Ipoh has its own share of amazing cendol to try. And there are cendol stalls in many areas of Ipoh. To reach them, it’s best that you have your own transport.
Some of these stalls are so popular that you may have to stand in queue for a long time before you get to try them!
We put our 2 favorites at the top of this list. But the rest are listed in no particular order.
1. Cendol Mari Gunung Rapat
It’s a one-man show at Cendol Mari Gunung Rapat. While you wait in the queue (it takes up to an hour, even on non-peak days), you can watch the seller skilfully prepare cendol.
His is one of the cleanest cendol roadside stalls we have tried too.
There are only a handful of stools here, so prepare to takeaway your cendol (as most people do) or stand and eat yours.
Note: Takeaway portions are larger than dine-in portions and cost slightly more.
Cendol toppings include red beans (kacang merah), glutinous rice (pulut), cendol, canned corn (jagung). You can order a mixture or a single type of topping for your cendol.
For us personally, the glutinous rice was not necessary. As the cendol is very rich with creamy santan (coconut milk).
This flavorful cendol is definitely one of the best cendol in Ipoh and worth waiting for.
- Address: 51-33, Jalan Gunung Rapat, Taman Cemerlang Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 1pm to 4pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays)
- Contact: +6014 – 346 9643
2. Cendol Wawasan At Bercham
Cendol Wawasan in Bercham is another one of our favorites. It’s not as rich or creamy as the cendol at Cendol Mari Gunung Rapat. Nor do you get huge portions.
But this cendol does use Gula Melaka and santan too. And the level of sweetness and richness is just nice to us.
More importantly, you won’t have to wait an hour for it. However, there are only a few seats here. There is a small canopy over the stall.
One bowl costs around RM5 to RM6 depending on your choice toppings. They have special toppings like pineapple (nanas), mango (manga), or lengkong besides the usual red beans, glutinous rice (pulut) or canned corn (jagung).
If you want all the toppings, ask for their Ais Kacang Special.
Note: As of Dec 2022, they will be opening a branch at Octagon in Ipoh New Town
- Address: Petron, Jalan Bercham, Taman Tasek Indra, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening hours: 12:30pm to 4pm
- Contact: +6014-258 2253
3. Deen CT Corner Cendol
Deen CT Corner Cendol is a tiny shop lot that specializes in cendol! The stall is run by an elderly Indian Muslim couple.
You can choose different toppings like corn (jagung in Malay) or have glutinous rice added to your bowl (ask for cendol pulut)!
Their pricing per bowl ranges from RM4 to RM8.
Note that the default cendol doesn’t come with any toppings (including cendol). They use coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.
Sit on one of the stools or stand and enjoy your bowl!
On the whole, the taste of the cendol is average and sweeter than what we prefer. And the ice is not very fine. But portions are generous.
- Address: 21 B, Jalan Musthara Al Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 11:30am to 6:30pm (Closed on Fridays)
- Contact: +6016-535 0351
- Remarks: Parking is limited. You usually have to park further up the street.
4. Tai Soo Ipoh Famous No.1 Dessert
A variety of different local desserts can be found here including ice kacang, ABC ice cream and tau foo fa.
They have a decent jagung cendol (cendol with corn) here! The shaved ice is not fine though and the cendol is not rich with coconut milk.
But if you’re keen on trying several types of local desserts in one place, Tai Soo Ipoh Famous No.1 Dessert is a convenient option!
- Address: 24, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Ipoh Town, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 10:30am to 6pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
- Contact: +6012-507 7881
- Remarks: The desserts might be too sweet so you can ask for less sugar during the order (say kurang manis); There are limited tables and seats.
5. Wawasan Cendol Abang Kacak (Formerly Cendol Abang Kacak)
Another successful roadside stall that sells authentic cendol is this one – they also serve cendol durian!
They have their own shop lot now which is conveniently next to the most famous nasi ganja restaurant in Ipoh! Which they can help you order from too, while you wait for your cendol!
The inside of the cendol restaurant features a lot of memorabilia from the past.
Cendol durian can come up to RM20 a bowl depending on the type of durian. If you choose regular cendol, the pricing is around RM7. Portions are sufficient for one person.
For toppings (besides durian), you can get peanuts, red beans, cendol, grass jelly (cincau) and corn.
And aside from cendol, they have mee goreng and rojak pasembor too.
PS: Abang Kacak means handsome brother in Malay. You will understand why if you see the muscular man who usually attends the stall.
- Address: 8, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak
- Opening hours: 9am to 8pm
- Contact: +6018-665 4487
Conclusion
There you have it, 5 commendable options for where to get cendol in Ipoh. Some have better dining ambiance while others offer more variety or interesting flavors.
We do think the cendol in Penang is still better but there’s no need to drive all the way to Penang when there is perfectly good cendol in Ipoh.
Read more: 7 Must-Try Tau Fu Fah In Ipoh
