#Ipoh Kopitiam

[formeryelpers]

Ipoh Kopitiam, 1411 S Garfield Ave, Ste 104, Alhambra, CA 91801

Ipoh Kopitiam sure is popular, perhaps because there are so few Malaysian restaurants in the area. The owner is from Ipoh, Malaysia. The menu includes Malaysian and Singaporean food, including kaya toast, roti canai, rice dishes (Hainan chicken, nasi lemak, beef rendang), noodle dishes (wonton mee, prawn mee), side orders, and drinks (including Malaysian white coffee, Malaysia black coffee).

Singaporean curry laksa ($15.95): round rice noodles of medium thickness, curry broth, fried tofu puffs, sliced fish cakes, two huge head on prawns, 1 hard boiled egg, bean sprouts. The broth is medium spicy and deep with the flavors of lemongrass, galangal, and shrimp paste. Everything was tender and slightly sweet, including the prawns, egg, tofu, fish cakes, broth, etc.  I think the ingredients are better at Ipoh Kopitiam but I prefer the laksa at QQ Kopitiam in Pasadena – it seems more complex.

Malaysian white coffee ($3.95): similar to Vietnamese iced coffee, strong but sweet (it contains condensed milk), not as strong as Vietnamese iced coffee though

The space looks nice – new, clean, and bright with white walls and color pictures of hawker stalls. You can check in on the iPad by the entrance. There are parking spaces behind the restaurant and also in an underground garage.

4 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.

[carimakan]

Kopitiam List

Sun Hin Loong (SS2 PJ)Traditional Kopitiam with Aroma coffee

Pun Chun Classic Wanton & Herbal Duck Noodles @ Bidor, Perak

Delicious and old-school yong tau foo from Restoran SM in Klang

➖Restaurant Info➖🐔 7-Chai Ipoh Hor Fun Address：33, Jalan Perdana 4/1, Pandan Perdana, 55300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Operating Hours：6:30 - 14:30

cecil street market penang opening hours

Cecil Street Market 七条路巴刹 - Penang Puri & Suehttps://puriandsue.com › cecil-street-market CECIL STREET MARKET (PASAR LEBUH CECIL) 七条路巴刹. Address: 40-48, Lebuh Cecil, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang Opening hours: Opens daily from 7:30am to 7 ...

https://puriandsue.com/about/

[legendapcy93]

At Conculane Lane, u can find the "Mural of a couple in an old coffee shop scenario" painted on one of the walls. It takes a bit of patience to wait for a clear shot though as lots of tourists frequently pass this way! ☕️ Somewhr in the Market Lane, u can find this 3D mural that features an actual rickshaw that u can pose with! The mural shows a man loading up his rickshaw cart with trash bags & flattened cardboard boxes. Another name for this mural is “Street Art is Rubbish”.🚲 Thr is also a mural art called "Shopping For Clothing Materials" whr it shows an old man selling clothing texture. It is located at a small alley in the Market Lane. 👘 Many instances of Ipoh street art tend to feature kids playing & "Kids Jumping For Joy" is no exception. You’ll find this cheery mural at Market Lane. 😆 At the Market Lane, u can find the "Kopitiam Scene". This mural even has a stool for would-be posers who like to pretend they are part of the scene!🍵#legendapcy #lightningaleapcy (at Mural Art’s Lane, Ipoh) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl3iHcYPefE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bryantminqi]

Seems like this weekend ride is mostly Lekas event.. Are you one of them?? 🤨🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏼‍♀️💨💨 Share me where you ride this weekend if you same with me not going Lekas event 😂😝😜 📸 @jack.tivity #BryantCycling #MQCycling #LaxGoCycling #MalaysiaCyclist #RoadBikeMalaysia #RoadBike #CyclingLife #BikeLife #CyclingMan #ManWhoCycling #CyclingPhoto #InstaCycling #Cyclist #Merida #Scultura904Evo #ShimanoRoad #ShimanoMalaysia #MontonSports #CRNKSport #CRNKMalaysia #Kapvoandco #Kapvoe #IpohRide #IpohStreetOldTown #cityride #photoride #jalanjalan #carimakan #Pekan #instaspot (at Pekan Ipoh Kopitiam) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjrkJlDPjQ-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[blackknightgargiefoodtopia]

Chill-V Kopitiam

Went on another lunch break with my BFF and his wife, so we decided to go eat somewhere which is close to her workplace, which is at the new Chill-V Kopitiam

This be the signboard and entrance of the kopitiam. It's located in one of the Time Square blocks, which situated near the airport roundabout and just opposite the block where Axtivo is (also it's near where my 2nd sis-in-law works). Apparently it was having its soft opening to the public, so we were in luck to premiere their food. Chill-V has always been known to be a drink cafe, specializing in beverages and has its first store at Gadong area just in the building of The Mall. It was about time they ventured out and make something more than just the drinky-drinky.

This be the interior of the restaurant. Entering it, it kinda reminds me of De Olde Kopitiam that was back in my hometown of KK, pretty much in that sort of setting, what with the huge-ass poster on the wall of old 60's version of black and white pictures of the good old Malay days when life was simpler, except the picture was the old Bandar Seri Begawan when it was still the hustle-bustle of life before it became a ghost town.

Trigger-happy on the old school props for restaurant background decor, like stepping into a sort of time machine.

My hi-tech camera vs the old school 60's camera! Who shall win this round? XD

This be the menu, which is basically a huge cardboard listed with pretty limited food choices, but they've got really wicked list of beverages and desserts, though unfortunately our lunchbreak prolly wouldn't allow us to savour that

Whelp, despite the inability to eat dessert at such short notice, it didn't stop me from ordering a nice tall glass of chocolatey goodness. I think this is the chocolate Oreo special or something that I ordered. Tastes awesome, and the Oreo cookie on the top was a nice touch

I ordered Ipoh soup noodle or something, which basically clear soup kuey tiaw noodles with spring onions, chicken slices and prawn with a dash of chilli oil and lotsa pepper in it. It's nice and simple-looking, and tastes pretty good. Surprisingly it wasn't as bland as I was worried it would be, and the dash of chilli oil gave it a nice kick tint

My BFF's wife ordered fried meehoon, standard style, though she did request it to be with less salt or something. Looks yummy, and she lemme have a taste, which was alright considering. More or less the standard taste of fried meehoon any kopitiam would have

My BFF ordered some kind of laksa noodles or something, but it looks like something you just scoop out of a primordial bowl or something due to all the mesh they stuff in there somehow. I didn't try it, and he didn't seem particularly irked about it, so I guess it's safe to say that it tastes alright, or prolly safe to eat

I had a satisfying meal more or less, and a good shake to go with it, so I guess it is recommendable to everyone. Right now, the Chill-V Kopitiam should be officially open for full business to the public, so go ahead and give it a shot.

[lagycart]

old town white coffee grand, m boutique hotel, ipoh.

my friend told me that this particular branch of old town is different from the ones we see in kl, so we came here for lunch during our weekend trip. i have to say, the interior design here is really pretty with that nostalgic feel. and i totally love how comfy and relaxing the cafe is, and it’s pretty much empty since there’s only one other customer who was there working.

the menu here is similar, but slightly different from what i see in other branches, like the basic food are there, with a lot more others that is not available else where. i also noticed that the prices here are more expensive.

i ordered my favorite butter toast as usual, i just simply love them, it’s fragrant and crispy and just nice to eat. then the iced americano with lemon, i really liked having citrus-y taste in my black coffee, the combination is just lovely, this is a drink unique to this cafe.

for main meals, we picked the seafood noodles, which is an upgrade from the regular prawn noodles that they serve, and chicken rendang rice bowl, which is an upgrade from the regular nasi lemak chicken rendang. the noodles are pretty nice, the soup smells so good, it is very appetizing. and the rice bowl is yummy too, and quite a big portion, the chicken rendang was very flavorful, i liked it.

the service staff here was quite efficient to handle our orders and requests, although there was some mistakes, but they rectify immediately which is really good. overall a pretty nice spot to chill and have a nice meal together with friends or family or alone. something more fancy than a regular old town kopitiam once a while is pretty fun too.

[eevonhon]

For those planning their Ipoh trips \\ Ipoh Yong Tau Fu - another one of my must haves whenever I'm in Ipoh. Their 腐皮 is ❤ and is usually gone around 10am ish. • • • #throwback #ipohyongtaufu #bainongwhitekopitiam #foodtrip #ipoh #roadtrip #comfortfood #foodstagram #vsco #lightroom #galaxys21ultra #withgalaxy #foodie #ipohfood #breakfast #ipohbreakfast (at Bai nong white kopitiam) https://www.instagram.com/ev.hon/p/CYxZfE6Bc2t/?utm_medium=tumblr

[dapatbelom]

Dine-in kedai makan is now allowed. #puchong (at Ipoh Station Kopitiam, Puchong) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUbol-dh_H3/?utm_medium=tumblr

[jsadiq]

Over the weekend, while youths were writing another chapter of Malaysia's history with a protest march, a family was finishing their kopitiam business' last chapter.

The Sin Hoy How kopitiam that moved once in its 84-year history in High Street or Jalan Tun H S Lee as its known now, was cleared up and shut for good on Saturday.

The sisters who ran the kopitiam inherited from their father gave up their lease as business had ground to almost nothing due to the pandemic lockdown.

And so they served their customers to the day before the cleanup and shutdown, cooking the last batch of kaya for toast, brewing coffees and a last pot of curry for their famous dry curry noodles.

That dish was also available in Ipoh, where another Hoy How was founded in the early 1900s at 24, Clare Street during the tin-mining boom.

Old Mr Lee, hailing from Hainan, ended up in the Ipoh outlet run by his relatives and then opened the New Hoy How or Sin Hoy How in Kuala Lumpur in 1937.

Business grew, he added a coffee roastery and a family of 11 from two wives. They survived the Japanese occupation, the Emergency in the run-up to Merdeka, the Confrontation, May 13 riots and various recessions, protests but not this pandemic and its response.

Along the way, Lee passed on different parts of the business to his brood. And he too passed on, etching his name among other Hainanese who prospered with the country over the years before coffeeshop chains and specialist cafés came into vogue.

All that memories for his family and countless patrons who came for their daily breakfast of soft boiled eggs, toast or steamed bread, and copious cups of piping-hot coffee made with beans roasted with butter and now margarine.

Or for lunch of noodles with soup, curry or dry curry and other dishes cooked in the kitchen behind.

All that ended last week.

Today the shop is shuttered down, with only its neighbours - a biryani shop and a chapati shop - still open next to it. The fruit shop further ip the road, the few millenial coffee joints that cater to cyclists and the trendy set are still open for the moment.

And the Lee siblings are at home, finishing their time working at the kopitiam from a tender age to running it and educating their kids to work elsewhere.

Thus ends another chapter of Kuala Lumpur. While other chapters begin.

Thanks for the memories, Sin Hoy How and the Lee family. Like Sin Seng Nam, I witnessed the good years and the end, sadly.

I'll just keep this here for a memory of the KL I grew up in.

* This is part of the occasional series of people and business in Kuala Lumpur.

[carimakan]

Chang Jiang White Coffee, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 長江白咖啡 - 7, Jalan Windsor, 30250 Ipoh, Perak   

Restoran New Hollywood , Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 新好来活茶餐室 - 38, Lorong Cecil Rae, Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak   

Nam Heong Coffee Shop, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 南香茶餐室 - 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak    

Sin Yoon Loong, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 新源隆茶室 - 15A, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak-

Sun Yuan Foong, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 新源豊茶餐室 - 17, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Kedai Kopi Ah Chow , Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 亞洲茶室 - 31, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak

Lim Ko Pi , Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 啉咖啡 - 10, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak 

Restoran Thean Chun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia - 天津茶室 - 73, Jalan Bandar Timah, 31650 Ipoh, Perak 

Restoran Xin Xiang Er Nong, Taman Hoover, Ipoh - 新香而浓茶室 - 62, Jalan Foo Eng Lin, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Perak   

Yee Hoi Ipoh White Coffee Factory visit, Ipoh, Perak - 义海咖啡厂 -  C62,Pasar Besar Ipoh, Jalan Laxamana, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak

[macrats]

"怡保河粉" (Ipoh Hor Fun, or Ipoh Kuey Teow). On the way to Penang, a friend recommended this kopitiam for Ipoh hor fun. Less people, less waiting, similar taste to other more crowded ones. I was not disappointed. The most important factor of Ipoh hor fun is the soup and this one is full of flavor and authentic prawns taste. Can be a bit pricey but i think still reasonable. Overall, i will definitely recommend this kopitiam for Ipoh hor fun. . . . . . #fujicolors #fujicolor #fujifilm #fujifilm_global #fujifilmglobal #fujilove #fujifilmxt3 #xt3 #xf23mmf14 #photography #foodphotography #foodography #photooftheday #foodporn #foodideas #delicious #tasty #foodie #ipohhorfun #ipohkueyteow #prawnsoup #怡保河粉 #noodles #lokewooikee #ipohfood #ipoh #malaysianfood #kopitiam (at Restaurant Loke Wooi Kee) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9L_NrSngBp/?igshid=1ahqwzfegfki5

[chen0193]

Wantan Mee A classic Malaysian noodle dish, with origins in Cantonese cuisine. Malaysians have elevated this to a must-have from hawker stalls or kopitiams. The Wantan Mee at Ipoh Malaysian Cuisine follow tradition. Owner Daphne Toe has found the closest egg noodle match from Kwongson Foods, Mangere East. The black sauce defines how authentic this noodle dish is: dark soya sauce, sweet thick soya sauce (kecap manis), oyster sauce, sesame oil and (some) sugar. The noodles are also mixed with freshly-made shallot oil. They are served with char siu (sliced barbecue pork) and blanched choy sim. Apart from the wantan in soup, this dish must be served with pickled green chillies. Uncle was lucky to be able to savour Apam Balik (terang bulan, martabak manis or 曼煎粿 Màn Jiān Guǒ). It’s a traditional pancake turnover with peanut & creamed corn filling). #wantanmee #malaysiancantonesefood #wantansoup #pickledgreenchilli #apambalik #pancaketurnover #ipohmalaysiancuisine #remuera #instamalaysian (at Remuera) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0cUE_EJPwo/?igshid=f8x4v50u1cf

[hamiasraff]

2009, 2010, 2011. Time tu memang zaman kegemilangan blogging. Best gila kot. Everyday memang kena masuk blog. Kalau hang tak masuk ushar blog macam tak lengkap hidup hang. Tapi zaman tu dah pun berlalu. Dan aku kenal mamat ni, @faizalfredley pun masa zaman aktif berblogging. Tapi beza dia, mamat ni aktif lagi menulis blog sampai la dapat travel around the world for free weh. Next time buleh la hang sponsor aku. Dan the kelakarama adalah office dia ke office aku 5 minit je pun, tapi nak jumpa makan tahun beb. Hahaha. By the way, thank you dah jadi client aku. Ada projek juta-juta jangan lupa roger! (at Ipoh Kopitiam) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsfMuODnLUy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v1uilskphvpq

[danxfr]

Malaysia December 2016 with Long Live The Empire

So I think we met at eunos mrt and wai huin's mom got one of her company mini bus things to drive us for tour. So we got in and went to the customs. Man it was so fucking crowded

Actually don't remember much about this tour. I think we were driving the Melaka and we started playing lateral thinking questions. I think wai huin was the most enthusiastic one at this point in time.

We had some tsing taos at this really nice kopitiam then went to the venue

The key is a pretty sick place man. We met Alvin here who listened to xfr and turns out a plays in a post rock band called loch who coincidentally were in sg a few months after. They're really sick man

I remember there were a total of like 6 people at the show but it was fun cos they showed us a mama shop nearby that only sold carlsbergs and kingfisher extra strong. So it was pretty fun we got pretty fucked.

first blooddd

The Melaka airbnb was fucking nice. We had air con and beds all. And a balcony to smoke.

I think we got a bunch of alcohol from giant or something. And stayed up till 5 drinking with long live. I remember I bought like 10rm whiskey or sumth. And we had this like gasy expired wine

The next day we had to leave at 10 for KL!

I think we had a&w when we reached. Fucking stereotypical singaporeans. The airbnb for KL was in a pretty sick estate

I think we didn't have much time but we've been to KL a ton anyway. So it's cool.

The legendary ayam pengyet place was full so we had Indian Muslim instead

I was very glad the Indian liquor store was still there

Super funny so they brought us to the roof of rumah api this balcony and we smoked and drank. And this guy was like "where's the metal zone! Get the metal zone!" So in our head we were like wtf they use metal zone??

So the guy came up with the metal zone and they took out the cover for the battery compartment and there was a baggie inside. I fucking died.

So they smoked up and stuff. And we all played the set to a good 10 people.

So they were playing and I think gab came up to me and pointed to the stage. And the guitarist legit used to metal zone. Fucking funny.

Oh so after that we dropped our shit at the airbnb and went to get drinks at bukit bintang. I think wh and jw stayed in to jerk each other off.

I remember after drinking, we were at the macs dabaoing food and these kids walked in and were like XINGFOO&ROY! At fucking 2 am in KL what a joke. I think they were at the show earlier in the night.

Stayed up till like 5 again idk why I do this to myself.

By the time we were driving to ipoh I think all of us were pretty sick and had no voice.

Ipoh was nice man, mountains and stuff. After dropping the stuff off at the airbnb we went over to the venue.

Met muz the organizer who was the nicest guy ever.

And the food in Ipoh was so fucking sick wow. Got bak ku teh all. Damn amazing.

Before the show we just bought a ton of anchors and hung out with the kids. It started raining so the weather was nice. I remember stepping in a puddle otw to get beer tho. So I had to play the show with a wet shoe. It didn't feel too good.

Remember talking to the guy working at the kopitiam when we were buying anchors. Cos he asked us how come we had so much money to buy so much beer.

I think it was like rm 10 for a big bottle. And we were like 4 bottles in each already. So I think he was pretty shocked cos he was a kid like us.

So we had a conversation about like minimum f&b wage in Singapore and stuff compared to him. He earns RM7 per hour man. It's insane. But then again he has his own house, and a bike, and he's like 21.

Didn't manage to explain the cost disparity in Singapore because we were speaking in shitty broken chinese and I'm just inadequate.

There were more people this show. It was fun. I remember my pick broke at the last chord of so is it and my finger was bleeding. Then this metal dude with leather jacket all shook my hand and was like "that was so fucking hardcore man" I laughed my ass off, I was wearing a hawaiian shirt

After the show muz drove us to this place with all the kids. It looked like siglap but way bigger. The food was really nice I think we ate western food lol. And we just hung out till late with the kids. It was very nice.

I have a super vivid memory of muz driving us back to our airbnb and it was like 2-3am and cold in Ipoh with mountains all around. And forests was playing on his car stereo. It was a really really nice feeling to end the tour.

[morganbelarus]

Ipoh: A cultural and culinary guide to Malaysia’s rising tourism star

(CNN)Sometime after the tin slump of the 1980s, Ipoh earned a reputation for being a retirement destination, or just a pit stop on the way to Penang.

"Before, there wasn't one place where people gathered," says Julie Song of Burps & Giggles, a cafe that's contributed to the city's new face.

"Now, everyone who comes makes Old Town their first stop."

But the capital of Malaysia's Perak state has always possessed the qualities that make places like Penang so compelling to travelers: a rich architectural, cultural and culinary heritage -- but without the crowds. (Though weekends are a different story.)

And that's not all. Surrounded by Paleozoic limestone hulks, Ipoh is also a gateway to the area's beautiful caves and hot springs.

Here are some suggestions on things to do in Ipoh, as well as some dining and hotel recommendations.

TO SEE

Kong Heng Square

A few years ago, landscape architect Ng Seksan and his friends took over this block, breathing new life into Old Town.

"We wanted to keep the old tenants, such as the Kong Heng kopitiam and the Indian barber," Ng says.

Today, these establishments exist alongside chic cafes, boutique hotels and fashion and craft stalls.

"It's the greenest urban block in Ipoh," says Law Siak Hong of the Perak Heritage Society.

Trees are left to grow over and inside buildings, creepers tumble over rooftops and flaking walls.

Yasmin at Kong Heng Museum (open weekends only) showcases the films of the late Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad, known for her moving explorations of race.

Flanked by a colorful crew of restaurants and shops, "Concubine Lane" is so nicknamed because the late tin tycoon Yau Tet Shin reportedly kept his second wife here.

A living architectural museum

Many buildings from the colonial era, spanning a range of styles from the Gothic to the Modern, still stand.

Among the most visible are the century-old Railway Station, designed in the British Raj style, and the stately old Town Hall across the road.

For quaint shophouses, just walk around Old Town.

Highlights include the Sinhalese Bar, founded in 1931, with its cowboy-style swing doors. It's a great place to enjoy a beer before carrying on.

There are murals by Ernest Zacharevic -- the Lithuanian artist often credited with making street art trendy in Malaysian cities -- and local artists like Eric Lai.

Trail maps are available at the local Ipoh tourism office.

"The Vale of Tin and Sin"

Ipoh lies at the heart of Kinta Valley, once the world's richest tin-producing field.

It attracted a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European fortune seekers, growing from a river village into one of British Malaya's richest towns.

To learn about the history of tin and how miners lived when they weren't working, visitors can book themselves in to visit Han Chin Pet Soo.

The museum was previously home to the Hakka Tin Miners' Club, founded in 1893, which in its early days was open only to men -- a place to socialize, smoke opium and gamble -- though exceptions were made for "dancing girls."

Out around Kinta Valley are former tin-mining towns and other historical attractions to explore.

A guided tour may include Papan, Batu Gajah, Gopeng, the Tanjung Tualang tin dredge and Kellie's Castle.

K. Rajasegaran (+60 12 524 2357) and V. Kuppusamy (+60 12 508 6429) offer custom tours around Ipoh and Perak.

Law Siak Hong (+60 17 506 1875) of the Perak Heritage Society occasionally leads tours.

Masters of tradition

Tan Khar Mee (Kin Teck, 4 Tingkat Pasar; +60 12 455 3242), 73, has been making lion dance heads for more than four decades.

He also worked on the set of the 1999 film "Anna and the King," and is open to teaching visitors the craft.

Teh Wing Liang (Zhong Shen Trading, 59 Jalan Bunga Saroja, Pasir Pinji; +60 12 452 3287), 42, has been making lion heads since he was 15 and says his style is more modern.

"I paint each one differently from the next. I make it up as I go along," he says.

To see how Ipoh's famous heong peng biscuits are baked -- in concrete well-shaped ovens, fueled by coconut husks -- it's best to visit the house at 362 Jalan Gunung Rapat in the morning.

Yao Cai Yu at the Central Market (Jalan Dato' Onn Jaafar) makes wooden clogs, and Lau Chee Wah (Lau Hooi Kee, 15 Lorong Bijih Timah) makes traditional bamboo blinds.

John Lee of Ipoh Secrets offers custom tours that help break through the language barrier

Up close with limestone hulks

When the Chinese came to Kinta Valley, they built temples in limestone caves.

Perak Tong, dating from the 1920s, has one of the most beautiful interiors, filled with colorful murals of deities. There's also a hilltop pavilion with city views, though visitors will need to climb more than 400 steps to reach it.

Sam Poh Tong, apparently discovered by a monk in the 1890s, is a little dilapidated, but its gardens have an enchanting, wild quality. It's got faded terraces, a tortoise pond and a striking red temple out back.

Tambun Cave has prehistoric paintings of men and animals, plus abstract shapes found on its cliff face.

The Gua Tambun Heritage Awareness Project runs tours on the first Saturday of each month.

TO EAT

This list focuses on Ipoh's specialties rather than the usual Malaysian staples.

For Western food, there's Kong Heng Square or the string of bars and pubs on Jalan Lau Ek Ching.

Most hawkers open in the early mornings and shut after lunch, or as long as stocks last.

Malaysians tend to have heavy breakfasts, so go early. Some hawkers also take irregular days off.

White coffee and toast

First, a quick run-down of the white coffee varieties.

"Pak kopi" comes with condensed milk and evaporated milk. "Pak kopi C" with evaporated milk and sugar.

"C kosong" with evaporated milk and no sugar. "O" with sugar and no milk. And add "peng" to the end if you want it iced.

The coffee beans are roasted with margarine, without sugar, giving the coffee a lighter color.

For a light breakfast, it's paired with margarine toast topped with half-boiled eggs.

Sin Yoong Loong (15A Jalan Bandar Timah/Leech St), founded in the 1930s, is among the most popular places to find this local treat.

Chang Jiang (7 Jalan Windsor), a modern cafe that traces its origins to a 1970s kopitiam, serves equally good white coffee.

Nga choy kay

Reputed to be Ipoh's quintessential dish, nga choy kay means "beansprout chicken", but usually refers to three dishes -- kway teow (flat rice noodles) soup, poached chicken and peppery beansprouts.

You can order for one, but they'll still be served separately.

Ipoh's bean sprouts are said to be crunchier and juicier because, it's believed, the surrounding limestone hills give the water a special quality.

Lou Wong (Jalan Bandar Timah/Leech Street) is most popular with tourists, but the local favorite is arguably Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau (44 Jalan Raja Ekram; +60 12 520 3322), which also does delicious braised chicken feet.

It's reputed to have irregular opening hours, but Thursday to Sunday evenings seem a safe bet.

Kai see hor fun

Kai see hor fun is also a kway teow soup, but the difference is in the prawns. The broth has an orange sheen made by boiling chicken bones with prawn shells.

And everything comes in one bowl -- topped with poached chicken slices, prawns, beansprouts and spring onions.

Thean Chun's version (73 Jalan Bandar Timah/Leech Street) is one of the best.

Restoran Moon De Moon (148 Hala Wah Keong, Simee) -- closed on Mondays and Tuesdays -- is also touted for its kai see hor fun, as well as curry mee, a spicy noodle dish.

Curry mee

People flock to Xin Quan Fang (174 Jalan Sultan Iskandar) for Ipoh curry mee, which tends to have less milk in it. There's also a dry curry version.

"My grandfather's recipe includes Indian spices, like star anise," says owner Kok Wai Bing.

We recommend ordering the curry mee soup with your noodle of choice, and a mixed bowl of roast and barbecue pork, prawns, chicken and beansprouts.

Don't forget their special gravy, reportedly a mixture of curry oil, garlic, pork lard and lime.

Hakka mee

Paris Restaurant (164 Jalan Sultan Iskandar/Hugh Low Street) has moved into its third generation of cooks.

It specializes in perfectly springy, flat egg noodles, topped with bean sprouts and minced meat caramelized with soy sauce and fish sauce, with an accompaniment of chilli and garlic-ginger sauce.

It's also possible to order it with a bowl of soup with meatballs and fishballs.

On weekends, it's best to arrive well before 11 a.m. They sell out fast.

"Nasi Ganja"

Contrary to the name, there are no suspicious substances in this rice dish. It's just really good.

The nickname has become inextricably linked to the Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah stall at the Yong Suan kopitiam (2 Jalan Yang Kalsom), founded in the 1950s.

Ask for the usual -- biasa -- and you'll get a plate of fluffy steamed rice served with their specialty ayam merah (a red-hued fried chicken), okra, salted egg, cucumber and a generous dollop of chilli and curry sauce.

Sar kok liew

This is a patty of yam bean and fish paste, rolled up in a bean curd sheet, and deep fried.

It's Ipoh's signature variation of yong liew -- vegetables stuffed with fish or pork paste, which also come boiled.

If you like yours crispy, go to Dai Shu Geok ("Big Tree Foot", Jalan King, Pasir Pinji) and have it with a bowl of assam laksa.

Otherwise, Ipoh Echo food columnist SeeFoon Chan-Koppen recommends Kwong Hong (684 Jalan Besar Gunung Rapat): "It has many varieties of green vegetables, and the dipping sauce is yummy."

Yu kong hor with boiled octopus

Tuck Kee (61 Jalan Yau Tet Shin) only opens in the evenings.

Recommended is the wat tan hor -- kway teow immersed in a creamy egg gravy, peppered with pork slices, prawns, vegetables and lard fritters -- or yu kong hor, the dry version topped with a raw egg and then stirred in.

Either way, it isn't complete without the boiled octopus doused in garlic oil and soy sauce.

Kaya puff

Sin Eng Heong (4 Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry) is synonymous with Ipoh's famous kaya puff -- filled with a jam made with coconut milk and egg -- and on weekends you'll see a long line outside the bakery all day.

However, the founder's son has opened his own shop, Sin Eng Hoe (50 Jalan Yau Tet Shin), nearby and assures that he uses the same recipe.

Tau fu fa

This is a dessert made of soybean curd, usually slurped hot and traditionally sweetened with ginger sugar syrup.

Funny Mountain (49 Jalan Theatre) is the name on everyone's lips, but Woong Kee (32-38A Jalan Ali Pitchay) is also a firm favorite.

WHERE TO STAY

Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat

This is the place to come for a luxurious communion with nature amid limestone hills -- yet it's just a 15-minute drive from the city.

Each villa has its own plunge pool with water piped in from the hot springs, and there are four communal garden pods.

Non-guests can pay to use the facilities.

They include a pool, a steam and sauna cave, and an air-conditioned cave to relax in. It's also possible to dine in the cave cellar, which has an extensive wine collection.

A short walking trail leads directly to the Lost World of Tambun theme park.

Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, 1 Persiaran Lagun Sunway 3, Tambun; +60 5 210 7777

Bedrock Hotel

This new boutique hotel is styled with a mix of contemporary Chinese and Western details.

"We have the best beds and the best rocks," Debbie Ng says.

The beds are imported, and her family members are ardent rock collectors. Their finds are displayed around the hotel, and even in the rooms.

Each room has a Nespresso coffee machine, with complimentary pods.

Bedrock Hotel, 13 Jalan Che Tak, New Town; +60 5 241 3031

Sekeping Kong Heng

One of Ng Seksan's Sekeping collection of properties dotted around Malaysia, this hotel creates the illusion of a "retreat" in the middle of all the action.

The main quarter is located above the Kong Heng kopitiam in what was once a hostel patronized by Chinese opera troupes.

Much of the original building remains, mixed with open brick and reclaimed wood, wire fencing for bed bases and concrete sheets for walls -- melding the industrial and natural without compromising on style.

There are more rooms in an annexe next door and above the Container Hotel, as well as a pool and a rooftop hangout.

Sekeping Kong Heng, 75 Jalan Bandar Timah (Leech Street), Old Town; +60 12 227 2745

Sarang Paloh

This boutique guesthouse resides within a former Art Deco-style bank building that dates back to the 1930s.

Sarang means nest, and each room is named after a different bird found in Malaysia.

The interiors are mostly furnished in wood and accented with antiques, mixed with modern details and amenities.

All 11 rooms are air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms.

There's a common dining area cast in natural light and shadow, and a serene courtyard on the second floor.

Sarang Paloh, 16 Jalan Sultan Iskandar (Hugh Low Street), Old Town; +60 5 241 3926

27 Concubine Lane

This homestay in a restored 1908 shophouse is owned by a Malaysian-British couple.

It retains many original features, with other parts -- windows, floorboards, latticework -- sourced from a salvage yard.

"It's not the Hilton. People come here for the heritage," says John Lomax.

There are three private doubles with air conditioning, and an open loft with six beds. Bathrooms are shared.

Amid the bustle Concubine Lane, it still manages to feel like a little hideaway.

27 Concubine Lane, Old Town; +60 12 221 3202

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