Ipoh
Local and visiting foodies scramble to this legendary Ipoh food stall, which has been serving fresh, warm, silky bean-curd pudding (tau fu fah) since 1952…
Must-see restaurants in Perak
Cameron Highlands
On a lofty perch above Tanah Rata's main drag, Singh's serves the most authentic Indian food in town, with a strong Punjabi flavour. Dig into fragrant…
Ipoh
Ipoh's signature dish, tauge ayam (chicken and bean sprouts), has been honed to perfection at perennially popular Lou Wong: velvety-smooth poached chicken…
Pulau Pangkor
The best dining experience in the Teluk Nipah area, this beachfront restaurant combines generous portions of mostly Malaysian home cooking with views out…
Taiping
Creamy and sweet with generous amounts of green noodles and gula melaka (dark coconut-sugar syrup), shaved-ice desserts have been dished up at Ansari…
Cameron Highlands
Former military barracks rarely look this idyllic, with marble tables set among flower gardens. The hipster-pleasing menu offers Indian and British dishes…
Perak
This cheerful riverside food hall is largely devoted to laksa dishes and cendol, a shaved-ice dessert lavished with coconut milk, pandan pasta, beans and…
Ipoh
With cosy booths in a 1920s dining room full of mirrors and printed menus, this cute coffee shop serves spectacular breakfasts, including kaya toast …
Pulau Pangkor
Reliable and adored by backpackers, Daddy's feels like a haven by the northernmost edge of Coral Beach. Food service runs throughout the day and it's hot,…
Taiping
An eclectic menu, from Malaysian kopitiam (coffee shop) classics via fish and chips to bacon bruschetta and the occasional 'paleo' option, keeps things…
Ipoh
This popular restaurant is the place to come for variations on nasi lemak (rice in coconut milk with fried ikan bilis – dried anchovies – peanuts and a…
Cameron Highlands
Thoroughly local but friendly to tourists, the least manic of Tanah Rata's Indian canteens has great-value banana-leaf meal specials and satisfying…
Taiping
Busiest and best at lunch, this gritty court is half Chinese and half Malay. Look out for local favourite Omar's Popiah stall, where you can chomp on…
Cameron Highlands
Claypot roast pork, fried rice in kimchi, teriyaki burgers and sushi – KouGen prepares an impressive spread of Japanese and Korean fusion dishes from its…
Ipoh
Historic Concubine Lane, between Jln Bandar Timah and Jln Bijeh Timah, is elbow to elbow with visitors, but it's worth squeezing through for a bowl of tau…
Perak
Specialising in mee kari (spicy noodles), this out-of-the-way food stall is in a verdant setting, 3.5km southeast of Gopeng town. It's friendly, and the…
Cameron Highlands
Steamboat is the quintessential Cameron Highland experience, and May Flower is one of the most reliable places to huddle around a steamy vat of broth…
Ipoh
Occasional visitors to Ipoh head to Lou Wong and other famous purveyors of chicken bean sprouts, but ask a local and they might just direct you to Cowan…
Pulau Pangkor
Meals at ferry terminals aren't usually memorable, but this jetty cafe whips up decent Thai and Western-style fast food (chicken chop, squid fried rice,…
Ipoh
You'd better come early (seriously, 7am) for the chance to sample Hainanese curry noodles and pork and bean sprouts. These two dishes are pretty much all…
Cameron Highlands
The busiest of the Indian restaurants on Tanah Rata's main road, this popular place heaps vegetable curries, pappadams and rice onto banana leaves for its…
Ipoh
Arrive early for a sit-down dim sum experience in the dining salon of Ming Court. Point at what you fancy from the trays circulated by staff, and don't…
Ipoh
This busy, no-frills halal place will feed you a mountain of nosh for a few ringgit. Pile your plate by pointing at whatever's freshly cooked that day …
Cameron Highlands
A charming throwback to the old Tanah Rata, this Christian-run stalwart upstairs on the main strip near the bus stand serves tasty cream teas (scones,…
Ipoh
A chic coffee shop and restaurant in the industrial-chic Kong Heng Sq development. It's a great place to retreat for a calm espresso or a globetrotting…
Taiping
This lakeside hawker court and coffee shop has a good selection of stalls serving dishes from curry mee (yellow noodles submerged in spicy broth) to ikan…
Ipoh
Reliable Vietnamese fare, from lemongrass pork and crystal spring rolls to enormous soups, is served up at this efficient and friendly restaurant with a…
Taiping
Nasi ayam (chicken rice), laksa and fruit-festooned ice-blended drinks are served up at this bustling, great-quality food court.
Ipoh
This simple but choice-packed restaurant in Little India is part of a Malaysia-wide chain and is excellent value. Mop up chutney and dhal with a fluffy…
Pulau Pangkor
Tourists come here for a seafood splurge and beers galore (we suspect they carry every local brand). The dry chilli chicken, served with a rich, spicy…
Perak
Part of a slew of Chinese restaurants in tiny Tanjung Tualang, Luen Fong is popular for its steamed fish, freshwater prawns sizzled in garlic and ginger,…
Medan Selera Dato’ Tawhil Azar
Ipoh
Surrounding a children’s playground, this hawker centre has mostly Malay stalls ranging from roti canai (flaky flatbread) to satay, icy desserts and nasi…
Pulau Pangkor
Towards the northern end of Coral Beach, this friendly eatery has seats spilling onto the sand, allowing pancakes with a view. We're not sure the hot dog…
Perak
Food stalls swarm the riverbank just north of Recreation Park; point and pile your plate with chicken chop, morning glory (veggies with shrimp), South…
Pulau Pangkor
Every night the main road through Teluk Nipah plays host to several hawker stalls and informal restaurants selling snack food and Malay dishes. Enjoy your…
Pulau Pangkor
Fong Leong is a place where locals gather to knock back Tiger beer over steamed fish and fried squid. Expect brusque service but tasty food.
Taiping
This no-frills restaurant offers southern Indian and Nepali dishes, including vegetarian banana-leaf specials (RM7), decent dosa (rice and lentil-flour…
Ipoh
This busy, casual eatery dishes up a quality version of hakka mee – wheat noodles sprinkled with ground pork and served alongside a salty broth that bobs…
Taiping
This busy Chinese coffee shop spills out onto the street in the evenings, with several vendors selling a mix of Chinese and Malay dishes, including fish…
Taiping
Try cendol, a shaved-ice dessert laden with green pandan-leaf noodles, sugar syrup and toppings such as rice or red beans at this popular dessert stop.
