Today let’s look at 19 must try dishes in Ipoh. Malaysians have always known what a hidden gem Ipoh is when it comes to the food scene, but these days it is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination and with that comes the discovery of some of Malaysia’s best eats. Originally founded due to the lucrative tin mining industry, Ipoh attracted Chinese immigrants. Today Ipoh is known as one of the more prominent Chinese communities in Malaysia.
And with this large population of Chinese/Malays, Ipoh’s cuisine is dominated by Hakka Chinese influences. But rest assured, Malay and Mamak Indian are also well represented in the city. So without further ado, let’s have a look at 19 must try dishes in Ipoh.
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19 Must Try Dishes in Ipoh: Table of Contents
1. Curry Chicken Buns 11. Asam Laska
2. Pork Lard Rice 12. Hakka Mee
3. Nasi Ganja 13. Cucur Udong
4. Bean Sprout Chicken 14. Nasi Lemak
5. Ipoh White Coffee 15. Kai Si Hor Fun
6. Tau Foo Fah 16. Ipoh Salted Chicken
7. Bird's Nest Soup 17. Pomelos
8. Hong Kong Style Kaya Toast 18. Golden Tofu
9. Curry Mee / Nonya Curry 19. Giant River Prawns
10. Prawn Mee 20. FAQ
1. Curry Chicken Buns
Are curry chicken buns super touristy? Maybe! Are they absolutely delicious? You bet your ass they are.
Chicken, potatoes, and delicious curry are wrapped in parchment paper and encased in bread dough. The bread is then baked with all of the curry goodness inside of it. What you’re left with is freshly baked bread and a ton of delicious curry for dipping the bread into. It’s messy, but it is extremely satisfying. You can find these in several location but my favourite without question will be found at Yee Thye Biscuit on Jalan Theatre.
2. Pork Lard Rice
Pork lard rice is exactly what it sounds like. This fried rice cooked in pork lard imparts a distinct wok hei (the flavor from a hot wok) to the dish. The rice comes topped with a raw egg that partially cooks from the heat of the rice, along with crispy bits of deep-fried pork lard and garlic. Top it of with a chili, fish sauce and soy sauce mixture and get ready to have your mind blown. The best I found in Ipoh is at Curry Keng. It’s not in the touristy area so get your google maps opened up. Curry Keng also makes excellent coffee and the absolute best dry curry mee in the city
3. Nasi Ganja
Catchy name, yes? Don’t worry, there is no actual “ganja” involved with this dish. Simply put, Nasi ganja is the name used for the Indian Mamak dish of Nasi Kandar in Ipoh. It was coined Nasi Ganja in Ipoh because of it’s addictive nature. I have written about this dish in my Where to Eat in Melaka article and I am certain I will be writing about it in the future because it is that good.
Ipoh shines here as well with delicious curries aromatic rice and protiens like beef rendang and ayam goreng. This is another “touristy” location but honestly you don’t ever find “bad” Nasi Ganja so you may as well go to the most well known place in Ipoh and that is Kedai Kopi Yong Suan. It’s hectic, it’s chaotic, but most of all it is exactly as the name suggest. Addicting!.
4. Ipoh Bean Sprout Chicken (Tauge Ayam)
You may have hear about the famous Hainanese chicken rice in Malaysia and Singapore and Tauge Ayam is very similar. The main difference is the tauge, or bean sprouts. Ipoh is world-renowned for its bean sprouts, and many believe this is due to the climate, soil, and, most importantly, the minerals deposited into the water supply from the limestone cliffs surrounding the city. What I can tell you is the bean sprouts are unlike any I have ever had.
These succulent and juicy bean sprouts boast a mild fruity flavor and appear in many dishes in Ipoh, especially with their bean sprout chicken. To try the famous bean sprout chicken you may want to avoid some of the tourist traps because quite frankly they weren’t very good. One location close by Ipoh’s tourist hub is Ipoh Hainan Chicken Rice. I personally found theirs to be the best in the area. I didn’t spot a single tourist during any of my visits, even though it was packed every day. They also do a roasted chicken variation which I prefer to poached.
Where to Stay in Ipoh, Malaysia
For more places to stay in Ipoh:
5. Ipoh White Coffee
Ipoh’s white coffee is well a known coffee product throughout SE Asia. This type of coffee is roasted at a lower temperature that helps preserve the coffee’s natural oils and sugars. The flavour profiles are very smooth and less bitter than traditional dark roast coffees. Whether it be a hot or iced version, there are countless places to try white coffee in Ipoh, you really can’t go wrong with any of them. OldTown White Coffee and A Jie Cafe are both great. But my personal favourite is Addon White coffee
6. Tau Foo Fah
Tau Foo Fah is a Chinese desert in origin so it only make sense that you would find it in Malaysia and more specifically in Ipoh. This dessert features a silky smooth custard made from soybean curd. You’ll usually find it topped with ginger simple syrup or gula Melaka (palm sugar), although other toppings occasionally make an appearance.
As far as where to find the best one, the most recommended spot will be Funny Mountain and rightfully so. However, I would extend the challenge to you to also walk around the corner and try Lai Kee Soya for a direct comparison. You may be shocked with just how good this lesser known spot is.
You Might Also Like: Where to Eat in Melaka: the City’s History Through Food
7. Birds Nest Soup
Birds nest as a medicinal or culinary attribute can be traced back to the year 500C.E. Once reserved for only the very wealthy, it is becoming more and more an every day item and in Ipoh there is one location that is pioneering making this available to everybody.
Birds nest soup is the resulting product that is made from harvesting the no longer used portions of the nests made by swiftlets. The swiftlets make their nests primarily from a mucus within their salivary glands. Sounds a bit icky, I know, but hear me out. Once harvested these nests will have any of the impurities first removed by hand such as feathers and debris. Then they will soaked in water and finally they will be boiled to remove any remaining impurities
Birds nest is enjoyed for it’s smooth texture and subtle sweetness. While it’s high protein content and antioxidant properties contribute to its purported health benefits such as:
- Improving lung function: The soup is believed to help strengthen the lungs and respiratory system.
- Boosting immunity: It’s claimed to enhance the body’s immune system.
- Promoting skin health: Some believe that the soup can improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.
- Aiding digestion: It’s said to aid digestion and improve overall gut health.
At Vnest Concept Cafe in Ipoh they make several dishes that include birds nest, including coffees and desserts. I was lucky enough to visit during Chinese New Year when we enjoyed an entire platter of Lou Sang topped with bird’s nest. Vnest has its own swiftlet farm, harvesting only nests that are no longer in use. This is definitely one of the 19 must try dishes in Ipoh.
8. Hong Kong Style Kaya Toast
Next up in my 19 must try dishes in Ipoh Is Hong Kong style kaya toast. Kaya toast is popular throughout Malaysia and Singapore, but I found Hong Kong-style kaya toast only in Ipoh.. In fairness to the rest of Malaysia, I wasn’t exactly looking for it. I happened upon this at Soon Wah Kopitiam where I was filming a video of one of the stalls located there.
To keep it short and sweet, kaya is a coconut jam and kaya toast would normally consist of the kaya and a pad of butter. Hong Kong Style is a caramelized roll in place of standard toast. The caramelized roll adds another layer of sweetness to the dish and the crispiness of the bun is superb. This location is located quite a ways outside of any of the touristy areas, so once again, get your Google maps ready. And the owner of the Kopitiam is wher you will find this dish as well as a fantastic cham(coffee and tea mixed).
9. Curry Mee / Nonya Curry
Worried about that drive to get to Soon Wah Kopitiam? Don’t worry, I am going to make the drive worthwhile for you because our next three dishes are located within the Kopitiam. Let’s start it with Curry Mee. I mentioned curry mee when talking about Curry Keng, but theirs is a dry version where as this one is the soup version. This extremely popular dish is distinctly Malaysian but is heavily influenced by the Chinese. We’re in Ipoh, remember?
Curry Mee features a rich and spicy curry broth. Start by blanching a generous portion of yellow egg noodles and those famous Ipoh bean sprouts. Add the coconut-based broth, then top the dish with char siu (roasted pork shoulder), siu yuk (roasted pork belly), long beans, and a spicy sambal. A very simple but beautifully delicious dish
10. Prawn Mee
Once again, start off blanching yellow egg noodles and tauge but this time we add some kangkong(water spinach) as well. They top this one with extra char siu, fish cakes, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh prawns. Top this all of with a broth made from pork bones and shrimp heads with spices such as star anise, cloves and cinnamon. Finish it off with spoon full of sambal
This dish is a perfect balance of flavours, textures and spices. The shrimp heads add a touch of sweetness to the broth while the sambal adds the the perfect amount of heat to the dish. The fresh prawns add a briny taste and the addition of char siu, boiled egg, and bean sprouts, offer additional layers of flavour and texture
Wondering What to do in Ipoh? Have a Look at Some of these Tours From Viator:
11. Asam Laska
Asam Laksa is the holy grail of Laksa in Malaysia, combining both Chinese and Malay elements. The broth is one of the stars of this show. Made from fish stock, tamarind juice, chilies, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric. In. Ipoh of course incorporates the use of tauge in their Asam laksa as well as signature laksa noodles. Fresh laksa leaves, ginger flowers, cucumber, local mint leaves, onion, fried bean curd, and a generous spoonful of prawn paste top off this dish.
What you end up with is a tangy, spicy and slightly sour broth and a complex blend of spices. The added touch of tauge you find in Ipoh, I haven’t found anywhere else in Malaysia. Personally, I think it is a perfect addition to introduce the sweet and juicy bean sprouts adding another layer of interest to the dish. The added praan paste adds the prefect touch of umami to finish off the dish.
Where to find dishes 9-11
Well I already told you, but more specifically beyond Soon Wah Kopitiam, go specifically to the Meng Foong Nonya Mee stall to see Jason and Kane. Not only are these two beautiful people in general, they make great food. They have also implemented offering affordable meals to those that may be struggling to get by. They do serve a smaller sized portion of their dishes at an extremely reduced cost. A typical bowl of Asam Laksa for instance would normally be RM7.50 ($1.80) and the more affordable option is only RM4($.96). That difference may not seem like much to you and I, but that is a massive difference to many people all over the globe
The best part about their initiative is that noodles, tauge and broth are exactly the same size as the larger version. The only difference is the amount of toppings is less to make it financially viable for the long term. Can you find all of these dishes elsewhere in Ipoh? Absolutely. Will they be as good? I have no idea as I have not eaten at every joint that serves them. What I can say is, they are best that I have had in Ipoh. And I really wouldn’t want to put my money elsewhere when you have amazing human beings like Jason and Kane, who are by no means wealthy themselves, helping those who are less fortunate.
Related Reading: What to do in Ipoh, Malaysia
12. Hakka Mee
This dish may be the true embodiment of Hakka influence in Ipoh. Hakka Mee starts off with your traditional egg or rice noodles. It’s topped with a fried ground pork that has been marinating in a savoury sauce. Green onions and more of those Ipoh bean sprouts finsih the toppings. It will be served along side a pork bone based soup that will include fish balls, chicken balls and tofu. The idea is, that you can have the noodle dish as dry or soupy type dish. Most people will add a bit of broth to their noodles as well as a chili oil condiment that you find on every table in Malaysia. The flavour profile is savoury and slightly sweet due the ground pork and hint of dark soy sauce during the cooking process adds a touch of smokiness.
You also get a side of deep-fried fritters, though I can’t remember what they’re called for the life of me. They usually come stuffed with ground meats, vegetables, and tofu. You should definitely make this one of your 19 must try dishes in Ipoh based on it’s historical significance to the region. One of my favourites in Ipoh is Restoran dan Rumah Tumpangan Beauty Baru. It’s always packed with locals, so get there early because they sell out between 10:00 and 11:00 AM.
13. Cucur Udong
We have covered a lot of Chinese influenced dishes here. Let’s cover some more traditional Malay dishes for the next two. This one, cucur udong, is a deep-fried prawn fritter that will blow your mind. The fritters mix tapioca and rice flour, and the batter is infused with chives and chilies. Wrap your prawns in this mixture and deep fry them. Cucur udong comes with a spicy dipping sauce, and the giant chunks of shrimp make them simply perfect. You can find these and our next dish at Nelli’s Ipoh Garden
14. Nasi Lemak
For this iteration of Nasi Lemak we are keeping it short and sweet. Everybody in the world knows what Nasi Lemak is and knows that it is Malaysia’s National dish. So why am I writing about it again after eleventy billion other bloggers have already covered it? Because the one at Nelli’s Ipoh Garden is by far the best one I have had in all of my travels throughout Malaysia. I’m not sponsored by them in any way. Those are just Google Maps links I’m providing. For that matter, I am receiving zero compensation for any establishment I recommend. Nelli’s is just that damn good
15. Kai Si Hor Fun (Gai Se Hor Fun)
Ipoh offers another Hakka-inspired noodle dish called Kai Si Hor Fun. Locals claim the wide, flat rice vermicelli noodles in Kai Si Hor Fun are better because of the mineral-rich waters in the area. You can get this in both a wet and dry version but i would recommend the wet. The broth is made from chicken stock, dark soy sauce and variety of spices. The dish includes shredded chicken and prawns as well as a some fresh vegetables and be sure to order it with a side of those famous Ipoh bean sprouts. You can find it at Tricycle Chicken & Prawn Kuey Teow @ Thean Chun Coffee Shop. there are some negative reviews on this location, but ignore the haters, this place is always packed and the food is tasty..
16. Ipoh Salted Chicken
Ipoh salted chicken is another iconic dish within the city. The chicken is marinated overnight and stuffed with an herb called dong quai in Cantonese, which is best translated as female ginseng. The next day, it’s wrapped in parchment paper and cooked over scorching mounds of coarse salt. Coarse may not even be the right word here as the chunks of salt are massive. ironically the finished product is an overly salty flavour, but a succulent savoury piece of meat. Obviously the skin on this will not be crunchy but a rubbery type of texture that surprisingly delicious. The dong quai will somewhwat infuse with the meat with what I can only describe as a celery type of flavour. You can find this as numerous places places in Ipoh with my favourite probably being Aun Kheng Lim
17. Pomelos
Ipoh is the pomelo capital of Malaysia and once gain that is due to the ideal climate, soil and the mineral laden waters surrounding the area. And considering Chinese culture regards pomelos as symbols of prosperity and good fortune it only makes sense. I admit that pomelos here do have a much sweeter flavour than I am used to and lack the sour taste you find in most pomelos. But to be completely transparent, I only had it a couple of times in Ipoh and maybe I just got lucky to find their good ones. You can throw a dart in Ipoh and find pomelos wherever the dart lands so no need to tell you where to find them. Especially considering fresh fruit can always be a hit or miss with flavour.
18. Golden Tofu
Golden Tofu is unlike any Tofu you have ever had in your life. This will always be a homemade tofu and the texture is unlike anything I have anywhere in the world. Much like tao foo faa, this dish is a custard-like golden tofu, fried to create a crunchy shell on the outside while keeping the inside extra creamy.
They top the tofu with a combination of minced pork and shrimp marinated in various sauces. Such as chili garlic oil, soy sauce and fish sauce, sweet chili sauce etc. Most of you know I’m not big on anything vegetarian but I can eat this tofu every day of the week. Pork and Shrimp are an added bonus. If you want an excellent one in Ipoh head to Sin Hup Kee for their awesome golden tofu and the next dish on our list.
19. Giant River Prawns
Maybe there is something to the nutrients in the waters around Ipoh because I have rarely seen fresh water prawns the size of the ones you find around Ipoh. And Sin Hup Kee also does and excellent version of Giant River Prawns. They tightly guard their sauce, but I’m certain it’s a mix of soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, chilies, and either lime or lime juice. They add countless spices to it, and I couldn’t even begin to tell you exactly what they are. Just know that whatever it is will make your mouth water for more. Definitely don’t miss this location on your 19 must try dishes in Ipoh journey
Frequently Asked Questions:
Ipoh’s food blends Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences, for unique flavors. The use of fresh, local ingredients, including its famous limestone-filtered water, enhances the taste of many dishes.
While some dishes like Curry Mee or Asam Laksa can be spicy, most have balanced flavors that cater to a wide range of palates. You can often ask vendors to adjust the spice level of each dish.
Yes, there are vegetarian friendly options like Tau Foo Fah (soybean pudding), Hakka Mee (request without meat), and various fruit-based desserts like Pomelos.
Most dishes in Ipoh are affordable, ranging from RM5 to RM15 ($1 to $3 USD) per serving, depending on the establishment.
Despite its name, there’s no cannabis in Nasi Ganja. The dish gets its nickname from its addictive flavor that keeps people coming back for more. It’s a twist on the classic Nasi Kandar, featuring a mix of fragrant rice, curry, and fried chicken.
Start with local hawker stalls, then visit well known eateries for specialty dishes like Bean Sprout Chicken and Ipoh White Coffee. Morning markets are also great for fresh, traditional breakfasts.
19 Must Try Dishes in Ipoh – Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or simply looking for a new culinary adventure, Ipoh is a must-visit destination. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and delicious food, Ipoh is a city that will leave a lasting impression. It quickly became one of my favourite Malaysian cities, mainly because of its highly underrated food scene. I’m sure it will do the same to you.
Let me know in the comments which dishes you want to try. Have you been to Ipoh and I left your favourite off the list?? Drop a comment to let me and other travellers know. Building a community will help all of us on our next visits!
