Ask any Ipoh local where the weekend food trail starts and chances are the answer is a plate of chicken rice. This is the town that made bean sprout chicken, or nga choy kai, famous across Malaysia, thanks to the crunchy, plump tauge grown in the limestone-filtered water of the Kinta Valley. Pair that with silky poached chicken, a bowl of clear soup, and either fluffy chicken-oil rice or smooth kai si hor fun, and you have a meal that defines the city.
The trouble is choosing where to go, because Ipoh has more chicken rice shops than any hungry visitor can get through in one trip. We did the legwork and pulled together the spots that Ipoh diners rate most highly on Google, keeping only places with a solid rating above 4.0 that are still open and busy. From decades-old Old Town institutions to newer bean sprout chicken specialists in the southern suburbs, here are the 10 best chicken rice shops in Ipoh to plan your next weekend feast around.
What Makes Ipoh Bean Sprout Chicken So Special?
Ipoh’s signature dish is nga choy kai, or bean sprout chicken, and it is really a set of three things served together: poached chicken bathed in soy and sesame oil, a heap of famously fat, crunchy local bean sprouts, and your choice of chicken-oil rice or a bowl of kai si hor fun (shredded chicken flat-rice noodles in prawn broth). The bean sprouts are the star. Ipoh’s mineral-rich water grows them short, stubby and juicy in a way that is hard to copy anywhere else. Most shops on this list are known as ayam tauge or tauge ayam restaurants for exactly this reason, so order the sprouts alongside your rice.
When Should You Go for Chicken Rice in Ipoh?
Timing matters more than you might think. Many of Ipoh’s best chicken rice shops sell out by mid-afternoon and simply close once the chicken runs low, so an early lunch is the safe move. A handful of the Old Town legends only open for dinner and draw long queues from the moment they raise the shutters, so arrive before the rush or be ready to wait. Weekends are busiest, especially around the Jalan Yau Tet Shin and Kampung Jawa clusters. If you want a quieter plate, aim for a weekday lunch, and always keep a backup nearby since the popular names do sell out.
Table of Contents
- 1. Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant
- 2. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
- 3. Pak Kong Chicken Rice Restaurant
- 4. Restoran Fuziah Nasi Ayam Pasar Bulat
- 5. Cowan Street Chicken by Ann Xin
- 6. Paloh Bean Sprout Chicken
- 7. Restoran Xing Yun Tauge Ayam
- 8. Restoran Ayam Tauge Wai Wai
- 9. Restoran Tauge Ayam Tim Wong
- 10. Weng Hwa Chicken Rice
1. Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant
Sitting in Taman Ipoh Selatan away from the tourist-heavy Old Town, Sam Ma has quietly become one of the most loved chicken rice names in the city. The draw is beautifully poached, tender chicken served with springy bean sprouts and a bowl of smooth hor fun that regulars swear rivals the big-name shops. It is a proper family-run coffee shop operation, unpretentious and generous, and the crowd is more locals than visitors. Portions are hearty and prices stay fair. Come for an early lunch or an evening sitting, but note it shuts on Wednesdays, so plan around that if you are making the trip south.
Operating Hours: Mon 11:00 am – 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Tue 11:00 am – 3:00 pm; Wed Closed; Thu–Sun 11:00 am – 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Address: 3, Jalan S. A. Lingam, Taman Ipoh Selatan, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 017-756 8562
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
2. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
Named after the old colonial name for Jalan Raja Ekram, Cowan Street is a Kampung Jawa institution that only fires up for dinner. That evening-only schedule is part of its charm, drawing a steady line of regulars who come for the classic Ipoh trio: satiny poached chicken, crunchy bean sprouts dressed in soy and sesame, and either chicken-oil rice or hor fun. The setting is a no-frills open-air corner shop with plastic stools and quick service, exactly what you want for an honest plate of nga choy kai. Go a little before the shutters lift to beat the queue, and bring cash. A dependable pick for a proper Ipoh supper.
Operating Hours: Mon–Wed 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Thu–Sun 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-520 3322
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. Pak Kong Chicken Rice Restaurant
A Taman Jubilee stalwart on Jalan Theatre, Pak Kong is the sort of daytime chicken rice shop Ipoh does so well. It runs a tight lunch service and is known for smooth, well-poached chicken paired with fragrant rice and the mandatory plate of bean sprouts. Old-timers and office workers pack it out from late morning, so a slightly early arrival is wise before the chicken thins out. The vibe is classic kopitiam, brisk and friendly, with roast meats often on hand if you want to mix things up. Straightforward, consistent and central, it is an easy stop if you are exploring the Old Town on foot.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 27, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-588 6618
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Restoran Fuziah Nasi Ayam Pasar Bulat
For Muslim diners and anyone after halal nasi ayam, Fuziah near Pasar Bulat is the standout on this list. This long-running Taman Jubilee shop serves the Malay-style take on chicken rice: fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, your pick of steamed or fried chicken, a punchy chilli sauce, and a bowl of soup on the side. It keeps generous hours from late morning right through to the evening, which makes it handy for a supper run when the Chinese-style shops have long shut. Portions are filling and the sambal is the reason regulars keep coming back. A reliable halal choice in a town famous for its chicken.
Operating Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30 am – 10:30 pm; Sun Closed
Address: 78, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-550 4556
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
5. Cowan Street Chicken by Ann Xin
Also on Jalan Raja Ekram, Ann Xin is the daytime counterpart to the evening Cowan Street crowd, and it has built a strong following of its own. The chicken here is clean and tender, the bean sprouts are properly crunchy, and the hor fun comes in a light, savoury broth that keeps people ordering seconds. It opens through lunch and into the early evening, so it fills the gap when the dinner-only shops nearby are still shut. Service is quick and the space is tidier than most old-school spots. If you want Cowan Street chicken rice without waiting for nightfall, this is your answer. Closed on Thursdays, so check before you go.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm; Closed Thursdays
Address: 36, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 30450 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 011-1502 2800
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Paloh Bean Sprout Chicken
Over in Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, Paloh is a modern, air-conditioned take on the nga choy kai formula that has won a loyal weekend crowd. The bean sprouts are exactly what you come to Ipoh for, fat and crisp, and the poached chicken is smooth and clean-tasting. It is comfortable and family-friendly, a step up from the roadside stools if you are dining with kids or elderly relatives, and it opens early on weekends for those who like their chicken rice before the midday heat. The hor fun and rice are both solid. A tidy, dependable option in the newer part of town that suits a relaxed sit-down meal.
Operating Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30 am – 9:30 pm; Sat–Sun 8:30 am – 9:30 pm
Address: 21 & 23, Jalan Medan Ipoh 3, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 016-575 0577
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
7. Restoran Xing Yun Tauge Ayam
Xing Yun in Taman Ipoh Permai is the go-to when a late-night bean sprout chicken craving hits. Unlike the lunch-only crowd, it opens from mid-afternoon and runs right up to midnight, making it one of the better supper options for tauge ayam in Ipoh. The chicken is tender, the sprouts snappy, and the hor fun a comforting late-evening bowl. It draws a mix of families and night owls, and the service keeps moving even when it gets busy. If your day of Ipoh sightseeing has run long and everywhere else has closed, this is the spot that still has the wok going. Come hungry after dark.
Operating Hours: Mon 3:00 pm – 12:00 am; Tue–Sun 2:30 pm – 12:00 am
Address: 27, Laluan Ipoh Permai 1, Taman Ipoh Permai, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 016-523 4578
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. Restoran Ayam Tauge Wai Wai
On Jalan Yang Kalsom in the Taman Jubilee stretch, Wai Wai is a friendly all-day ayam tauge shop that has built a name for consistency. It serves the full Ipoh set of poached chicken, crunchy bean sprouts and your choice of rice or hor fun, with generous portions and prices that stay easy on the wallet. The long daily hours are a real plus, covering both a leisurely lunch and an early dinner without the sold-out anxiety of the famous names. It is casual, quick and welcoming, the kind of neighbourhood spot regulars return to weekly. A safe, satisfying choice when you want good chicken rice without the queue.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm (Daily)
Address: 73, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 017-852 6353
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Restoran Tauge Ayam Tim Wong
Tim Wong on Jalan Ali Pitchay pairs bean sprout chicken with its own sar hor fun, and the combination has earned it a devoted following in the Old Town. The chicken is silky and the sprouts are textbook Ipoh, but the flat rice noodles in their clean, prawn-sweet broth are what make regulars single this one out. It keeps long daily hours and runs later on weekends, which is handy when other shops have called it a day. The setting is a bright, tidy corner unit that fills up fast at meal times. Come for the chicken, stay for the hor fun, and you will understand the queue.
Operating Hours: Mon–Thu 10:30 am – 9:30 pm; Fri–Sun 10:30 am – 10:30 pm
Address: 22, Ground Floor, Jalan Ali Pitchay, Taman Jubilee, 30250 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-702 0038
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. Weng Hwa Chicken Rice
Rounding out the list, Weng Hwa in Garden South is the pick for anyone who wants roast meats alongside the classic bean sprout chicken. Its Chinese name nods to the siu laap, and the char siu and roast pork belly are as much a reason to visit as the poached chicken and tauge. The rice is fragrant, the sprouts are crisp, and the combination plate lets you have a bit of everything. It is a comfortable neighbourhood restaurant that suits a proper family sit-down more than a grab-and-go bite. Note it closes on Thursdays and wraps up by the early evening, so make it a lunch or an early dinner.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm; Closed Thursdays
Address: 36, Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12, Garden South, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 05-541 7828
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Chicken rice in Ipoh is less a single dish than a whole ritual, and the right shop depends on your timing and your crowd. For a well-loved plate away from the tourist crush, Sam Ma is hard to beat. For the full Old Town experience, the two Cowan Street shops and Pak Kong deliver the classic nga choy kai you came for, one by day and one by night. Muslim diners have a solid halal option in Fuziah, night owls can rely on Xing Yun, and roast-meat fans should point the car at Weng Hwa. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can book any of them with confidence.
Opening hours and sell-out times do shift, so a quick call ahead or a check on Google saves a wasted trip, especially for the shops that close once the chicken runs out. Now grab your appetite, pick a plate, and make a proper weekend of it in Ipoh.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ipoh chicken rice actually called?
Locally it is known as nga choy kai, or bean sprout chicken. It comes as a set of poached chicken, a plate of Ipoh’s famously crunchy bean sprouts, and either chicken-oil rice or kai si hor fun (shredded chicken flat-rice noodles). Ordering all three together is the classic Ipoh way to eat it.
Which chicken rice in Ipoh is halal?
Restoran Fuziah Nasi Ayam Pasar Bulat in Taman Jubilee is the halal choice on this list, serving Malay-style nasi ayam with steamed or fried chicken and sambal. Most other bean sprout chicken shops in Ipoh are Chinese-run and not halal, so always confirm the latest status before you go.
What time should I go for chicken rice in Ipoh?
Aim for an early lunch. Many of Ipoh’s best chicken rice shops sell out and close by mid-afternoon, while a few Old Town names such as Cowan Street only open for dinner and draw long queues. Arriving before the peak, or a little before opening for the dinner-only spots, gives you the best shot.
Is Ipoh chicken rice served with hor fun?
Very often, yes. Most bean sprout chicken shops offer kai si hor fun, smooth flat-rice noodles in a light prawn-and-chicken broth, as an alternative or addition to chicken-oil rice. Spots like Tim Wong and Sam Ma are particularly known for their hor fun, so it is worth ordering a bowl to share.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
