11 IPOH Best Chinese Restaurants (dai chou) – Sun Marpoh, Wong Koh Kee & more

** UPDATE – JAN 2018: 12 restaurants now!

I’m back with more of my Ipoh’s best food lists! 🙂

Short on the heels of my Ipoh Best Dim Sum list, today it is all about my quest in seeking out the best Chinese restaurants in Ipoh.
This whole compilation is possible thanks to Brian, an Ipoh-lang true and through with a discerning palate that I trust wholeheartedly.

With his input, the list below are outlets popularly known as “dai chow” or the family dining (chinese food, cook upon order, eat-with-rice and dishes, family sit-down dinner) type of restaurants.


DISCLAIMER:


I’ve personally tried 12 of them in Ipoh so far and you can be assured there will be more over the coming months.
As per my standard protocol, I paid for my food, all visits are incognito and the number of diners varies from 2 – 6 partners.

I’m open to suggestions/recommendations so do drop me a message here (under comments) or fb.com/wackybecki or fb.com/RebeccaSawBlog!

DSC00023


MY PERSONAL PICKS ARE:


As of now, my personal preference for Ipoh’s best chinese restaurant goes to (1) Restoran Weng Kee (2) Ipoman, (3) Sun Marpoh (4) Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House, (5) Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain, (6) Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh, (7) Restoran Makanan Laut Yam Yam.

To be frank, from the total of 11 restaurants that I’ve dined in, only O Cafe, Canning Garden and Choy Kee in Taman Ipoh were particularly disappointing.
The rest has its merits.

Anyhow my reviews are based on the dishes I had during my visit, so there are bound to be hits and misses.


1. Ipoman Seafood Ipoh


60-62 Laluan Tawas Damai,
Anjung Tawas Impiana,
30010 Ipoh.
Tel:  +6 012 506 1714 (Advisable to call for directions)

Waze: “Laluan Tawas Damai”

Hours: Daily 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm
Closed: Mondays every 2 weeks.

What’s good:
I’ve visited twice and I would recommend the Indonesian Curry Prawn as well as the Iced Pork.
Other dishes of merit are the Golden Sliced Fragrant Pork and the special 3 Taste Fish.
We love the reasonably priced home-cooked style food here and the sweet and friendly lady boss.
The restaurant is air-conditioned.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipomanseafoodipoh/ 

ipohman


2. Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House


32, Laluan Perajurit 1,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Waze: “Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House”
Tel: +6012-565 7723 (Fanny).

Hours: 11.00am – 2.30pm,
5.30pm – 10.30pm.
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Crabs, fishcake padded with crispy chicken skin, steamed egg, braised eggplant, pork ribs.
Service is attentive and food is well proportion for the price.
The restaurant is air-conditioned.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-8-restoran-makanan-laut-crab-house/ 

laut crab


3. Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain


69, Persiaran Medan Bercham 2,
Pusat Bandar Baru Bercham,
31400, Ipoh.
Waze: “Rasa Lain”
Tel : 012-5128407 (speaks Chinese only)
Reservations advised.

Hours: 5 – 10pm
Close on Wed.

What’s good:
Fishballs, ginger lala (clams), pork ribs, claypot crab.
I’ve been here 4 times so far. The gruff manner of the round, bald boss can be a put-off for some (there have been a number of complaints).
Fortunately for me I’m always there by 6pm so I never had to put up with bad service (yet).
The restaurant is perpetually busy so patience is required to dine here.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-for-dinner-part-i-kedai-makanan-rasa-lain-bercham-claypot-crab-fishballs/

rasalain


4. Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh (Pork Free)


5 Persiaran Greenhill (New Town).
Waze: “Yum yum
Tel: 05-253 7686

Hours: 12 -3pm and 6pm-10pm.
Close on Wed.

What’s good: 
Yum Yum’s Golden Lime Sauce fish, Basil Curry Prawns, Vietnamese Chicken, Mango Kerabu.
This restaurant straddles the “fusion” of Thai and Chinese cuisine pretty well and thus there are some unique delicious dishes here that I personally enjoyed.
A plus point is their pork-free/halal status.
The outlet is air conditioned and the decor nicely done.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-4-yum-yum-for-halal-delicious-nyonya-thai-food/ 

yum


5. Wong Koh Kee


3, Jalan Panglima, 31650 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia.
*Exact location: From Kwong Heng and Plan B look opposite for this lane.

Waze:Wong Koh Kee’
Tel: +605-241 9474, +6016-531 3826

Hours: 10.30am – 3pm – ONLY LUNCH.
No fixed off days, so call in advance.

What’s good:
Handmade tofu stuffed with fish paste dish served in eggy gravy and most of their signature dishes.

Dining in this old institution is an experience itself.
It is perpetually packed so patience is a prerequisite trait. Service is brisk, dining condition is cramped but the food is good and the prices unbelievably cheap.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-5-wong-koh-kee-a-classic-cu-char/

wkk


6. Sin Hup Kee Restaurant


17 Jalan Leong Sin Nam,
Ipoh, Perak.
Waze : “Sin Hup Kee”.
Tel: +605 2423128

Hours: 11:00am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 10:00pm.
Close. Every Tuesday.

What’s good:
Economical set meals, sweet and sour pork, soup.

Prices are cheap for the portions served and the service efficient. It’s location in Ipoh town makes it rather accessible.
The restaurant is air conditioned.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-10-sin-hup-kee-jalan-leong-sin-nam/

shk


7. Restoran Cathay Ipoh


17A, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar,
30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Waze: “Kim Bali” – this restaurant is on Waze but Cathay is not. However it is on the same row so I’m using Kim Bali as a landmark.
Tel No : NA

Hours: Open from breakfast until dinner (7.30am – 8pm).
Close on Saturdays.

What’s good:
Traditional pork chop, french toast.

I’m so in love with their kaya and French Toast!
Meanwhile this is the only (or 1 of the very few) outlets where you are able to enjoy traditional western style dining, though limited to the chicken/beef/pork/fish chops.

Other than the dishes we had (full review link as below), you can order dai chou dishes such as noodles, sweet and sour pork and the works, though I was duly informed that the cooks’ strength aren’t in the dai chou department.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-3-restoran-cathay-for-old-school-pork-chopchicken-chopfish/

cathay


8. O Cafe, Canning Garden


2, Jalan Raja Kam, Canning Garden,
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Tel: +6014-3393796

Hours: 11:30am – 4:00pm, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Close: Every Friday.

What’s good: 
Crabmeat Crispy Mishua, Spicy Sour Spare Ribs, Ginger Chicken.

Come here if you are seeking a true “home dining” experience. We were not particularly impressed with the items we had that evening so perhaps a revisit is in order.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-5-o-cafe-canning-garden-ipoh/

canning


9. Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee


111, Jalan Dato Lau Pak Khuan, Taman Ipoh,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Waze: “Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee”
Tel: +60 5-549 9127

Hours: 6pm – 10pm
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Can I say nothing?
But that won’t be fair of course, since we didn’t order everything from their menu.
A revisit is in order, and I’ll be sure to avoid ordering the same dishes that we had that evening.

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-9-restoran-makanan-laut-choy-kee/

choykee


10. Yam Yam Restaurant


9, Lebuh Raya, Ipoh Garden South,
31400 Ipoh.
Tel: 012 5651 510.

Waze: “Yam Yam

Hours: 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-10:00pm
No fixed off days.

What’s good:
Sweet and Sour Pork, Lamb with Fu Chok, Steamed Frog with Chicken Essence.
Brian, my trusty Ipoh guide recommended a few more dishes from his many trips and I’ll update them here when I remember!

Full review: https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-7-yam-yam-restaurant-for-dai-chow-in-tmn-ipoh/

yam


11. Sun Marpoh Restaurant


67-69, Jalan Lau Pak Khuan,
Ipoh Garden,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Tel: + 605 545 5127

Waze: “Sun Marpoh Restaurant Sdn Bhd”.

Hours: Open Daily:
Lunch: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Dinner: 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm.

What’s good:
I’ve been here twice but I’ve lost the images from my previous visits because my hard disks were stolen.

The images below are from my latest visit in Dec 2017.
We had Sweet and Sour Pork, their signature house tofu – Kwai Fei Tofu, Claypot curry fish head and Pai Kuat Wong (king rib).
The above fed four hungry eaters and the bill came up to about RM80. It was reasonable for us since portions were fair and food was decent.
On my prior visit I remembered prawns in claypot (that was awesome), two pork dishes as well and maybe another dish. That meal was better though.

Full review: TBU


 


12. Weng Kee Restaurant


WENG KEE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
20, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 6,Ipoh Garden South,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

Waze: “Weng Kee Restaurant”.

Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm.
Dinner: 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm.
Closed: Wednesday.
Contact : 605-545 1215, 6012-517 3686

What’s good:
This meal was excellent. Their signature Butter Fish enjoys a cult status and I could see why. Although I’m not a fan of fried fish I enjoyed this. It was additive – crispy but not greasy with moist flesh under its crispy exterior. The fish was filleted and fried. The skeleton was likewise battered and fried. A generous heaping of “butter floss” plus aromatic curry leaves topped it off. A small fish as below was RM36.
Another must-order dish is their housemade tofu. I’m a big beancurd and tofu fan so I loved this. The signature pork rib and the sweet and sour pork were satisfying lipsmacking too.

The above fed four hungry eaters and the bill came up to about RM100. It was reasonable for us since portions were fair and food was food.

Full review: TBU

   


CONCLUSION:


So there we go, 12 chinese restaurant in Ipoh!
There is no excuse for you to say “I do not know what to eat in Ipoh besides curry mee, kai si hor fun and dim sum” now!
Most of them are open for lunch and dinner and compared to KL, prices in these Ipoh restaurants are much cheaper.
Well, maybe not for the crabs, but overall yes! 🙂


Ipoh Best Restaurants series:



Part 1:
 Ipoman Seafood Ipoh https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipomanseafoodipoh/
Part 2: Restoran Makanan Laut Crab House https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-8-restoran-makanan-laut-crab-house/
Part 3: Kedai Makanan Rasa Lain https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-for-dinner-part-i-kedai-makanan-rasa-lain-bercham-claypot-crab-fishballs/
Part 4: Yum Yum Restaurant Ipoh https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-4-yum-yum-for-halal-delicious-nyonya-thai-food/
Part 5: Wong Koh Kee https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-5-wong-koh-kee-a-classic-cu-char/
Part 6: Sin Hup Kee Restaurant https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-10-sin-hup-kee-jalan-leong-sin-nam/
Part 7: Restoran Cathay Ipoh https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-3-restoran-cathay-for-old-school-pork-chopchicken-chopfish/
Part 8: O Cafe, Canning Garden https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-chinese-restaurants-part-5-o-cafe-canning-garden-ipoh/
Part 9: Restoran Makanan Laut Choy Kee https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-9-restoran-makanan-laut-choy-kee/
Part 10: Yam Yam Restaurant https://www.rebeccasaw.com/ipoh-best-restaurants-part-7-yam-yam-restaurant-for-dai-chow-in-tmn-ipoh/

Part 11: Sun Marpoh Restaurant – (To be updated).
Part 12: Weng Kee Restaurant – (To be updated).

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