There are plenty of steamboat restaurants to choose from in Cameron Highlands.
It’s a wasted opportunity if you do not enjoy a steaming pot of delicious broth in the cooler climate of Cameron Highlands! Be ready to grab some buddies and try some of these eateries as hot pot is best shared in a group.
We’ve tried all the ones below and recommend them. Take a look!
- Cameron Organic Produce Steamboat Restaurant
- C Buddys Steamboat
- Cactus View Restaurant
- Restaurant Tuan Yuan
- Hot Pot Time Restaurant
1. Cameron Organic Produce Steamboat Restaurant
Open most days for lunch and dinner, this restaurant has its very own supply of organically grown vegetables to add to their charcoal steamboats!
The affordable and delicious vegetarian set comes highly recommended! Be warned that the broth may contain peanuts so ask beforehand if you are allergic.
For our group of 2, the set portion was adequate. The vegetables are particularly nice and fresh. And while the soup doesn’t appear to have MSG, some of the fishballs and meat balls they provide do.
We like their house-special too – their chili sauce.
Queues at dinner are common, you can wait for up to 45 minutes. Don’t forget to take a number at the counter!
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 12pm to 10pm
- Price range: It costs around ~RM30/ pax to dine here
- Halal: Not halal. Pork is served at this restaurant, but you can opt for the vegetarian set if that doesn’t bother you!
2. C Buddys Steamboat
This family-friendly steamboat restaurant has an affordable although small range of fresh steamboat ingredients and dipping sauces to choose from.
They do however serve a wide variety of soup bases (e.g. Mala, clear tom yam, corn, tomato, etc). Our personal favorite was the corn soup base. The tomato soup base was surprisingly too sweet.
Portions are quite generous (i.e. The 2 person set can satisfy 3 people) and you can sit out on their spacious terrace in the cool of the evening!
The restaurant can be accessed through a relatively new (and barren) shopping complex in Tanah Rata.
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 1pm to 10pm
- Price range: ~RM180 for Set A with 2 add-ons and 4 drinks
- Halal: No
3. Cactus View Restaurant
Hidden from view of the main road, this steamboat restaurant is frequently packed. And you either need to reserve a table in advance or come at 6pm if you want to have dinner there!
The steamboat apparatus that they use features a grill plate in the middle so you can grill some tender pork slices!
It’s extremely delicious and sinful to have the grilled pork fat dripping into the soup. We could not resist ordering another plate of pork!
Their chili paste compliments the food well.
Besides steamboat, they have bak kut teh (pretty good) and ala carte dishes – Try their vinegar pork leg dish!
Note: There are sinks and squat toilets at the back of the restaurant
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 12:30 pm–2:30 pm, 5 pm–9:30 pm
- Price range: Affordable
- Halal: No
4. Restaurant Tuan Yuan
Reasonably low prices and great service draw the crowds in which can mean slow serving times but:
You get a variety of delicious and fresh ingredients to cook either with the modern steamboat setup or the traditional charcoal tower.
Together with a pork bone soup or their Tom Yum soup base!
Note: The Tom Yum soup base is not too spicy.
Order other Chinese dishes like their ginger chicken too if you like! Other recommended dishes include fried kuay teow, mee hoon, curry mee, claypot curry fish head, and fried wantons too!
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 12pm to 9:30pm
- Price range: ~RM35 per person
- Halal: No
5. Hot Pot Time Restaurant
A clean dining environment and a wide variety of hotpot soup bases draw the crowd to Hot Pot Time Restaurant in Tanah Rata.
Of their soup bases, the Japanese pork bone soup base is a clear standout. We like it because it is not too salty but is still flavorful (without the use of MSG). Although the herbal chicken, tomato, and tom yam with seafood soup bases are not far behind.
However, the bill can stack up quickly as soup bases are not included in the steamboat set cost. So, you can expect to pay something between RM40 to RM60 per person depending on what you order.
The fresh ingredients help justify this price too. Parking availability in this recently developed area is a bonus!
See what else there is to know about this hotpot restaurant in Cameron Highlands.
Note: Not a halal establishment
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 3:30pm–10pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
- Price range: ~RM40 to RM60 / head
- Halal: No
6. Misokimchi – Halal Steamboat
You can have Japanese, Western, Malay, Italian, or Korean food here.
Even vegetarians will find something (like bibimbap or vegetarian steamboat) appealing at Misokimchi, a halal steamboat restaurant.
To match with the cool climate, Korean army pot, kimchi stew or ramen are our favorites if you don’t feel like having steamboat! Albeit pricey (especially for ramen; chicken chop costs around RM30).
Steamboat sets typically cost RM35/pax here. As for beverages, their boba milk tea is nice.
Surprisingly, they also have scones on the menu and these are not half bad with homemade strawberry jam!
Furthermore, staff is friendly and helpful even if the customers far outnumber them. You can let the staff know how spicy you want your food too.
However, there are times when orders are slow so you might want to be really patient or just skip this place if it’s overcrowded.
- Location: Google Maps
- Opening hours: 12pm–9:30pm
- Price range: ~RM35 / head
- Halal: Yes
Private Tour And Transport From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands
A private tour service like RayTheTour includes both transport from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands as well as a personal guide.
Other reasons to consider hiring a private tour service:
- Safe and reliable
- Drivers are well acquainted with the route
- Space for all your group members plus luggage
- Pick-up from any Ipoh location
- Direct transport to your chosen Cameron Highlands hotel doorstep!
Book a Ipoh to Cameron Highlands tour by sending Raythetour a message on WhatsApp.
Conclusion
Having a hot pot or steamboat meal in Cameron Highlands is a must-do with the cooler climate! Plus, there are so many to choose from. Hopefully, this list will help to narrow down the options.
Our personal favorite is Hot Pot Time Restaurant for their memorable pork bone broth.
Food To Try In Cameron Highlands
Steamboat isn’t the only food you should try in Cameron Highlands. But bear in mind, food isn’t the main reason people visit Cameron Highlands. Keep your expectations realistic.
Places To Try Good Scones
You might be aware of this, but scones are a special treat in Cameron Highlands. Especially in venues with a heavy British influence like The Smokehouse. See where you can have high tea or simple scones with homemade jam in this list.
Cafes
A hot cup of coffee is just as enjoyable as a steaming hotpot. And there are now many decent options to get coffee in Cameron Highlands. Together with cake and other bites like pastries and sandwiches.
Attractions In Cameron Highlands
Having a steamboat meal is an especially comforting experience after a long day of exploring places to visit in Cameron Highlands! These include farms, flower parks, and tea plantations.
