Best Breakfast In Ipoh

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!

Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong At Ipoh Old Town
Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong At Ipoh Old Town – Photo by Travelswithsun

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.

Sin Yoon Loong White Coffee Shop in Ipoh
Sin Yoon Loong White Coffee Shop in Ipoh – photo credits to timjilimin (Instagram)

There aren’t too many choices for food here but you can order from next door too if you please!

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.

Nam Heong White Coffee Shop At Ipoh Old Town
Nam Heong White Coffee Shop At Ipoh Old Town – Photo by Travelswithsun

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.

Egg Tart And Dim Sum At Ipoh Nam Heong White Coffee
Egg Tart And Dim Sum At Ipoh Nam Heong White Coffee – Photo by Travelswithsun

3. Restoran Thean Chun

Close to Concubine Lane and Kong Heng Square:

Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop
Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop – Photo by Travelswithsun

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.

Typical Dishes To Order At Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop
Typical Dishes To Order At Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop

Escape the throngs of tourists by coming in before 9am!

Read more about Ipoh Thean Chun Coffee Shop.

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!

Interior Of Chang Jiang White Coffee
Interior Of Chang Jiang White Coffee – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

Coffee And Kaya Toasts At Chang Jiang White Coffee
Coffee And Kaya Toasts At Chang Jiang White Coffee – Photo by Travelswithsun

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.

Chang Jiang White Coffee Shop (Number 9) In Ipoh
Chang Jiang White Coffee Shop (Number 9) In Ipoh

In fact, there are now 4 Ipoh branches in total. Check out this new branch, Kin Loong Valley close to Mirror Lake in Ipoh.

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!

Dishes at Restoran New Hollywood
Dishes at Restoran New Hollywood.

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!

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).

Kai Se Hor Fan At Loke Wooi Kee Café
Kai Se Hor Fan At Loke Wooi Kee Café – Photo by Travelswithsun

But you will also find:

  • Fried kuay teow
  • Peanut pancake, apam balik (大块面)
Peanut Pancake (Apam Balik) At Loke Wooi Kee Café
Peanut Pancake (Apam Balik) At Loke Wooi Kee Café – Photo by Travelswithsun
  • 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)

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.

Kedai Kopi Nam Chau
Kedai Kopi Nam Chau – photo credits to jimmmyyy (Instagram)

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
Ipoh White Coffee And Curry Mee At Restoran Nam Chau In Ipoh
Ipoh White Coffee And Curry Mee At Restoran Nam Chau In Ipoh

See what we specifically like about Kedai Kopi Nam Chau.

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!

Gai Se Hor Fun at Restaurant Moon De Moon
Gai Se Hor Fun at Restaurant Moon De Moon – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

Dry Curry Noodles at Restaurant Moon De Moon
Dry Curry Noodles at Restaurant Moon De Moon – Photo by Travelswithsun

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

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!

Typical Breakfast At Keng Nam Coffee Shop
Typical Breakfast At Keng Nam Coffee Shop

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.

10. Medan Selera Stadium

Medan Selera Stadium is home to a sizeable hawker food center with stalls serving excellent local food!

Medan Selera Stadium Perak Ipoh
Medan Selera Stadium Perak – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

One And Half Portion Of Min Chee Wan Tan Mee At Ipoh Medan Selera Stadium
One And Half Portion Of Min Chee Wan Tan Mee At Ipoh Medan Selera Stadium – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

Fai Kee Fish Head Noodles At Ipoh Stadium
Fai Kee Fish Head Noodles At Ipoh Stadium – Photo by Travelswithsun

Add on fish cakes or fried minced pork patties (or both) for a truly hearty breakfast!

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.

Hainanese Chicken Chop At Restoran Cathay
Hainanese chicken chop At Restoran Cathay – Photo credits to lovetoeat.my (Instagram)

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).

Hakka Mee at Restoran Cathay
Hakka Mee at Restoran Cathay – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

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!

Assorted Dim Sum At Chooi Yue Dimsum Restaurant
Assorted Dim Sum At Chooi Yue Dimsum Restaurant

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.

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!

Interior Of Ipoh Canning Dim Sum
Interior Of Ipoh Canning Dim Sum

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!

Assorted Steamed Dim Sum At Ipoh Canning Dim Sum
Assorted Steamed Dim Sum At Ipoh Canning Dim Sum

Read more:

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!

Unique menu items at Aud's cafe - a popular Ipoh cafe at Ipoh Old Town - see the full Ipoh cafe list on www.travelswithsun.com
Unique menu items at Aud’s cafe – a popular Ipoh cafe – Photo by Travelswithsun

Drinking water is free-flow but you absolutely have to try their ice cube espresso and avocado smoothies!

Read more:

15. Girlie’s Café

Housed in a refurbished old shop lot, this dessert and pastry house doubles as a café.

Inside Girlie Cafe In Ipoh
Inside Girlie Cafe In Ipoh – Photo by Travelswithsun

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!

Big Breakfast Set At Girlie Cafe
Big Breakfast Set At Girlie Cafe – Photo by Travelswithsun

Their substantial beverage selection includes western coffee, tea and non-caffeinated beverages too!

Read more on what we like about Girlie’s Cafe.

Read more:

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!

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