Taman Tasek Indra, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 11:30pm to 4pm
- Remark: Stall is not open on rainy days!
- Contact: +6014-258 2253
Another famous cendol stall in Ipoh is in Gunung Rapat, but queues are long. See more cendol places worth trying in Ipoh.
13. Assam Laksa And Yong Tau Foo @ Dai Shu Geok / Restoran Choong Kee
Assam Laksa is a famous Penang street food. Ipoh’s version of assam laksa is quite different.
Note: You may find bean sprouts in your Assam Laksa at Ipoh!
Restoran Choong Kee is a go-to place for very inexpensive yong tau foo. They have a wide selection too. But the other reason to come here is for their savory laksa!
Note: The portion for the noodles of the laksa is quite small.
Yong tau foo is not just one dish but an assortment of different combinations of meat paste stuffed into tofu or vegetables like okra or eggplant. This Hakka food is prepared either by steaming or by deep frying in oil.
At Restoran Choong Kee, pick out your sides and present them to the seller. Choose your noodle type and state whether you prefer your noodles in soup or with some black sauce (aka the dry version).
More about Choong Kee Big Tree Foot Yong Tau Foo.
- Address: Jalan King, Off Jalan Pasir Pinji, 31650, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, 31650 Ipoh
- Opening hours: 8am to 5pm
Besides Restoran Choong Kee, we recommend Eattime restaurant 三轮车叻沙 for their tasty laksa.
Laksa (with lai fun noodles, prawn paste and mackerel fish stock) is the highlight at this family-run business!
- Address: 60, Jalan Taman Shatin, Taman Shatin, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 7am to 2pm
- Contact: +6016-568 1299
- Remarks: Laksa on the sweeter side of the spectrum
14. Tambun Pomelo
This citrus fruit is seasonal and there are two varieties – the red (bitter/ sour) or white (bitter/ sweet).
The main season is during CNY.
Ipoh is famous for them (especially in the Tambun area) because water from the surrounding limestone hills gives the soil plenty of nutrients that pomelos like!
Frequent rain also makes them juicy!
Tips on buying pomelos in Ipoh:
- The main orchards are in Ampang and you can get them cheaper there than anywhere else in Ipoh
- Choose a mid-sized pomelo with a soft and smooth bottom. The skin should have some yellow patches. You need to leave them at room temperature for a few days before they ripen.
- Don’t buy a pomelo with wrinkly skin or dents.
You can tour a plantation and buy pomelos at Tambun Pomelo GoChin Agro Farm.
- Address: 158258A, Jalan Ampang Tambun, 31400, Ipoh, Perak, 31350
- Opening hours: 9am to 6pm
- Contact: +6013-7654189
15. Snow Beer
What is snow beer? This is a way of serving beer.
The glasses are chilled in a freezer. And this makes the beer appear to taste less bitter and the texture of the foam is smoother but still frothy.
15.1. Kafe Yoon Wah (元华饮食阁雪花啤酒)
Order snacks or dishes (like braised octopus and pork intestines) to go with your beer here, close to Concubine Lane at Ipoh Old Town!
Seating is at the sidewalk in the open air.
Prices are high in this touristy part of town.
- Address: 7, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 1pm to 12am
- Contact: +605-253 9980
15.2. Fei Bo Snow Beer
Like the above establishment but in another nightlife area of Ipoh – Ipoh Garden East!
Tasty Chinese-style dishes are on the menu here as well. They have salt baked chicken and this fascinating curry bread combo!
You can sit inside or outside (by the road) to enjoy your nice cool glass of beer! They’ll change your glass for you if you ask too.
- Address: 8, Jalan Medan Ipoh 3, Taman Ipoh Timur, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 4:30pm to 12am
- Contact: +6010-5456288
16. Salted Chicken By Aun Kheng Lim
This is a convenient dish for out-of-town visitors to take home to eat for dinner later.
The chicken is baked after being marinated with goji berries, salt, rice wine, ginger, and other Chinese herbs.
You can typically choose the original or herbal flavor (for a stronger taste!).
Main Branch:
- Address: 24, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 9 am–6pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact: +605-254 2998
See 8 other places to find Ipoh salt baked chicken.
17. Chee Cheong Fun At Pasir Pinji
There are different ways to serve this dish:
The flat white noodles are often served with soy sauce, chopped char siew (pork) or prawn meat sprinkled with deep fried onions. This is known as Hong Kong style.
Most dim sum places serve Hong Kong style chee cheong fun. But other stalls in Ipoh serve this dish differently, with curry sauce, mushroom sauce or plum sauce.
If you want to try traditional old-school style chee cheong fun, we recommend the Pasir Pinji Chee Cheong Fun. It is in an inconspicuous village area with limited parking.
They have a sweet or spicy sauce for the chee cheong fun. Or you can get a mix of both sauces. Optional sides are fish cakes or fish balls.
PS: Request for pickled green chilies – we think they pair well with the chee cheong fun.
Most orders are takeaways as there are only 3 tables here (they don’t serve drinks or any other food). The chee cheong fun sells out by 2pm!
- Address: 1456, Jalan Pasir Pinji 5, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 10am to 3pm (Closed on Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays)
18. Bi Bi Popiah At Aneka Selera Restoran Kam Wan
What is popiah?
This is something like the Vietnamese spring roll using a combination of these ingredients:
- small shrimp
- beans
- tofu
- shallots
- sweet sauce or Hoisin sauce
- turnip
- garlic
- beansprouts
- peanuts
There are two ways to serve popiah. With a side dish or chili sauce. And steamed or deep-fried.
A stall called Bi Bi popiah at Aneka Selera Restoran Kam Wan is said to have the best popiah in the city. With a long queue to prove it!
PS: It’s best eaten fresh
- Address: 18, Lengkok Canning, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 4:30pm – 9pm
Other options:
- Popiah At Restoran Yee Lock
19. Restoran New Hollywood (新好来活茶餐室)
You can already see a crowd at this restaurant in the morning (~9.30am). That’s how popular it is!
Why? It’s cheap with a huge variety of tasty food (mostly Chinese dishes) that is also halal!
Recommended dishes:
- Telur goyang with roti bakar (or just roti goyang)
- Lamb curry mee
- Nasi lemak
- Char kuay teow
- Pan mee
- Chee cheong fun
- Laksa
Tips:
- Easier to get a table and find a parking spot around 7-7.30am
- Coffee is on the sweet side. You might want to ask for less sugar!
- Address: Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 7am to 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact: +6012-290 8887
20. Tong Sui Kai (糖水街)
A dessert street in Ipoh? Exactly.
Stalls here open in the evening and serve snacks and desserts like:
- rojak (Malaysian style salad made of different raw fruits with some sauce or seasoning on top)
- boiled cockles
- steamed buns
You can have your dinner here too since there are some noodle stalls (wanton mee is not too bad).
But more importantly, this is where you can get mixed fruits ABC ice kacang!
Recommended dishes:
- Mixed fruit ABC ice kacang (Stall 27)
- 威威雲吞麵44 for the curry noodles & wan ton mee
- Cheong Kee beef noodles
- Boiled cockles
- Rojak (Stall 28)
- Address: Jalan Carey, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 5pm to 11:30pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
- Remarks: Not the cleanest ambiance
By the way, if you don’t have time to go to this place, you can try the ABC ice cream sold at:
Tai Soo Ipoh Famous No.1 Dessert (24, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Ipoh Town, 30300 Ipoh, Perak)
21. Fai Kee Fish Head Noodle @ Medan Selera Stadium Perak
Renovated in September 2018, the food court at Ipoh Stadium has a lot of popular hawker stalls. Locals love to come here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or supper!
One notable stall at Ipoh Stadium is Fai Kee Fish Head Noodle @ Medan Selera Stadium Perak. Their fish head noodles sells out the fastest among their extensive menu.
The tomato soup base is an interesting version of fish head noodles that you can get from this stall. Peak time is after 9am so if you don’t want to wait more than 15 minutes for your bowl, we recommend getting here before 9am.
- Address: Gerai No43 Medan Selera Stadium, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 7:30am–4pm (Closed on Thursday)
- Contact: +60124579645
22. Restoran Tuck Kee
It can be confusing because there is another restaurant (A standalone building housing a Chinese restaurant on Jalan Pasir Pingi ) with a similar name to this one! Be wary of that!
The Restoran Tuck Kee we are referring to is a few blocks away from Lou Wong and other snack shops in Ipoh New Town.
More on how to identify the original Tuck Kee Fried Noodles Restaurant.
Expect to have to wait for your food or a table as this old-school restaurant is very popular for its affordable and mouth-watering dishes!
Recommended dishes:
- Wat tan hor (Cantonese-style fried noodles with silky egg sauce)
- Moonlight hor fun
- Boiled octopus
- Braised chicken feet
- Fried yee mee
- Fried bee hoon
- Address: 61, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 1pm to 10:30pm
- Contact: +6016-220 9361
- Remark: Inconsistent taste
23. Nasi Ganja At Yong Suan Coffee Shop
This Indian-Muslim stall at Kedai Kopi Yong Suan has been luring crowds for many years:
Their decadent nasi ganja platters are full of spices and incredibly savory! It’s inexpensive too.
That said, this is a humble hawker store, so you’ll be dining without frills.
Be early (~9am) in the queue or you’ll miss out on the grated coconut sambal (I.e. ganja), mutton curry, and seats! Peak hours are around 12 to 1pm.
Note: Many customers opt for takeaway. But dining in is popular too.
Read more about Yong Suan Nasi Kandar in Ipoh.
- Address: 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 9am to 5pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: +6016-5959673
With so much to try and see in Ipoh, why not stay a bit longer? Here’s a list of best hotels in Ipoh!
The food that we listed above is all local food that first time visitors to Ipoh should try. But if you are looking for specific cuisines, Ipoh has restaurants that serve Western food.
And conventional Chinese restaurants too. As for local breakfast spots, we have a separate post on this!
For getting around Ipoh (assuming you don’t have a car):
- City public bus – the cheapest option. Cannot get off wherever you want. The bus is not always on time!
- Taxi or Grab
- Car rental. A standard 5-seater car costs RM150+ per day to rent. You’ll also have to deal with finding parking and driving in an unfamiliar place.
- Book a private tour.
It’s actually more worth your time (and money) to hire a Ipoh private tour as this comes complete with transport and a personal guide for one day or more days.
Either customize the itinerary or just sit back and enjoy the suggestions from a local guide!
Book a private tour from RayTheTour by sending them a message on WhatsApp!
Read more: Complete Ipoh Itinerary – Day Trip, 2D1N or 3D2N
Conclusion
For many, stopping at Ipoh is a must to sample Ipoh’s famous food. Foodies will make the journey from as far as Singapore to Ipoh just to try the food.
And if long queues throw you off, don’t worry. There are usually many other alternatives for popular joints!
PS: See some places for food in Ipoh at night.
If you’re looking for somewhere cool to escape the heat, you might want to check out this list on Ipoh cafes.
What else is there to do in Ipoh besides eat? Here are some interesting places in Ipoh!
