Where should you go for breakfast in Ipoh? You might be asking yourself this if it’s your first time traveling to Ipoh!
One can hardly blame you! After all, isn’t breakfast the most important meal of the day? More so, if you plan to spend the whole day wandering Ipoh Old Town.
And Ipoh being one of Malaysia’s food capitals, you do not want to miss a golden opportunity to try more Ipoh food!
15 Best Breakfast In Ipoh
Stay with us here, there are a lot of places to cover,
Hence, this post is divided into a few sections:
Local Breakfast Spots In Ipoh
Undeniably, kopitiams are where you should start if you want to taste some authentic local food and Ipoh white coffee at affordable prices!
1. Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong
Do not let appearances deceive you! This rather simple coffee shop is actually widely known as the birthplace of Ipoh white coffee!
Thus, you will often see local patrons as well as tourists crowding the coffee shop in the early morning.
Pair your coffee with roti bakar (toasted bread with butter and kaya spread) or roti goyang (toasted bread with 2 soft-boiled eggs on top). Or chee cheong fun.
There aren’t too many choices for food here but you can order from next door too if you please!
- Location: 15A, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +605-241 4601
- Opening Hours: 6:30am to 2:30pm
- Remark: Finding parking is difficult.
2. Nam Heong White Coffee
Nam Heong White Coffee has been running for 60 years (that’s 10 years less than Sin Yoon Loong) and they pride themselves as one of the founders of Ipoh white coffee too.
Unlike Sin Yoon Loong though, they’ve gone commercial and you can see their branches in other Malaysian states.
But the original branch on Jalan Bandar Timah is still going strong!
They serve local fare like curry mee, char koay teow, some dim sum, baked char siew pau and egg tarts which are worth trying together with their Ipoh white coffee!
See what we personally like about Ipoh Nam Heong White Coffee Shop.
- Location: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Contact: +6012-588 8766
- Opening Hours: 7am to 5pm
- Remark: Gets crowded around 9am so come before that!
3. Restoran Thean Chun
Close to Concubine Lane and Kong Heng Square:
Restoran Thean Chun’s kai se hor fun never fails to draw daily crowds! Don’t forget to try the pork satay, caramel custard, poh piah, and chee cheong fun too.
Escape the throngs of tourists by coming in before 9am!
Read more about Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop.
- Location: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening Hours: 8am to 4:30pm (Closed on Thursdays)
4. Chang Jiang White Coffee
Chang Jiang White Coffee always seems to be full. We do not recommend coming here during a weekend or on a public holiday. The service can be very slow.
But the interior of this air-conditioned café showcases a modern twist on traditional kopitiam style – very photogenic!
Their toast or steamed bread are pretty good (they use real butter) and their Ipoh white coffee is highly commendable. You can even buy their 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 packets to take back home as gifts!
See what it’s like to dine at Ipoh Chang Jiang White Coffee.
There is a new branch (Chang Jiang 9) that is outside the main branch within walking distance.
In fact, there are now 4 Ipoh branches in total. Check out this new branch, Kin Loong Valley close to Mirror Lake in Ipoh.
- Location: 7, Jalan Windsor, 30250 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +605-253 8896
- Opening Hours: 8am to 6pm
- Remark: Pork-free
5. Restoran New Hollywood
Restoran New Hollywood is one place in Ipoh where you can find typical Chinese hawker dishes that are halal.
And they’re also available on Foodpanda – a popular Ipoh food delivery service!
You can try local dishes like:
- Fried koay teow
- Nasi lemak
- Curry mee
- Wantan mee
- Yong tau fu
- Pan mee
- Chee cheong fun
- Chakoi
- And more!
- Location: 38, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +6012-290 8887
- Opening Hours: 7am to 6pm
- Remark: Really crowded on weekends! Come before 10am!
6. Loke Wooi Kee Café
Loke Wooi Kee Café is a hawker food center on a corner shop lot that has been in operation for many decades.
The most notable dish here is the kai se hor fan (shredded chicken noodle soup or 鸡丝河粉).
But you will also find:
- Fried kuay teow
- Peanut pancake, apam balik (大块面)
- Fruit rojak
- Hor Hee (河嘻) – You cannot easily find this Teochew-style dish with thick rice noodles, broth with extras like fried fishcakes and fish balls!
- Their signature 7 Up float (mixture of red syrup, 7 Up soda with vanilla ice-cream on top)
- Location: 26, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening Hours: 8am to 2pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
7. Kedai Kopi Nam Chau
Just a stone’s throw from Thean Chun, is Kedai Kopi Nam Chau – another old-school coffee shop that opens for breakfast and lunch.
The dry curry noodles are what they are famous for! Other than this, they have the usual breakfast items:
- Soup noodles
- Sesame buns
- Kaya-butter toast with soft-boiled eggs on top
- Iced cham (an equal blend of tea and coffee)
- Ipoh white coffee
See what we specifically like about Kedai Kopi Nam Chau.
- Location: 54, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +6014-900 9163
- Opening Hours: 7:30am to 3:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
8. Restaurant Moon De Moon
Restaurant Moon De Moon’s kai se hor fun (shredded chicken noodle soup) has a strong fan base. There is usually always a long line of hungry customers who want to have it for breakfast!
Be prepared to wait at least 20 to 30 minutes at peak times (~9am) regardless of whether it’s a weekend or public holiday! Sometimes, it can take 45 minutes for your bowl of noodles to come!
A bowl of the delicious broth has adequate portions. Though you may want to request more soup (at additional cost). Try their unique hock chew fish balls with minced meat too!
Other dishes available here:
- Dry curry noodles
- Chee cheong fun
- Nyonya kuih
- Fried bean curd skin (Fu Pei)
- Yong tau fu
- Iced cham or milo
- Location: 148, Hala Wah Keong, Taman Mirindi, 31400 Ipoh,Perak
- Contact: +6012-516 0485
- Opening Hours: 7:30am to 2pm (Closed from Monday to Tuesday)
9. Kedai Kopi Keng Nam
Only open for breakfast and brunch, Kedai Kopi Keng Nam is yet another traditional coffee shop that serves dry curry noodles and is easily swarmed with customers from 8am!
Do go as early as you can manage to avoid potentially bad service from the stressed-out operators!
Other must-try items that they serve:
- Chee cheong fun (Chili or mushroom sauce)
- Yam cakes
- Sticky rice with kaya (Pulut kaya) – you can’t find this one everywhere!
- Ipoh white coffee – Get the iced version!
Read about our experience at Kedai Kopi Keng Nam.
- Location: 127, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 30300 Ipoh,Perak
- Opening Hours: 7:30am to 11:45am (Closed on Thursday)
10. Medan Selera Stadium
Medan Selera Stadium is home to a sizeable hawker food center with stalls serving excellent local food!
There are two honourable mentions that are open during the day:
Min Chee Wan Tan Mee At Stall No.36
This family-run stall only serves one dish – A very humble version of wan tan mee. What you’ll notice with this wan tan mee is the pleasant springy texture of the noodles!
It tastes a little different compared to other wan tan mee around Ipoh. You have to try it for yourself!
Note: The standard serving is very small so do be sure to ask for more when you order!
Opening Hours: 8am to 4:30pm (Closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Fai Kee Noodles – Fish head noodles! At Stall No.43
The long queue is enough to tell you how tasty their fish noodles and milky broth are!
Add on fish cakes or fried minced pork patties (or both) for a truly hearty breakfast!
- Opening Hours: 8am to 4pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Location: Kompleks Sukan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
11. Restoran Cathay
Famous for their tender Hainanese chicken chop (you can also request for pork, or beef) and Hakka mee.
Restoran Cathay is another reliable Ipoh coffee shop to try.
Because of the authentic taste (it’s been the same for decades at this point), you can expect the noodles to run out before 11am, even on weekdays! 9am is the usual peak time for this kopitiam.
Meanwhile, they serve a delightful and traditional cup of Ipoh coffee too (more on the bland side).
The tables are mainly meant for 2-3 pax at a time but it’s a clean and airy environment (no air conditioning here).
You can skip the crowds that usually chase after the Hakka mee at Paris Restaurant and beat them to Restoran Cathay instead!
- Location: A17, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening Hours: 7:30am to 4pm (Closed on Friday and Saturday)
- Contact: +605-241 9414
Read more:
Ipoh Dim Sum For Breakfast
We have a post just on Ipoh dim sum restaurants so be sure to check that out if you’re looking for more options (including halal dim sum restaurants).
But for this post, we’ll just mention two!
12. Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum
Clearly even 3 shop lots is not even enough to contain all the business that this dim sum shop receives! Tables often spill out onto the road.
If you get in early enough, you can have a table inside the restaurant in a more comfortable environment!
Their popularity lies in their impressive assortment of quality dim sum that is both yummy and affordable! The head chef has over 10 years of experience in preparing dim sum.
Read more about what we ordered at Chooi Yue Dimsum Restaurant in Ipoh.
- Location: 2, 4 & 6, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +6016-534 5965
- Opening Hours: 7am to 1pm (Closed on Thursdays)
- Remark: Definitely not halal
13. Canning Dim Sum (Halal)
Canning Dim Sum will change sceptical minds that a pork-free dim sum restaurant will never come close to one that serves pork!
The lovely new dim sum shop is just next to Restoran New Hollywood strategically luring Malay customers over with their pork-free dim sum and fabulous decor.
You can see that they put just as much effort in presenting their delish dim sum!
- Location: 1, Lebuh Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +6016-268 0535
- Opening Hours: 7:30am to 3:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Remark: They are halal-certified.
Read more:
- 5 Famous Ipoh Peanut Candy Stores To Check Out In Ipoh
- 7 Famous Tau Fu Fah In Ipoh
- 13 Best Ipoh Biscuits & Souvenirs (Don’t Leave Ipoh Without These!)
Western Breakfast In Ipoh
If you’ve already had a chance to try a traditional Ipoh breakfast, you can go for a western-style breakfast for a change of taste!
Ipoh has its share of western restaurants and cafes – some of which do open in the morning!
14. Aud’s Café
This secluded Ipoh cafe serves a worthy Eggs Benedict and pulled pork or avocado and egg sandwiches!
Most of their mains feature pork. Including their pasta and burger!
Drinking water is free-flow but you absolutely have to try their ice cube espresso and avocado smoothies!
- Location: 97, Jalan Sultan Yusof, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +605-246 1310
- Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
Read more:
- 15 Best Western Restaurants In Ipoh
- 15 Best Vegetarian Restaurants In Ipoh
- 13 Best Chinese Restaurants In Ipoh
15. Girlie’s Café
Housed in a refurbished old shop lot, this dessert and pastry house doubles as a café.
For brunch, they offer a variety of croissants and sandwiches. You can get the set which includes soup of the day as well as a beverage.
Their available cake flavors vary day-to-day – their burnt cheesecake and watermelon cakes are worth trying!
Their substantial beverage selection includes western coffee, tea and non-caffeinated beverages too!
Read more on what we like about Girlie’s Cafe.
- Location: No 26, Jalan Market, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Contact: +6016-550 4451
- Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm (Closed on Mondays)
Read more:
- Ipoh Itinerary: Food Trip, Ipoh Day Trip, 2D1N & 3D2N
- 27 Best Things To Do In Ipoh
- 13 Things To Do In Ipoh At Night
Getting Around Ipoh
One of the obvious benefits of taking a private tour service (like RayTheTour) is of course, the transport around Ipoh!
Which is one way of avoiding having to drive altogether! Something which is not very convenient in Ipoh especially during lunch hours or weekends.
Aside from this, you’ll have the additional benefit of a personal and experienced Ipoh-born guide to show you even more local food spots that most tourists aren’t aware of.
WhatsApp them to learn more!
Further reading:
Conclusion
Finding breakfast in Ipoh is confusing. It’s only too easy to be overwhelmed with all the numerous foodie locations in Ipoh!
Don’t stop at just local kopitiam food though!
Ipoh has plenty more up its sleeve like western food and dim sum that will make your first decision of the day (breakfast) an unforgettable one!
Other posts you might like:
- HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng: Another Place To Try Tea For Tea Lovers + What To Do
- Kellie’s Castle – Must-see Architectural & Historical Perak Attraction
- Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village: How To Buy Tickets & Things To Do
- 9 Ipoh Limestone Cave & Ipoh Cave Temples That You Should See
- Ipoh Street Art: A Must-do In Ipoh
