20 Best Street Foods in Ipoh

1. Ipoh White Coffee at Sin Yoon Loong

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Known for many incredible things, Ipoh is synonymous to White Coffee! Head on Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong in old town Ipoh for an authentic rich and aromatic cup of this prized drink; locals enjoy theirs with an order of Danzhi (hot toast topped with a creamy soft-boiled egg)! Established in 1937, this humble cafe has been caffeinating Malaysian blood for over 80 years!

Sin Yoon Loong

Address: 15 A, Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6.30 am – 5.30 pm

Contact: +60 52414601

Website: Sin Yoon Loong

2. Egg Tart and Muah Chee at Nam Heong White Coffee Shop

Nam Heong is the most popular coffee shop in Ipoh (with its franchise Old Town White Coffee found all over Malaysia), however the coffee here is known to be milder tasting than Sin Yoon Loong. Come for some great freshly baked egg tarts and a serving of Muah Chee, chewy glutinous rice balls coated with crunchy peanut crumbles and sugar!

Nam Heong White Coffee Shop

Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6.30 am - 10.30 pm

Contact: +60 125888766

3. Chee Cheong Fun at Canning Garden

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

A popular street food, brought in by Chinese immigrants from the 19th century, Chee Cheong Fun comprises of steamed rice rolls served with dark rich soy sauce. However, you can find a variation of this dish all over Malaysia. In Ipoh, Canning Garden has the best version of the dish! Their silky smooth rice noodles here are ladled with sweet red sauce with a touch of soy and shallot oil, garnished with fried shallots, sesame seeds and pickled green chillies! A harmonious burst of flavour in your mouth, you’d want two servings on your visit!

It does get sold out quickly, visit this shop early to taste this dish, especially on the weekends!

Kedai Makanan Canning Garden

Address: Ipoh Town 27, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, Ipoh Garden, 31400, Malaysia

Opening Hours: Opens morning, until sold-out (before noon)

4. Hakka Mee at Paris Restaurant

A staple Malaysian cuisine, Hakka noodles are made up of springy smooth egg noodles, a topping of minced meat (usually pork) with a generous amount of fresh scallions or leafy greens (usually Chinese Kale), served with clear fishball/wantan soup. Paris Restaurant (two corner shop lots along Jalan Sultan Iskandar a.k.a Hugh Low Street), one of the best restaurants in Ipoh, is known to have the best tasting version of this dish!

Paris Restaurant

Address: 190, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Taman Jubilee, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.00 am – 11.30 am

5. Asam Laksa at Dai Shu Geok

A personal favorite of mine, Assam Laksa is beloved (and well sought after) by Malaysians and tourists alike! An addictive dish, especially for its tangy, spicy and sour fish broth, made with a base of Tamarind (Asam Jawa) juice, ginger flower, asam keping, and laksa leaves (Daun kesom). It’s served with thick noodles, with garnishes of cucumber, pineapples, sliced onions, mint and a slice of lime. Optional but recommended: a spoonful of prawn paste. A bowl of Assam Laksa at Dai Shu Geok never disappoints and is probably one of the best foods in Ipoh!

Dai Shu Geok (Big Tree Foot)

Address: Jalan King, Off Jalan Pasir Pinji, 31650, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, 31650 Ipoh, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm

Contact: +60 125245408

6. Curry Mee at Restoran Xin Quan Fang

Another popular noodle dish in Malaysia, Curry Mee is a dish of noodles drowned in creamy coconut milk broth served with thick cuts of roasted pork, slices of BBQ pork (char siew), shredded chicken, shrimps and beansprouts. The sight and smell of this dish alone will have you salivating!

Restoran Xin Quan Fang

Address: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 7.30 am – 1.00 pm

Contact: +60 165314193

7. Chicken Rice at Restoran Nasi Ayam Pak Kong

If there’s one thing Malaysians don’t get sick of, it’s chicken rice. You’ll find most Malaysians would have this dish 3 - 4 times a week! A simple dish packed with flavor, the name is literal to its composition: boiled rice served with roasted or poached chicken with a side of cucumber, garlic, chili dipping sauce, and clear soup. Also popular in Pak Kong, are their finger lickin’ Char Siew (BBQ caramelized pork), Siew Yoke (crispy roasted pork), or roasted duck. These are one of the good foods in Ipoh that you shouldn’t miss out on trying!

Restoran Nasi Ayam Pak Kong

Address: 27, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 11.30 am – 4.00 pm

Contact: +60 125886618

8. Bean Sprout Chicken at Restoran Onn Kee

While this is also a chicken rice dish, Restoran Onn Kee is especially notable for their fat and juicy bean sprout chicken! It is said the water of the land yields the best tasting, fattest and juiciest bean sprouts! So this is an alternative restaurant for some delicious Ipoh Chicken Rice!

Restoran Onn Kee

Address: 48, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, ipoh, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 10.00 am – 2.00 am

Contact: +60 195646161

9. Dim Sum at Foh San

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

A variety of flavors and textures, Dim Sum is not one dish, but a selection of bite-sized dumplings, breads and pastries served in stacks of steaming bamboo baskets. Locals love to frequent Foh San along Jalan Leong Sin Nam for this 19th century Chinese Delicacy. Foh San tends to be a little bit hectic during peak hours, so do come as early as you can for a smooth service and fresh dim sum!

Foh San

Address: 51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6.30 am – 2.30 pm

Contact: +60 52540308

10. Fried Noodles at Tuck Kee

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you somehow still cannot choose what to eat in Ipoh, the fried noodles at Tuck Kee Restaurant are second to none! Having served this dish for more than 50 years, you can bet this restaurant never fails to serve consistent delicious fried noodles for locals and tourist alike! Visiting here, you definitely have to order the signature dish of springy Hokkien ‘Dai Loke Meen’ (big fat) noodles, stir fried with rich brown gravy, lightly charred shrimps and crisp vegetables and also their Wan Tan Hor, golden brown fried Kuay Teow, topped with a golden yolk!

Tuck Kee

Address: 61, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 6.00 pm – 12.00 am (Closed on Wednesdays)

Contact: +60 52537513

11. Pork & Chicken Satay at Kong Heng

Another Malaysian favourite, Satays are skewers of meat, grilled over charcoal, and eaten with rich peanut sauce! If you cannot decide where to eat in Ipoh, Kong Heng has a variety of dishes that will surely fix your cravings.

Kong Heng

Address: 74, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 10 am – 4 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Contact: +60 122272745

12. Kaya Puffs at Sin Eng Heong

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Baking a variety of traditional biscuits since 1961, Sin Eng Heong is most notable for selling Ipoh’s best Kaya Puff! A sensational delight, bite down on its golden flaky hand-made crust, to reveal the most delicious oozing Coconut Jam filling. Made fresh daily, expect long queues even as the shop is just opening. But the wait for this decadent pastry is definitely worth while!

Sin Eng Heong

Address: 64, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 9.00 am – 7.00 pm

Contact: +60 52439659

13. Tau Fu Fah at Funny Mountain

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

A must-visit every time you visit Ipoh, Funny Mountain has the best-extremely-soft-silky-melt-in-your-mouth Tau Fu Fah that all Malaysians crave! Known for the finest soy bean produce, you can see cars parking and flocks of customer sitting by the roadside enjoying their bowl of Tau Fu Fah and their cold glass of fresh pressed soy bean drink!

Funny Mountain Soya Bean

Address: 49, Jalan Theatre, Ipoh, 30300, Ipoh, Perak, 30300, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 10.30 am – 6.00 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)

Contact: +60 125161607

14. Caramel Egg Custard at Thean Chun

One of the most Instagrammed foods in Ipoh, Thean Chun has perfected the smooth and rich texture of Caramel Egg Custard, and also has a delicate balance between the sweetness of the custard and the bitterness of the caramel, which makes it a very palatable dessert!

Thean Chun

Address: 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Opening Hours: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm (Closed on Thursdays)

Contact: +60 52553076

15. Ayam goreng merah at Nasi Kandar

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Although the official name is Perniagaan Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah, it is dotingly called Nasi Ganja. Now, ‘ganja’ in the local language means weed, but fret not, nothing at this stall is made of weed or anything related. The food here is so addictive that the desirability is compared to that of ganja. Once you beat the queue, seat yourself and quickly place the order for ayam goreng merah (classic spicy red chicken) and the homemade mint sauce. You can either get your order served separately or on rice drowned in chicken gravy. The latter is a rage!

Nasi Kandar

Address: 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Website: Nasi Kandar

Opening hours: 9:30 am – 6 pm

16. Unique dining at Jeff's Cellar in a cave

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you’ve had fun checking out the caving adventures offered in Ipoh, here’s another cave-related activity you’ll definitely love. Try having a meal in a cave by heading over to Jeff’s cellar where all the ingredients used for their meals are freshly sourced. Enjoy a wagyu striploin, or perhaps a set menu that comes with sides of caviar, lobster, and a scrumptious dessert. Do note that as. this is a popular dining site with limited tables, bookings are essential. Located inside Banjaran Hot Spring Retreat in Ipoh, consider this place a must-visit with friends and family.

Jeff's Cellar

Address: No 1 Persiaran Lagun Sunway 3 | Sunway City Ipoh, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Ipoh 31150, Malaysia

Telephone +60 5-210 7777

Website: Jeff’s Cellar

17. Pusing Public Seafood Restaurant

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

For those seeking both quality and portions in their meals, head over to the Pusing Public Seafood Restaurant. With great quality and huge portions, the restaurant is usually filled to the brim - so bookings are definitely required if you do intend to make a visit with friends and family. The restaurant offers an array of delicacies, including local cuisine, Chinese food, Asian, and Malaysian dishes. One of the most popular dishes is the Soy Fried Big Head Prawns. Other tasty treats on the menu include grilled prawns and steamed fish. You can also try the duck in lettuce leaves. Starters include delicacies like fried pomfret fish, abalone and scallops. The large restaurant often caters to company events and weddings, should you intend to book the place for a function.

Pusing Public Seafood Restaurant

Address: No. G 57-65 Jalan Verasamy, Ipoh 30300, Malaysia

Telephone: +60 5-241 0306

Website: Pusing Public Seafood Restaurant

18. Dry Curry Noodles at Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

As the capital city of Perak, Ipoh is deliciously filled with hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt is one of those. If it still isn’t obvious, you can never have enough curry in the city. One of the must-tries at Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt is their bestseller dry curry noodles. Go get that fix of chewy noodles and rich curry sauce sprinkled with aromatics that will make you reach for seconds!

Kedai Kopi Yee Fatt

Address: 28a, Jalan Pengkalan Indah, Bandar Pengkalan Indah, 31650 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Opening hours: 7am - 3pm (daily)

19. Salted Chicken at Ayam Garam Aun Kheng Lim

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Ayam Garam Aun Kheng Lim is frequented by locals and visitors as it serves one of Ipoh’s famous food, the salted chicken. You can never go wrong with such a simple but flavorful dish. Make sure to plan ahead before visiting the restaurant as the queue tends to get long, but of course, that is a testament to how good the food is at Ayam Garam Aun Kheng Lim. We recommend that you get yourself some rice along with their salt-baked chicken!

Ayam Garam Aun Kheng Lim

Address: 24, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Website: Ayam Garam Aun Kheng Lim

Telephone: +60 5-254 2998

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 9am - 5pm

20. Popiah at BiBi’s Popiah

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Another scrumptious food that you’ll find in Ipoh is the extremely versatile popiah, which you may already know as fresh spring rolls! BiBi’s Popiah is a popular food stall at Ipoh Garden Gourmet Square in Lengkok Canning and is famously known for its original popiah. The classic popiah usually contains beans, carrots, and other shredded vegetables spooned with crispy garlic. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous on your visit to BiBi’s Popiah, make sure to try other variations of their popiah as well!

BiBi's Popiah

Address: 18, Lengkok Canning, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia

Website: BiBi’s Popiah

Telephone: +60 16-500 9348

Malaysia truly Asia

Malaysia is definitely the place to visit to taste a variety of delicious, flavorful dishes! Coming to our 60th year of independence this August, the harmonious layering and influences of cultural flavors in our prized dishes has blossomed our food culture to being Asia’s best and most diverse! Your taste buds will never get bored traveling from state to state (check out the food trails Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Malacca and Penang ).

As our saying goes, Malaysia truly Asia!