Ipoh was a town synonymous with mining for many years in Malaysia. But a recent growth in popular foodie culture placed it on the map as one of the towns that must be explored for its authentic local food.
(Read more about the 15 Ipoh attractions when you visit the town.)
The beauty of exploring Ipoh’s best food is also about tasting some of the generations-old recipes handed down from grandfathers to grandchildren who are still running their stalls or restaurants.
Imagine eating an age-old recipe! How cool is that?
Having personally sampled the stand-out dish of each eatery on this curated list, I can vouch for the authenticity and sheer deliciousness that awaits you.
Hopefully, this gives you a clearer picture of where to get Ipoh’s best food with authentic taste!
- Nam Heong White Coffee Shop – White Coffee
- Restaurant Kam Wan Aneka Selera – Popiah
- Sin Yoon Loong – Caramel Egg Custard
- Restoran Tuck Kee – Moonlight Noodles
- Hong Kee Mah Chee – Mua Chee
- Woong Kee Beancurd – Tau Fu Fa
- Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant – Taugeh Chicken
- Restoran Cathay – Hakka Mee
- Restoran Thean Chun – Hor Fun
- Yee Fatt Curry Mee – Dry Curry Mee
- Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum – Dim Sum
- Deen CT Corner Cendol – Cendol
- Restoran New Hollywood – Chee Cheong Fun
- Yong Suan Coffee Shop – Nasi Ganja
- Restoran Sin Lean – Char Kuey Teow
1. Nam Heong White Coffee Shop – White Coffee
Maybe it’s a little controversial to add this as one of Ipoh’s best foods because it is a drink, but come on, if there is one thing Ipoh is synonymous with, it’s their white coffee!
For the royal version of white coffee, head on to Nam Heong White Coffee Shop.
It is one of the most famous kopitiams in Ipoh and is considered the birthplace of white coffee (don’t fight me on this, please!)., as it’s been around since the 1950s!
Some say their white coffee inspired the famous Old Town White Coffee! So, it’s a no-brainer that it is crowded.
It doesn’t help that the place is small, but can you really skip one of Ipoh’s best foods if you’re already there? You’ll have a major FOMO, trust me. Maybe avoid it on weekends and public holidays if you can.
Nam Heong also has very tasty and freshly made egg tarts, perfect for breakfast in Ipoh town.
| Location | 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
2. Restaurant Kam Wan Aneka Selera – Popiah
Another gem in this city is their popiah.
Personally, I like the fried version, which is usually much smaller and served with a sweet chili sauce. But I can see why this is one of Ipoh’s best foods.
It’s packed with freshly cut turnips, beansprouts, peanuts, and small shrimp. The sauce inside it is a combination of sweet sauce and Hoisin sauce.
My first bite was full of surprises – mostly because of how crunchy it was! The sweet sauce and crunchy peanuts really elevate this popiah, too.
I’m officially a convert from the fried popiah to this one!
Restaurant Kam Wan is more like a food court with many other options. So for their popiah, look for Bibi popiah, or just look for a long queue!
Other noteworthy dishes at Kam Wan are their fresh seafood, like ikan bakar. Forget about KFC; Kam Wan’s seafood is truly finger-licking good! Also, their balitong, most commonly known to us as ‘siput sedut’, is excellent.
| Location | 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 3:30 PM – 10:30 PM |
3. Sin Yoon Loong – Caramel Egg Custard
I was a little surprised by this one, mostly because I would quickly categorize caramel custards as a Western dish, but boy, was I wrong!
Sin Yoon Loong delivers a sinful (no pun intended here!) caramel egg custard, which is honestly so well known amongst the locals and the tourists!
The caramel is created from intense cooked brown sugar, providing all the sweetness you need. Meanwhile, the custard itself was super flavorful and light and didn’t have any distinct egg taste.
Other noteworthy dishes here are their wan tan mee and roasted sweet and melting-in-the-mouth char siew (pork), as well as their traditional kaya toast.
| Location | 15A, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM |
4. Restoran Tuck Kee – Moonlight Noodles
Don’t be confused when you find more than ONE Tuck Kee Restaurant in Ipoh. The OG serving Ipoh’s best food is at Jalan Yau Tet Shin.
This place is famous, so don’t take parking for granted either! If you’re there during peak hours or weekends or public holidays, look for parking earlier or expect to park and walk.
Now, what I had here is something I haven’t had the pleasure of having anywhere else, and I’m talking about their moonlight noodles.
The noodles are named after the style they are served in – fresh yellow egg yolk at the centre of well-fried and seasoned kuey teow. To finish, add lard crumbles to the dish for some crunchy bites!
Tuck Kee is also pretty well known for their baby octopus dish. In fact, every table there will have at least one of these dishes to share.
If you want to order something else besides the moonlight noodles, go for the wan tan hor. Trust me, no regrets!
| Location | 61, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 1:00 PM – 10:30 PM |
5. Hong Kee Mah Chee – Mua Chee
If you’re wondering what mua chee is (like I was when I got to Ipoh), don’t worry. Let me explain.
It’s actually a simple glutinous ball that is traditionally rolled and coated with peanut or sesame. Some know it better as tong yuan!
To get some of this finger-licking good mua chee, head over to Hong Kee Mah Chee, a stall run right outside the owner’s home. This makes it such a unique experience, as you get to have some of Ipoh’s best food right under a tree by the stall.
Generationally run, this stall only sells one other dessert: creamy peanut soup (also known as Fah Sang Woo). It’s equally tasty, and for someone who tried it for the first time, I was pretty impressed!
Don’t discount how famous this stall is. It has made an appearance on international TV programs!
| Location | 550A, Jalan Queen, Taman Pasir Pinji, 31650 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
6. Woong Kee Beancurd – Tau Fu Fa
One of Ipoh’s best foods that you must try is Tau Fu Fa.
Yes, I know, you can get this pretty much anywhere in Malaysia these days, so why Ipoh? Because you need to get ready to have your mind blown, like I did!
At Woong Kee, you will find the silkiest Tau Fu Fa you’ve ever had, thanks to their traditional methods of making tau fu fa maintained till today.
Personally, although the silkiness is unbeatable, what sets them apart from other tau fu fa places is the sheer number of syrup varieties that one can get.
Traditionally, you would only get brown sugar, white sugar, or ginger syrup with your Tau Fu Fa, but Woong Kee has other toppings like blue pea flowers, roses, jasmine, and chrysanthemum.
Luckily, when I visited, I was with a few friends and managed to taste more than one of their additional flavours. Although the blue pea flower syrup looks interesting, it is pretty similar to the regular white sugar syrup.
For me, though, the chrysanthemum is a must-try! Its beautiful botanical flavours are sweetened to elevate the silky tau fu. Just be ready to get sugar high here!
| Location | No.32-38A bawah, Jalan Ali Pitchay, Taman Jubilee, 30250 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Thursday – Monday: 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
7. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant – Taugeh Chicken
Just like how you cannot skip having white coffee when you come to Ipoh, you must not miss out on having chicken rice since this dish is one of Ipoh’s best food.
Sure, you can have chicken rice anywhere, but with Ipoh’s chicken rice, the speciality is their taugeh chicken or bean sprout chicken.
To be as local and authentic as possible, we went to Cowan Street Ayam Tauge. Mind you, you will still see many locals dining, so you know it’s definitely a hit!
Expect a crowd at all times at Cowan Street. Also, do not be alarmed that your chicken doesn’t come with rice. Here, their chicken is served with flat rice noodles, better known as kuey teow.
Other notable items that are a hit (provided you like chicken innards) are their plate of chicken gizzards and intestines.
I’m a kampung girl at heart, and you bet I devoured this plate within minutes!
Perhaps one thing you should note is that there are several reviews of this shop not having a fixed opening time, so I strongly suggest you give them a ring before heading over. Opening times below are suggested online!
| Location | 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Thursday – Saturday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Sunday: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
8. Restoran Cathay – Hakka Mee
Hakka Mee is another dish that you need to add to your list if you’re in Ipoh.
Frankly, I’ve not had many delicious Hakka Mee, as it’s always a hit-and-miss, especially in KL. So, I made sure to try it since it is one of Ipoh’s best foods.
The dish is rather simple – noodles topped with juicy and tender minced pork seasoned with fish sauce and soy sauce.
At times, they might also come with beansprouts. Most places also offer sides like yong tau foo to make the dish more filling.
To try an authentic place, head to Cathay Restaurant. Take note that the existing location on your maps may not be accurate, so we suggest you type in the full address (see the end of this paragraph for the address)
At Cathay, you can order their Hakka Mee in portions like single, 1.5, or double.
Usually, they pick some yong tau foo to go with your dish, as it is served in combination.
If you’re not feeling like Hakka Mee, then try their Hainanese chicken chop, which comes with cooked tomato sauce laced with onions and peas and a side of fried potatoes.
| Location | A17, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Sunday – Thursday: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
9. Restoran Thean Chun – Hor Fun
My personal favourite Chinese dish is Hor Fun.
While there are a few places that serve good Hor Fun, a dear friend specifically told me to get them from Thean Chun, so off I went!
A classic kopitiam, Thean Chun’s hor fun is well-known for its savoury broth, which includes heaps of shredded chicken and prawns. It’s usually served piping hot with rice noodles.
Thean Chun hits the mark as one of the best Hor Fun I’ve ever had! It’s no wonder that it is considered one of Ipoh’s best food to have!
If you’ve made your way here, don’t forget to also have their satay, which includes pork satay complemented by super moist and delicious gravy!
Also, don’t forget totry their signature egg caramel, a dish that is quite popular and frequently ordered by many of their patrons!
It does get pretty crowded with long waiting lines specifically for the Hor Fun, so I strongly suggest that you beat the crowd by getting there as early as you can.
| Location | 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Friday – Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
10. Yee Fatt Curry Mee – Dry Curry Mee
When I feel like having curry but don’t really want rice, my go-to is a plate of dry curry noodles.
Since I was already in Ipoh, I had to try Yee Fatt’s Curry Mee, which is pretty well known amongst the locals.
Running for over 6 decades now, Yee Fatt’s dry curry mee is a plate of noodles of your choice, flooded in curry with add-ons like chicken, char siew and curry potatoes.
The spiciness of the curry and the soy sauce that is coated on the noodles really just hits so differently as if it’s a match made in heaven!
Portions are slightly smaller here, so if you have any space left, definitely try their soup curry mee.
Now for the multi-million dollar question: Is it worth the crowd and trouble of finding a parking space? ABSOLUTELY!
| Location | 39, Jalan Kampar, 31650 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
11. Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum – Dim Sum
When it came to dim sum, I just wanted to see if there was a vast difference between what I would typically get in KL and what I would get in Ipoh.
So off we went to Chooi Yue Dim Sum.
I picked the place because it has been running for over a decade now, and we’ve only heard good things about it.
With a major renovation done a few years back, this place doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, either!
Word of caution: it gets incredibly crowded, and parking is a hassle, so I suggest you do an early morning pit stop around 7ish before you continue exploring Ipoh town.
I ordered items that I would normally get in KL, including har guen, siew mai, loh mai gai, chee cheong fun, and xiao long bao.
Probably the only stand-out dish I wouldn’t find anywhere else is their pandan-salted egg yolk pau.
All in all, the har guen and loh mai kai were pretty delicious. We can see why the pandan salted egg yolk pau is a crowd favourite, too – sweet and salty in a fluffy bao – exactly what you need to kick start your vacation!
Pricing-wise, they are pretty affordable and feel pretty standard.
They are definitely worth a visit, but if you cannot make it early, then do have something to eat before joining their long waiting queue.
| Location | 2, 4 & 6, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Friday – Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
12. Deen CT Corner Cendol – Cendol
There’s nothing like beating the scorching heat with some cendol to chow down.
This was again a tough take when I knew I could get pretty outstanding cendol at Penang Road, Penang.
Everyone who knew their way around Ipoh told me that I had to be prepared to be blown away at Deen CT Corner, where their cendol is truly considered one of Ipoh’s best foods!
To ensure I could equally judge the cendol here vs. Penang, I went for the OG – a steel bowl of crushed ice, pulut, jagung, and kacang (glutinous rice, sweetcorn, and red bean), also known as ‘Cendol PJK’.
My mates did go ahead and get themselves various other toppings. My verdict: It came very, very close to Penang cendol!
Yes, I’m a tad biased, but if I cannot make my way further north to Penang, this will definitely be my go-to.
Penang is also known for its nasi kandar dish. Check out 15 restaurants in Penang Serving the best nasi kandar.
Also, prices are still affordable.
It’s a very small corner stall with limited seating, but it’s perfect for a pit stop on a sunny day!
Park your car and walk there please; you don’t want to obstruct the road there.
| Location | 21, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Saturday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM |
13. Restoran New Hollywood – Chee Cheong Fun
Thanks to its Halal status, it is one of the few restaurants where you can take your Muslim friends!
New Hollywood Restaurant has Ipoh’s best food because you can get the best chee cheong fun over there!
Mind you, when it comes to chee cheong fun, I keep it traditional – black sweet sauce and red spicy sauce.
That’s it – no yong tau foo like the Kl-ites like to have with their chee cheong fun. I also like having it plain versus the Taiwan styled ones where you have fillings on the inside.
The good news is the chee cheong fun at New Hollywood has both options.
For those who want filling, you can find prawns or chicken filling here.
But what elevates this dish is definitely its sweet black sauce. It is so well-made that I had 2.5 servings myself!
Other notable dishes are the roti telur goyang and cakoi!
| Location | 38, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Tuesday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
14. Yong Suan Coffee Shop – Nasi Ganja
Don’t be fooled by this shop’s name and appearance. It might look like an old kopitiam, but it actually serves the famous Ipoh Nasi Ganja.
Termed ‘Ganja’ or weed in English, this plate of deliciousness is named for the addictive nature of the curries and side dishes served here.
The place is as old as our country and is super well-known, so, don’t be surprised to see the long queues, though most say it’s for the takeaway only and not dine-in customers.
What makes this unique is the use of coconut sambal, which is served with rice and spiced fried chicken.
Add other outstanding dishes like beef curry, vegetables, or fried fish for a wholesome and ‘high’ meal! You’ll surely want to take a nap after!
| Location | 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Ipoh Town, 30250 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
15. Restoran Sin Lean – Char Kuey Teow
This restaurant is well-known for its “golden fried kuey teow,” which is so expensive for such a small serving that it is considered as valuable as gold.
Although expensive, its price does not deter anyone. People still wait in line for a handful of kuey teow with a runny sunny-side-up egg!
You can have it with prawns or cockles, but I prefer to eat my kuey teow with simply wok hei, or wok scent, in Cantonese.
Ipoh’s stir-fried dishes are superior to those found elsewhere, in my opinion, because the bean sprouts definitely add a delicious crunch to every bite.
If you’d like to try any other dishes here, my recommendation would be to go for curry noodles with crunchy roast pork and their delicious beef noodles.
| Location | 15, Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Perak |
| Operating Hours | Wednesday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Monday: 6:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
Most Memorable Ipoh Food I Have Tried
At the end of my journey in Ipoh, I must admit that it was nothing short of adventurous. I got to try some of the most amazing food that I could have.
Although it is really difficult to pick one outstanding place amongst the ones I have listed above, if I had to crown one, it would be the Nasi Ganja from Yong Suan Coffee Shop.
I wonder if this is because I’ve had far too many noodles-based dishes.
But the piping hot curry and coconut sambal accompanying a plate of rice is just, without a doubt, the highlight for me.
Even the crispy and well-marinated fried chicken is so well executed. They are far from overcooked and complement the curries so well.
Well, taste buds are highly personal, so I hope that this guide helps you find some of Ipoh’s best food easily without having to search for them high and low! Happy eating!
