Is Thean Chun a must-go in Ipoh? Why is it so famous and what are you missing out on if you don’t check this place out?
As Ipoh residents, we’ve been here many times and here is our take on this local eatery.
History
Both Thean Chun and its next-door neighbor, Restoran Kong Heng have been around for decades (since the 1950s).
Restoran Kong Heng is famous for fried kuey teow with duck egg, popiah, and their herbal tea egg. While Thean Chun Coffee Shop’s success is attributed to the long-standing gai se hor fun stall. Although, pork satay and caramel custard are also crowd favorites.
PS: Kong Heng also has gai se hor fun and it’s a decent alternative if Thean Chun happens to be closed.
Ease Of Parking
This is one of the most difficult areas in Ipoh to find parking. Count yourself lucky if it takes you less than 5 minutes to find a parking spot close to the restaurant.
Sometimes, we’ve parked as far as the Ipoh Town Hall and walked down past the Birch Memorial Clock Tower.
The reason for the lack of parking is the fact that this coffee shop is right across from Concubine Lane in Ipoh. It’s also close to Kong Heng Square and that’s where Plan B in Ipoh is.
However, since the coffee shop opens early in the morning, you might have better luck if you go before the crowd starts thickening after 11am.
Ambiance
The kopitiam lacks space and air conditioning, but patrons are willing to put up with the discomfort for the food.
3 rows of classic kopitiam tables line the restaurant from the front and right to the back. When it’s full house, expect to share tables with strangers.
Note: There used to be a sink at the side wall for patrons to wash their mouths, but it has since been removed to make way for another table.
Since Thean Chun is right next to Restoran Kong Heng (and Kong Heng Square), it’s not uncommon to see waiters and hawkers going to and from both coffee shops to serve customers.
Thean Chun’s new neighboar, Lam Fong Biscuit Shop has a few tables inside (and air conditioning too) and they do allow customers to order food them. This is what we like to do on really hot days!
Service
The star here is the gai se hor fun stall at the front. If you order a bowl of noodles from here, expect to wait awhile for it to come if you’re here during peak hours.
1-hour waits are not unheard of. Drinks can somehow take 15 minutes too.
On the other hand, the curry noodles stall beside the gai se hor fun stall is not as happening so if you’re hungry, you can order from them instead. You can also stave off hunger pangs by ordering some caramel custard or some satay.
Tip: Tide your hunger by ordering some caramel custard or some satay.
Overall, staff the gai se hor fun stall is very busy especially during lunch time (12pm to 1pm). Tables fill up almsot immediately once vacated.
Don’t expect staff to have time for chit chat. Occasionally, they can miss out on orders. However, this can all be avoided if you just go early before the crowd packs in.
Food
Our go-to orders are a mix of chicken and pork satay and gai se hor fun. The well-marinated and lightly charred satay with the peanut-dipping sauce is arguably more delicious than the noodles.
But they pair very nicely together.
Throughout the years we’ve been here, the taste has been consistent but we do find that if you order the noodles later in the day, the broth starts thinning out. Thus, we really advise going here earlier than 12pm (maybe even earlier than 11am) if you can help it.
Another dish that’s well worth ordering here is the curry chee cheong fun! The stall is at the back of the coffee shop.
For drinks, there are local variations of coffee and tea, barley water, as well as a blend of soya milk with cincau.
Many like the caramel egg custard too but we reserve our opinions on it since we don’t like caramel egg custard to begin with. The custard tends to sell out by 10am on weekends and exceptionally busy days.
Pricing
Prices have gradually been increasing – the change is more noticeable for the staple stalls like the gai se hor fun stall. A bowl now costs roughly RM10.
Here, the dish is notably more expensive than kopitiams in other areas of Ipoh.
Conclusion
With all the fuss that surrounds Thean Chun Coffee Shop, we don’t think it’s worth going here during a weekend or public holiday. If you can’t help it, then try to go before 11am before the tasty gai se hor fun broth runs out.
Food To Try In Ipoh
Ipoh has too many good food haunts to just settle for Thean Chun Coffee Shop. But if you don’t mind the long waits for parking, seats and the food, then you can give it a go!
Exploring Ipoh Old Town
Thean Chun’s strategic location in Ipoh Old Town makes it a common stop for tourists wandering the area.