Best Ipoh Biscuits & Souvenirs

Got to leave Ipoh soon? Don’t know what to buy in Ipoh? Stop by any of these places first and pick up the best Ipoh biscuits and souvenirs!

Assuming that you have already checked out the famous food in Ipoh, Ipoh biscuits are worth trying too!

Hence, here you go, a list of popular and recommended Ipoh biscuits and souvenirs. Be warned that some of these often have long queues.

  1. Ipoh White Coffee
  2. Egg Tarts
  3. Kaya Puffs
  4. Meat Floss Biscuits
  5. Hiong Peah
  6. Peanut Candy
  7. Tambun Pomelo
  8. Salted Chicken (Aun Kheng Lim)
  9. Kong Heng Square
  10. The Lifeshop Atalier
  11. 22 Hale Street Gift Shop

11 Top Things To Buy Back From Ipoh

1. Ipoh White Coffee

Ipoh white coffee is what Ipoh is known for after all. And this is undoubtedly one of the best Ipoh souvenirs to take back home!

Ipoh White Coffee – photo credits to carynn02 (Instagram)

You might be thinking about the 3-in-1 packets that are now all over Malaysia, neighboring countries and even overseas in Chinese marts!

But we’re talking about the white (and black) coffee sold at this coffee wholesaler:

1.1. Yee Hoi Coffee Bean

Yee Hoi Coffee Bean, a wholesaler of roasted white coffee beans has a stall in the UTC building. They have been selling roasted white (pure without any additional flavoring) coffee beans for many years.

Their selection includes robust and Arabica beans, whole or ground to order!

Yee Hoi Coffee Stall – photo credits to parallelyooniverse(Instagram)

Have a fresh cup here! And take some back for later!

If you want a 3-in-1 alternative, then get their fine instant coffee powder.

1.2. Chang Jiang White Coffee

Chang Jiang White Coffee (长江国际有限公司) has seen tremendous growth over the past few years.

It used to be that you could only get their 3-in-1 or 2-in-1 coffee blends from their Ipoh cafe over at Jalan Windsor.

Chang Jiang White Coffee At Ipoh Airport (Sultan Azlan Shah Airport)
Chang Jiang White Coffee At Ipoh Airport (Sultan Azlan Shah Airport) – Photo by Travelswithsun

But don’t fret if you do not have enough time to pop into any of their cafes – they now have 3 branches in Ipoh and all are equally busy on weekends.

You can get these boxes in Ipoh souvenir shops and even at the airport!

Chang Jiang White Coffee Main Branch:

Now on to the best Ipoh biscuits!

2. Egg Tarts

If you’re allergic or vegan, you can move on further down this list!

There are two types of egg tarts that you can find in Ipoh – they taste similar enough though the Portuguese-style egg tarts are a little sweeter with a hint of milk.

Ipoh Portuguese Egg Tarts
Portuguese egg tarts – photo credits to phildelan (Instagram)

We’re referring to the Chinese-style egg tarts in this list though:

These scrumptious treats comprise of two parts – the flaky pastry house.

And the smooth jelly-like egg custard pudding in the middle that typically has a light taste.

Ipoh Egg Tart
Egg tart – photo credits to pigeatsballtravels (Instagram)

Here are a few places in Ipoh that do them exceptionally well:

  1. Choy Kee Egg Tart (才記餅家) (http://bit.ly/Choy-Kee-Egg-Tart)
  2. Hong Kee Confectionery (鸿记饼家) (http://bit.ly/HK-Confectionery)
  3. Kedai Makanan Nam Heong / Nam Heong Coffee Shop (南香茶餐室)
Egg Tarts At Nam Heong Coffee Shop In Ipoh
Egg Tarts At Nam Heong Coffee Shop In Ipoh – Photo by Travelswithsun

Nam Heong Coffee Shop in Ipoh is another famous kopitiam with egg tarts. Theirs are better eaten on the spot rather than takeaway. This is because the freshly baked egg tarts are piping hot and absorb the smell of the takeaway boxes.

3. Ipoh Kaya Puffs

Try the Ipoh version of this quintessential pastry which is a nationwide favorite snack!

Kaya puff – photo credits to juliuslim (Instagram)

Places to get kaya puffs in Ipoh:

3.1. Sin Eng Heong

Hailed as one of the best places to go for kaya puffs and other pastry goodness, Sin Eng Heong has been around Ipoh since 1961.

Sin Eng Heong Biscuit Shop In Ipoh New Town
Sin Eng Heong Biscuit Shop In Ipoh New Town

So Sin Eng Heong has been in business for over 50 years!

There is constantly a queue at their shop which is located in the center of town.

But while many people don’t seem to mind queuing up for the delightful kaya puffs, you can also place an order the day before!

Don’t worry if you can’t get a taste the moment you buy them, the kaya puffs are still crispy even after several hours.

Sin Eng Heong kaya puffs – photo credits to bron_s_chong (Instagram)

3.2. QunKee Biscuits or 权记饼家 or Khuen Kee

QunKee Biscuits (权记饼家) at Ipoh
QunKee Biscuits (权记饼家) at Ipoh – Photo by Travelswithsun

Established in 1975, QunKee is well known for their kaya puff and egg tarts too. Located in Kampung Simee, they also sell other traditional Chinese biscuits.

Note: There is newer branch at Kampung Jawa. Walking distance from Kedai Kopi Keng Nam.

Inside The New Branch Of Qunkee Biscuit & Bakery
Inside The New Branch Of Qunkee Biscuit & Bakery – Photo by Travelswithsun

QunKee’s kaya puffs are amazing when you eat them fresh, but they lose their crispiness after a few hours. They are also slightly smaller than the kaya puffs from Sin Eng Heong.

Fresh Kaya Puffs From Qunkee Biscuit & Bakery
Fresh Kaya Puffs From Qunkee Biscuit & Bakery – Photo by Travelswithsun

Note: The kaya puffs at QunKee are a good alternative if you cannot get your hands on the ones from Sin Eng Heong!

4. Meat Floss Biscuits

Have some meat floss biscuits with lotus paste!

If you want to try some with pandan paste instead, head over to the Guan Heong Biscuit Shop!

Ching Han Guan’s meat floss biscuits have lotus paste and salted egg yolk!

Meat floss biscuit with egg yolk – photo credits to vincentfoodstagram (Instagram)

4.1. Guan Heong Biscuit Shop

Guan Heong Biscuit Shop In Ipoh
Guan Heong Biscuit Shop – Photo by Travelswithsun

With a history of over 100 years, Guan Heong is renowned for their high-quality original and traditional pastries.

Despite such a long history, they keep up with the times and have adapted their famous meat floss pastries to suit modern tastes.

Guan Heong biscuit shop in Ipoh – photo credits to thefoodchapter (Instagram)

They offer special biscuit flavors such as meat floss with pandan paste as well as meat floss with salted egg. Buy them from Shopee (MY) if you don’t have time to visit the physical store.

4.2. Ching Han Guan Biscuit Shop (钟汉元饼铺)

First opening their shops more than seven decades ago, the recipes for their famous Teochew pastries were passed down from generation to generation starting from the owner’s great grandfather.

Ching Han Guan Biscuit Shop In Ipoh
Ching Han Guan Biscuit Shop – Photo by Travelswithsun

But what propelled Ching Han Guan to fame was their signature meat floss with lotus paste biscuit! You definitely need to make a detour here when you’re in Ipoh!

5. Heong Peah Ipoh

My personal favorite!

The original filling is a sticky maltose paste but these days:

You can even find kosong (empty) ones, and some with black sesame filling or durian filling!

Hiong Piah in Ipoh – photo credits to tomatoskin (Instagram)

And there are a couple of places in Ipoh that bake hiong piah, heong peah or beh teh saw or “Fragrant biscuits” the old fashioned way:

With coconut husk as the fuel!

Coconut husk method:

5.1. 189 Heong Peng (189香饼) / Yat Pat Gao Enterprise

5.2. Seng Kee (成记香饼) / 177 Heong Peah

Charcoal-baked:

5.3. Keong Kee Heong Peng (强记碳烧香饼) / 362 Heong Peah

Or course, if you want some that can be accepted at the airport:

5.4. Yee Hup Hiong Peah

Yee Hup Hiong Piah – photo credits to mrmurdock_ (Instagram)

Individually wrapped, many flavors available.

However, you can find these anywhere in Malaysia and other south-east Asian countries now!

But the ones in Ipoh are baked on the same day!

Addresses For Their Branches:

Note: I haven’t personally tried to bring them to Singapore airport but UK and South Korea airports accept these!

Moving on from best Ipoh biscuits, here are some items you can take back with you!

6. Peanut Candy

The sweet and salty crunchy peanut brittle is a humble Chinese traditional treat that is prominent in Chinese New Year.

But its popularity means you can buy it in Ipoh all year round.

Sin Weng Fai Peanut Candy Shop In Ipoh
Sin Weng Fai Peanut Candy Shop In Ipoh

Ipoh peanut candy shops like Sin Weng Fai and Ming Yue Confectionary normally have an endless stream of customers. In general, if you don’t see a queue, they didn’t make any yet.

Peanut Candy From Sin Weng Fai Peanut Candy Shop (新榮輝花生糖饼家)
Peanut Candy From Sin Weng Fai Peanut Candy Shop (新榮輝花生糖饼家) – photo credits to akanqi (Instagram)

Most shops sell the snack fresh for ~RM8-9 per 300g packet.

Sin Weng Fai (Skip the queues and buy from Shopee (MY)):

  • Address: 69 & 69A, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
  • Contact: +605-243 1211
  • Opening Hours: 9am to 9:30pm (Daily)

Ming Yue Confectionery:

Read more about Ming Yue Confectionery.

  • Address: 50, Jalan Peh Kee Koh, Taman Kampar, 31650 Ipoh, Perak
  • Contact: +605-255 4128
  • Opening Hours: 9.30am to 6.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and 9.45am to 6pm (Sunday)

7. Tambun Pomelo

Ipoh is particularly famous for these citrus fruits (especially in the Tambun area) because water from the surrounding limestone hills gives the soil plenty of nutrients that pomelos like!

The main season is during CNY and there are 2 varieties:

The red sort which are on the bitter and sour side. Or pinkish white – these can be bitter or sweet.

Note: They are related and look similar to a grapefruit so if you’re allergic, skip these!

Tambun Pomelos in Ipoh are juicy and sweet
Tambun Pomelos in Ipoh are juicy and sweet.

Tips on buying pomelo 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.

Where to buy pomelo:

7.1. Go Chin Pomelo Nature Park

7.2. Gerai Buah Ah Sai or Ah Sai Fruits Trading

7.3 Kedai Limau Tambun Niu Kee

  • Address: Jln Tambun Baru, Kampung Ampang Baru, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
  • Contact: +6016-5992178
  • Opening Hours: 10:30 am–7 pm

There are a lot of other pomelo stalls along Jalan tambun baru.

8. Ipoh Salted Chicken (Aun Kheng Lim)

Shop Front Of Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken In Ipoh New Town
Shop Front Of Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken In Ipoh New Town

While there are a few salt-baked chicken shops in Ipoh now:

The most prominent is Aun Kheng Lim – in business of selling Yim Kok Kai or salted herbal chicken since 1987!

Aun Kheng Lim salted chicken preparation – photo credits to chiox (Instagram)
Salted herbal chicken (Aun Kheng Lim) – photo credits to caseychong (Instagram)

They run their business in a very efficient manner:

With the chicken (and all the herbal juicy goodness!) all wrapped and ready to go in the bright red boxes, the steady stream of customers need only order, pay and take their respective box!

You can also take them vacuum-packed if you prefer at no extra cost!

9. Kong Heng Square

It’s good fun to browse through the colorful stores here. You might pick up a local handicraft to bring home!

Stores generally start to close around 4 to 5pm.

Address: 99 Jalan Sultan Yussuf, Ipoh, 30000, Perak

  1. Bits & Bobs
  2. Ipoh Craft Nerds
  3. Why Not Elephants
Why Not Elephants at Kong Heng – photo credits to why_not_elephants (Instagram)

And plenty of other stores!

Handmade key-chain by AM Zakka Store – photo credits to mw_cam_ (Instagram)

10. The Lifeshop Atalier

If you want to get something cozy to dress up your home, you can check out this beautiful shop!

The Lifeshop Atalier (Ipoh branch) – photo credits to chinnling_declemakeup (Instagram)

They sell fake plants, lights, pillow cases, crockery and more!

The Lifeshop Atalier in Ipoh – photo credits to dicksonooi (Instagram)

You can also buy their stuff at the gift shop in M Boutique!

Speaking of M Boutique, here’s a list of Ipoh boutique hotels if you’re thinking about staying longer…

11. 22 Hale Street Gift Shop

Get a souvenir and support a cause!

The unique handmade items sold at this quaint gift shop are made by members of disabled folks home.

Check their Facebook as they sometimes host events like festive bazaars where you can pick up souvenirs and other knick-knacks.

Gift shop at 22 Hale Street in Ipoh

Upstairs, they have a very impressive gallery of Ipoh antiques and other keepsakes upstairs! It costs RM10 (plus an audio guide) to enter.

Address: 22-24 Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Contact: +605-241 3991 or +6012-626 8069

Opening Hours:

  • Weekdays: 10am to 1.30pm, 2.30pm to 6pm daily (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
  • Weekends: 10am – 6pm

Bonus: The PWW Shop

The PWW Shop takes in and sells preloved items in good condition. Whatever they cannot sell is given to the homeless.

PWW (Perak Women for Women Society) is a non-profit NGO that aims to help women in crisis. The shop is just one of their projects!

On occasion, they have these gorgeous hand-painted enamel tiffin carriers!

Hand-painted Tiffin Carriers Sold By The PWW Shop
Hand-painted Tiffin Carriers Sold By The PWW Shop (photo belongs to them)

Each one is a unique design painted by the women at their shelter which serves as refuge for women who face domestic violence in their own homes.

Price Range:

  • 2-tier at RM190
  • 3-tier at RM230
  • 4-tier at RM260

Another handicraft you can find here are the woven bags by the Penan tribes in Miri!


Read more:


How to get to Ipoh from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Penang:

1. Singapore To Ipoh

There are several ways to get to Ipoh from Singapore – any of which takes 7 to 10 hours.

  1. Self-drive
  2. Bus
  3. Train

Therefore, unless you have many days to spare to break down the journey across Peninsula Malaysia:

You might want to take a flight instead! Which only takes an hour, in comparison!

Partially covered pedestrian walkway from carpark to the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport
Partially covered pedestrian walkway from carpark to the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport

2. Kuala Lumpur To Ipoh

Most people choose to drive to Ipoh if they have their own car.

Enroute to Ipoh
Enroute to Ipoh

But traffic is heavy with any approaching public holiday or long weekend.

The 2.5-hour drive can easily be more than 4 hours then!

Another option is to take the ETS train to Ipoh Railway Station or a bus to Ipoh AmanJaya.

KTM ETS To Ipoh

While there are frequent trips daily, you will have to book in advance if there’s a public holiday around the corner.

Note: There is no direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh

3. Penang To Ipoh

  1. Driving to Penang to Ipoh takes ~2 hours.
  2. From Penang, you can also take the ETS train from Butterworth right to Ipoh Railway Station.
  3. The last option is to take a bus to Ipoh. Buses typically stop at Ipoh AmanJaya.
AmanJaya Bus Terminal
AmanJaya Bus Terminal at Ipoh – photo credits to thestar.com.my

Note: There is no direct flight from Penang to Ipoh

4. How To Get Around Ipoh If You Don’t Own A Car:

  1. Use the city public bus – While affordable, this is usually not a convenient or reliable method
  2. Hail a taxi or Grab around town
  3. Hire a rented car – It’s RM150+ per day for a standard 5-seater car. You do not want to be driving on a public holiday! It’s hard to find parking in Ipoh Old Town.
  4. Book a private tour– Get your money’s worth with transport as well as a personal guide!

With RayTheTour, you can customise your itinerary to include Ipoh, Taiping, Sitiawan, Kuala Kangsar, etc. As well as take a day trip to Cameron Highlands.

RayTheTour

Book RayTheTour private tour service through our WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger!


Further reading:


Conclusion

Don’t know what to get for your loved ones back home? Or maybe you just want to remember a good time in Ipoh?

At Ipoh, you can buy an assortment of crispy pastries with delicious fillings, salted chicken, pomelo and handicrafts if you know where to look for them!

Ipoh biscuits snacks are always welcome souvenirs from Malaysia.

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