Perak is one of Malaysia’s top destinations for vacation. Little did you know that Perak is also an ideal spot for foodie travellers? As a melting pot of different cultures, Perak features various cuisines. Its food culture is driven by authentic Chinese, Malay and Indian delicacies. If you are looking for a place to awaken your taste buds, Perak is definitely the one.
Check out Perak’s most scrumptious local food and top eateries that serve them.
Taugeh (Beansprout) Chicken
Also known as nga choy kai in Cantonese, beansprout chicken is a renowned dish in Perak, specifically in Ipoh. The chicken is served with a generous amount of plump, crunchy, lightly-blanched beansprouts, hence its name. Best have it with rice or flat rice noodles.
Restaurant: Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours: Daily, 6.00 pm – 9.30 pm
Chee Cheong Fun
A popular dish for breakfast, chee cheong fun consists of large pieces of flat rice noodles rolled up and served with sweet or spicy sauce. In Ipoh, you can choose from a variety of sauces like mushroom gravy, chili sauce, and sweet red sauce. Next, top it off with chopped pork or prawn meat, and sprinkle with deep-fried onions.
Restaurant: Canning Garden Chee Cheong Fun
Address: 27, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours:
Weekdays: 7.00 am – 12.00 pm
Weekends: 7.00 am – 1.00 pm
Nasi Ganja
Nasi Ganja is basically nasi kandar, but gained the nickname due to its tastiness and makes it downright addictive. A plate of Nasi Ganja is perfect for lunch; a combination of hot white rice and your choice of curry. Even better, just go with kuah campur banjir which your plate will literally be flooded with various curries.
Restaurant: Kedai Kopi Yong Suan
Address: 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours:
Sunday to Friday: 9.30 am – 6.00 pm
Saturday: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Rendang Tok
Rendang Tok is a famous Malay’s traditional delicacy in Perak. More often than not, it is an all-time favourite dish, especially during gatherings and weddings. Other than pairing it with a plate of hot white rice, it also goes very well with ketupat and lemang.
Restaurant: Restoran Tok Nan
Address: 17, Jalan Meru Bestari A14, 31200 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours: Daily, 3.00 pm – 12.00 am
Curry Mee
Curry mee is pretty much self-explanatory; a bowl of noodles eaten with delicious curry gravy. However, it is quite different from those you can find in KL. Interestingly, you can choose whether to them in soup or dry curry mee. It is garnished with crunchy bean sprouts and tender slices of chicken.
Restaurant: Restoran Xin Quan Fang
Address: 174, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Taman Jubilee, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours: Daily, 7.30 am – 1.00 pm
Popiah
Popiah or spring roll is a common snack you can find anywhere in Malaysia. Yet, there is something special with Perak’s popiah. Basically, there are two ways that popiah can be served; either steamed or deep-fried.
Restaurant: Famous Omar Popiah
Address: 25, Jalan Panggung Wayang, 34000 Taiping, Perak
Opening Hours: Daily, 9.30 am – 5.30 pm
Dim Sum
A Cantonese dish, dim sum is widely enjoyed and known for in Perak, specifically Ipoh. It is a large range of small dishes which include dumplings, rolls, buns and cakes. Usually, dim sum places are open early in the morning, so make sure you come for brunch. You definitely will be spoilt for choice!
Restaurant: Restoran Chooi Yue Dim Sum
Address: 2, 4 & 6, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours:
Friday – Wednesday: 7.00 am – 2.00 pm
Closed on Thursdays
Ipoh White Coffee
For coffee enthusiasts, you must try Ipoh white coffee. A bit different from the typical Malaysian-style black coffee Kopi-O, the coffee beans for Ipoh white coffee are roasted with only palm oil margarine without sugar and wheat. Afterwards, it is enriched with condensed milk prior to serving, hence the name of ‘white coffee’.
Restaurant: Nam Heong White Coffee
Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours: Daily, 7.00 am – 5.30 pm
Tau Fu Fah
Your visit to Perak is incomplete if you haven’t try tau fu fah or soybean curd pudding. It is a velvety pudding of soft silken tofu and traditionally flavoured with brown sugar syrup. The best part is you can have it either cold or warm. Such a perfect dessert!
Restaurant: Funny Mountain Soya Beancurd
Address: 50, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Monday: 10.30 am – 7.30 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
There you go; a complete list of scrumptious food to make Perak as your next foodie destination. During your food-hunting trip in Perak, why not have a stop at Lost World of Tambun? Spend a fun-filled day (or two!) at this exciting theme park with a wide variety of rides and attractions. Book your ticket to this amazing theme park now!
Check out KKday now for more wonderful experiences!
Words by Fatihah MSabri
Featured image from Frank Zhang on Unsplash
