As some of you may already know – I was back in Ipoh a few weeks back on an emergency trip to visit my ailing grandmother. To those who asked – my granny pulled through 🙂 my sincere appreciation towards your concern.

Despite the fully-packed and serious nature of the trip, I managed to steal some time to curb my cravings for Ipoh’s famously good food. There’s simply too much good stuff to note down so I am just gonna share some personal favorites here —

RESTORAN TUCK KEE – Sesame Chicken & Roasted Meat

Tuck Kee’s chicken is definitely the best Sesame Chicken (pardon me, I actually forgot the real name of this dish but it seems like sesame chicken to me) I have tasted – the chicken used is not your typical farm chicken but Malaysia’s famed kampung chicken. The tough texture of the kampung chicken makes our soft/’powdery’ singapore chicken seem like an inferior sibling.

I heard the roasted meat is also worth a try there – they even have a take-away counter for roasted meat only right outside the restaurant!

Tuck Kee Restaurant
Tel: +605 – 254 1906 / 241 9071
Add: 1, Persiaran Tokong,
Pasir Pinji, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Opening Hours: lunch and dinner daily

LOU WONG – Beansprout, Meatballs & Hor Fun

Ipoh’s famous Beansprout chicken is another MUST TRY (I found Tuck Kee’s chicken is way better). According to the locals, Ipoh’s beansprouts and Hor Fun are so unique because of Ipoh’s water quality. I can’t get enough of those greasy and smooth Hor Fun which goes so well with my favorite handmade meat balls!

I am not certain that Lou Wong is the best in Ipoh as I have tried Onn Kee (next door of Lou Wong) and felt both are similarly good. I also heard from my folks that there are even better ones out there which I shall pester them to bring me to the next time round, heh.

Restoran Lou Wong Tauge Ayam Kuetiau
Address: 49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin,
30300 Ipoh, Perak,
Malaysia
Opening Hours: Opens for lunch and dinner daily (Not sure if they have rest day..but if they do, just try Onn Kee which is next door.)

GREEN TOWN CORNER – Kaya Toast

I liked the kaya toast at Green Town because of its crispy outside and soft inside all packed in one slice of beautiful toast. And while I am there, I cannot resist not picking a few pieces of those lovely handmade yong tau foo that is so fresh, generously filled and tasty!

Green Town Corner
Add:  Click on above link

SIN ENG HEONG – Kaya ‘Kok’ (Kaya Puff)

 

I was told that much patience is required if you would like to try these awesome Kaya Koks. Fortunately the queue was not overly long when I dropped by in the late morning – however, we were only limited to 5 pcs per pax.
After sinking my teeth into one of those lovely puffs – I instantly understood why this puff is so popular. For a wild moment, I was inspired to derive my own recipe and creat a kaya puff craze here in Singapore…*and then I woke up to reality*.

Sin Eng Heong Foodstuff Manufacturers
Tel: +605- 2439659, or +6012-4534596
Add: No. 64, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Jalan Clare, 30300 Ipoh, Perak.
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 9am – 6pm (Sun)

FOH SAN – Dim Sum

My folks told me this is the most popular Dim Sum place in Ipoh – crowded from the moment it opens and one needs to wait & snatch for his/her own table!

The quality is not too bad given the price – their giant fishball, fried carrot cake, pan fried cheong fun and yam ball (and I heard the xiao long baos) are a few items that are worth trying! Otherwise, I thought Singapore restaurants (Wah lok, Shang Palace, Ba Xian) serve up higher quality/more exquisite looking Dim Sums.

Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant
Tel: +605 2540308
Add: 51 Jln Leong Sin Nam,
30300 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours: Starts at 6.30am till ? (closed on Tuesdays)

That’s all that I shall recommend in this segment of Ipoh delights.
By now, I think you understand exactly what I meant when I said – The best way to explore Ipoh is through the stomach!