The best restaurants Ipoh

Taugeh ayam or nga choi kai (in Cantonese) is Ipoh's signature dish. It consists of steamed chicken served with a bowl of bean sprouts and another of rice. It's perfect for delicate palates that can't stand hot pepper. To taste the best taugeh ayam, you have to come here and mingle with the crowd. In the evening, the tables overflow onto the street and you have to be patient. However, the wait is worth the meal, which won't leave you indifferent. The chicken here is a little saltier, but free-range.

For almost 50 years, Foh San has been delighting Ipoh with its dim sum and filled buns in an enchanting setting. The tables are housed on two floors of a vast, wall-less colonial building, cooled by numerous ceiling fans. The waiter will give you a cardboard slip, which you must take with you before choosing your steamed ravioli. The ravioli are sold in baskets and shared between all the guests at the table. Despite the large number of tables, it's not unusual to queue up at weekends. A must try.

Here you are in Ipoh's chicest restaurant. A hushed atmosphere, thick carpets, upholstered seats and a talented chef will ensure you spend a pleasant moment. The chef, who hails from Hong Kong, prepares refined, delicate dishes. His specialty, duck smoked with lychee wood, will have gourmets salivating. Preceded by a fine selection of dim sum appetizers, you'll want to come back again and again. You can round off this divine moment with a drink at the hotel's rooftop bar, which offers a breathtaking view of the city.

Plan B is a modern, trendy, family-run café-canteen strategically located in the tourist heart of Ipoh, in the middle of the artisan market. It offers a variety of dishes and drinks, from breakfast classics to local and international dishes. Desserts are also a must-try, with options such as Japanese cheesecake and chocolate brownie. We also appreciate the sharing boxes. With its large, airy lobby and affordable prices, this is the ideal place for a refreshing break.

If you're looking for a taste of kai see hor fun in the evening, this is the place to go. Like all good Chinese canteens, the decor is non-existent and the wait at the entrance can be long. But the fragrant chicken broth is well worth the detour. The restaurant also serves a delicious ayam taugeh, considered by some to be the best in town. It's chicken with bean sprouts. A must-try if you haven't managed to find a seat at the always-full Lou Wong.

This address, well away from the city center, will delight food-lovers who accept the Malaysian way of life. Don't let a hearty savory breakfast put you off! The opening hours of this popular establishment are designed for lovers of curry mee, kai see hor fun or young tau foo. The latter has nothing to do with simple fermented soybean paste. It's meat stuffing served in vegetables(okra or eggplant) or tofu. The dish is hard to describe, but to try it is to love it.

This Ipoh institution stands out for its elegant setting and refined ambience. You're welcomed into a large room with a false ceiling of woven palm leaves and round tables framed by bistro chairs. Delicious Chinese hakka cuisine is served here, as well as Nyonya and more broadly Pan-Asian-inspired dishes. One of the house specialties is the Philippine eggplant plate. A real treat that will make you want to come back again and again.

People come here to taste yim kok kai, a chicken marinated with goji berries, ginger, rice vinegar, Chinese herbs and salt. It's an Ipoh specialty, and locals are willing to travel miles to stock up here. You won't want to miss its large red-and-white storefront on a street corner in the heart of Chinatown. As the restaurant closes early, you'll either come here for lunch, or take a bite to go, wrapped in a beautiful red and gold box.

Another packed canteen, especially at weekends. Expect to queue. But you can't miss this other Ipoh specialty: chicken ho fun, or kai see hor fun in the local language. In these pots, the city's best shrimp chicken soups are prepared. On the menu: chicken broth, minced chicken, shrimp, noodles and shrimp oil. The result is balanced and mild to the palate, but should warm you up, if at all.