When you’re in Ipoh-Malaysia, try some white coffee at Persiaran Bijeh Timah at the old town. You will not regret it! This traditional coffee shop is called “Sin Yoon Loong”.
Order their famous pudding custard with caramel syrup. It’s awesome! The bread toast is crisp and filled with kaya (coconut egg jam).
Opposite “Sin Yoon Loong” coffee shop is a more popular hangout – Nam Heong Old Town White Cafe. When we were there in the late afternoon, hot coffee was already sold out!
Ice white coffee, ice teh (milk tea), and hot white coffee to die for… !
Been to Ipoh many times, but it was only recently that I finally got the chance to try the famous Lou Wong “Nga Choy Gai” (老黄芽菜鸡). Usually there are many patrons and it’s hard to find seats. but this time, we went there around 4plus in the afternoon and had no problem getting a table.
The famous Lou Wong steam chicken. Frankly speaking, the chicken is too oily and unhealthy! Look at the plate of oil! After having this set of chicken meal, our lips were very glossy! LOL!
Ipoh’s famous dish – “Nga Choy Gai” in Cantonese literally means beansprout chicken. This beansprout dish has too much pepper on it, so I didn’t really like it too. The “kuetiau” (flat rice noodle) is good. However, our Singapore Hainanese chicken rice is still the best! Delicious and healthier! kekeke Anyway, this set of Nga Choy Gai costs RM20+.
Some say Ong Kee (Tauge Ayam or beansprout + chicken) is better than Lou Wong. I think I tried Ong Kee many years ago when I first visited Ipoh. I didn’t really like the tough texture of the chicken. Perhaps I prefer Singapore’s version of steam chicken that is more meaty and tender. What do you think?
Update (13-Sep-09): I found better Nga Choy Gai (or Nga Choi Kai?) at Kedai Kopi Kam Hor at Ipoh Garden.
After the oily meal, we walked to a little stall selling bean curd. This “Funny Mountain” stall has been around for decades!
By the time we were there in the evening, the bean curd was almost sold out. The man at the stall told us many people took photos of the wooden barrel that contains the tasty bean curd. Well, I did see some newspaper clippings hanging on the wall at their stall! I wonder how much they make a day by selling bean curd. It’s worth eating.
Sizzling steamboat? Rows of sticks with meat/veg are arranged nicely for you to pick and choose. Then dip the meat (they called it “lok lok”) into the boiling soup and cook it yourself. Your food is never cold this way. However, we didn’t try any lok lok from this mobile stall so no comment on their food.
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26 Comments
Walao!!
That’s really awesome!
I dont think that I can taste the chicken etc, but those coffee, sure I can!
Wah!!
what exactly is a white coffee?
Good to see you back after a long hiatus
I am from Ipoh . Thanks for posting a very beautiful and attractive Ipoh Blog
How does the Ipoh white coffee taste compared with those at OldTown White Coffee chain stores in Johor?
Omgz Omgz Omgz !
I want to go back there again !
hahaha. I hv tried all the famous foods in Ipoh already, but too bad i didn’t take pics last time ><
@Jasper: Good question.. I dunno! Anyway, white coffee is a trademark coffee in Ipoh! It has a nutty flavour (like hazel nut?) with milk added in the coffee. The aroma is nice! Anyway, if you come to Singapore, try the coffee at ToastBox (you see it in many shopping malls), the coffee are much alike.
@Zara: lol
@Borneo Falcon: Hey!
Gonna post more ..
@Bakeling: Thanks.
@1911: I personally think the white coffee in Ipoh can be very rich and quite sweet sometimes, so usually I will ask for “siew dai” (less sweet). I have no idea about those sold in the chain cafes in Johor.
@JeromeFo: wow you’ve tried all famous food! I don’t think I have done that yet despite having gone there for many times!
hmmm… maybe I could help, Eunice,
White coffee is a special frying formula in Ipoh that coffee beans are being fried with mixture of white sugar and milk! That’s why white coffee is brighter in colour and smoother in mouth
As you mentioned earlier, the most local favourite’s coffee shop selling white coffee is Sin Yoon Loong in old town, not Nam Heong opposite it. However, Nam Heong Old Town is the one who made Old Town white coffee famous all around Malaysia as well as internationally, thanks to the successful marketing strategy of Nam Heong Old Town second generation managemnent.
Of course, 1911, those Old Town coffee chains in JB are franchisee of Nam Heong of Ipoh old town, thus, coffees selling at both place supposed to be the same…
Cheers!
@Cecil: wow thanks for such an interesting description of Ipoh White Coffee! So, Sing Yoon Loong is the famous one? Cos I see there is a larger crowd in Nam Heong Old Town Cafe, probably also cos like what you said, it has a better brand image.
However, I don’t know if those instant white coffee packets that I bought from the supermarkets in Singapore are from Nam Heong. Will check it out!
now i’m craving for that custard w/ caramel syrup. yum yum!
here in the philippines it’s called leche flan ^^
*gasp* the custard looked really, really delish. ok….i’m drooling now. see what’ve you done. now, where’s that blardy kleenex
I like trying different kinds of food. When I travel I like going to the market to see and try different kinds of food. Eating is one of the most exciting time when travelling.
I wanna try the pudding and coffee. And the chicken looks uncook. I hope I can also visit there.
me make very hungry at 3:00pm. now i have to search for food. LOL. food is really part of traveling.
I never knew that was chicken until Iread your description.. It is so white that it looks raw to me.. ot is it partially cooked? Hmmm..inetresting Chinky stuffs.. I love these food.. I think ia te much of this when I went to KL.
i miss all these delicious kopitiam foodddd… ahha
hmmm you seems to be busy lately, or software not working yet? hope you come back with more escapades!
Seldom go to Ipoh. Will drop by to try out when pass by Ipoh.
Hey how have you been? Long time no see…. Hehe… thought I should visit to get a feast for my eyes (and maybe stomach in this case). Really miss Southeast Asia nad its cheap and delicious food now that I am in Melbourne!
Keep blogging more! Love your posts about travel and attractions…. my kind of area.
Walter
@Alex: ic! must be tasty too! haven’t really tried any Philippines food yet.
@calvin: LOL
@idealpinkrose: yep always in search of good food lol. the chicken is steamed n fully cooked and oily.
@dong ho: agree! food is the culture!
@details: well, guess you aren’t familiar with Chinese food that’s y. hey! don’t say “chinky” u ! that’s not very nice!
@irvine: kopitiam food rules! lol
@Jasper: just being lazy, but gonna blog very soon!
@Jayce: ic
@Walter: wow envy envy! never been to Melbourne before. Wanted to go Australia sometimes back but the airport taxes are very high!
Wow! I was born in Malaysia, and thought that the food there was awesome, now i’m itching to visit ipoh and try out that caramel custard especially! haha.. thanks for the informative guide!
Good stuff, once again.
im doing two thumbs up while raising my arms for the white coffee! looks really good. something one should try.
Ah! The caramel pudding looks so good to eat! I’ve never been to these places before… sigh.
Hope when I do get to go these stalls will still be there…
Hi, My husband and I are planning to visit Ipoh just to try their food. Heard a lot about them.
However, we have to stay hotel for 2 nights and during day go around to taste food Need some info from u. Is it convenient to travel by taxis from the city to Old Town? Is it expensive to take cabs? Thank you.
Yes u can take cab. It’s around 8 to 10 about there I think, cos we travel ard in Ipoh by car. U can check the price first before u board the cab. Ipoh food is the best! Keke enjoy!
I dun think it’s expensive to take cab in Ipoh as compare to big cities like kl