Ipoh will always be white coffee and bean sprout chicken country, but the old tin town has quietly grown a Korean food scene worth planning a weekend around. From sizzling charcoal barbecue and free-flow buffet grills to bubbling stews, cheesy fried chicken, and Instagram-friendly Korean cafes, there is a version of Korean comfort food for every kind of craving here. Most of the action sits around Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, Greentown, and the big malls at AEON Kinta City and Ipoh Parade, with a few gems tucked into Bandar Meru Raya and Bercham too. The hard part is knowing which spots are genuinely worth your ringgit.
So we did the digging for you. Every restaurant on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, drawn from real diner reviews, and we have left out the places that have closed or slipped below the mark. We ranked them by how many people have actually reviewed each spot, so the busiest, most-loved names sit right at the top. From a halal-certified buffet the whole family can share to authentic charcoal grills and Korean fried chicken done right, here are the 10 best Korean food spots in Ipoh to plan your next feast around.
Is There Halal Korean Food in Ipoh?
Yes, though it takes a little planning. Korean cooking leans heavily on pork, so a fair few barbecue spots in Ipoh are not halal. The easy wins are the chains: Seoul Garden HOTPOT at AEON Kinta City and KyoChon Chicken at AEON Station 18 both hold halal certification, so Muslim diners can grill and snack without a second thought. Several other restaurants run no-pork setups or serve chicken and beef only, but menus and suppliers do change, so always confirm the latest certification before you book if halal matters to your table.
BBQ, Buffet or Fried Chicken: Which Korean Spot Should You Pick?
It really comes down to the occasion. If you want to grill your own marinated cuts over charcoal, barbecue houses like Seoul Maru, Da Ohn Da, and Misa are the move. If you have a big, hungry group and a tight budget, a free-flow buffet like Seoul Garden gives you the most food for your money. Craving something casual and quick? Korean fried chicken at Jisoo or KyoChon and the aesthetic plates at BBC Korean Cafe hit the spot. We have flagged the vibe of each place below so you can match the spot to your weekend plan.
Table of Contents
- 1. Seoul Garden HOTPOT @ AEON Kinta City
- 2. Seoul Maru Korean BBQ Restaurant
- 3. BBC Korean Cafe Ipoh
- 4. Chingooya Korean Restaurant
- 5. Misa Japanese & Korean BBQ
- 6. Da Ohn Da Korean BBQ
- 7. Oiso Korean Restaurant (Ipoh Parade)
- 8. Jisoo Korean Fried Chicken (Bercham)
- 9. Dae Jang Geum Korean Restaurant
- 10. KyoChon Chicken @ AEON Station 18
1. Seoul Garden HOTPOT @ AEON Kinta City
The most-reviewed Korean spot in Ipoh is a crowd-pleasing buffet, and there is a good reason it packs out AEON Kinta City every weekend. Seoul Garden HOTPOT is the halal-certified combo of Korean-style barbecue grill and steamboat in one, so your table can sear marinated beef and chicken on the plate while a soup pot bubbles away beside it. It is unbeatable value for big, hungry groups: pile your plate with meats, seafood, veg, and sides, then go back for more. The staff are quick with refills and the space is family-friendly and easy to reach. Come with an empty stomach and pace yourself.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: Lot G21, AEON Kinta City Shopping Centre, Jalan Teh Lean Swee, Off Jalan Sultan Azlan Utara, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 05-545 6731
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
2. Seoul Maru Korean BBQ Restaurant
If you want proper charcoal barbecue done the authentic way, Seoul Maru in Medan Ipoh Bestari is the name Ipoh regulars keep coming back to. This is a cosy, Korean-run grill house where the marinated meats are the draw and the banchan side dishes keep landing on the table. Order a spread of pork belly and marinated cuts, let the smoke do its thing, and wrap the grilled meat in lettuce with a dab of ssamjang for the full experience. It runs a lunch and dinner service with an afternoon break, and it is closed on Wednesdays, so time your visit. A reliable pick for a hands-on grill night.
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm – 3:40 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Closed Wed)
Address: 16 & 18, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1E, Medan Ipoh Bestari, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 016-659 6501
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. BBC Korean Cafe Ipoh
BBC Korean Cafe in Bandar Meru Raya brings the casual, aesthetic side of Korean dining to Ipoh, and it has built a loyal following for it. This is the spot for a relaxed lunch or a catch-up with friends over Korean comfort classics: think army stew, bibimbap, kimchi fried rice, tteokbokki, and crispy Korean fried chicken. The cafe styling makes it a favourite for younger crowds and photo-happy diners, and the portions are generous for the price. It is closed on Mondays, so plan around that. When you want Korean food without the smoke and fuss of a full barbecue, this is an easy, wallet-friendly shout.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm (Closed Mon)
Address: Ground Floor, 93-A, Jalan Meru Bestari B2, Bandar Meru Raya, 30020 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 011-2782 0179
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Chingooya Korean Restaurant
Chingooya, whose name plays on the Korean word for friend, is a warm neighbourhood restaurant in Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh that regulars rate as one of the most authentic in town. The menu runs the full Korean spread rather than barbecue alone, so you can order stews, jjigae, japchae glass noodles, bibimbap, and grilled meats all at one table. The home-style cooking and friendly service give it a proper made-with-care feel, and it is open daily, which makes it an easy weekday or weekend pick. Bring a group so you can share a few dishes and work your way through the banchan.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 29, Jalan Medan Ipoh 10, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 016-553 9939
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
5. Misa Japanese & Korean BBQ
Officially Restoran BBQ Jepun Dan Korea Misa, this Jalan Raja Ekram spot is the one to bookmark when your group cannot decide between Korean and Japanese grilling. You cook your own cuts at the table, mixing Korean marinated meats and sides with Japanese-style yakiniku plates, which makes it a fun, choose-your-own-adventure kind of dinner. It leans toward the evening crowd, opening from the afternoon into the late night, and it is closed on Mondays. The casual setting and the grill-it-yourself format suit friends and families who like a long, relaxed meal. Go with a few people so you can order across both menus and share the spread.
Operating Hours: 1:00 pm – 11:30 pm (Closed Mon)
Address: 78, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 30450 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 011-6328 1263
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Da Ohn Da Korean BBQ
Da Ohn Da is another Medan Ipoh Bestari grill house that has earned a steady local following for its hands-on Korean barbecue. The format is the classic one you want: pick your marinated meats, grill them at the table, and load up on the free-flowing banchan that comes alongside. It is a friendly, no-frills sort of place that suits a casual dinner with friends or family rather than a fancy night out, and the pricing keeps it approachable. It runs lunch and dinner with an afternoon break and is closed on Tuesdays, so double-check before you head over. A solid choice when you are in the mood to cook your own feast.
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Closed Tue)
Address: 10, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1D, Medan Ipoh Bestari, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 05-517 4161
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
7. Oiso Korean Restaurant (Ipoh Parade)
Set inside Ipoh Parade, Oiso is the convenient mall pick for a Korean fix while you are out shopping or catching a movie. The menu covers the crowd-pleasing hits, from bibimbap and stone-pot rice to army stew, ramyeon, and Korean fried chicken, plated in a bright, modern space. Because it sits in the mall, parking is easy and the air-conditioning is a welcome break from Ipoh’s heat, which makes it a comfortable, low-effort option for families. It is open daily with long hours, so it works whether you want an early lunch or a later dinner. Reliable, accessible Korean comfort food in the heart of town.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: Level 1, Ipoh Parade, Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, 30350 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 010-554 1668
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. Jisoo Korean Fried Chicken (Bercham)
When the craving is specifically for Korean fried chicken, the Bercham outlet of Jisoo is the one to head to. The draw is exactly what you would hope for: crackly, double-fried chicken tossed in sauces from soy garlic to fiery yangnyeom, best shared with a group so you can order a couple of flavours. Beyond the chicken, it does the casual Korean street-food line-up of tteokbokki, ramyeon, and kimbap, which makes it a fun, affordable stop for students and families. The Taman Desa Kencana branch is open daily with long hours. Grab a few boxes to share and settle in for a proper KFC, Korean-style.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 307, Jalan Bercham, Taman Desa Kencana, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-525 5307
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Dae Jang Geum Korean Restaurant
Named after the classic Korean drama, Dae Jang Geum at Onix Jun in Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh is a smaller, home-style kitchen for diners who want the full Korean spread rather than barbecue alone. Expect comforting stews, bibimbap, japchae, and grilled meats, with banchan that taste made-from-scratch rather than mass-produced. The cosy, unfussy room gives it a warm, family-run feel that regulars nearby have come to rely on. It runs a lunch and dinner service and is closed on Tuesdays, so check the timing before you set off. Come for a quiet, satisfying Korean meal without the buffet noise or the barbecue smoke.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 9:30 pm (Closed Tue)
Address: 31, Jalan Medan Ipoh 4, Bandar Baru Medan Ipoh, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-537 7530
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. KyoChon Chicken @ AEON Station 18
Rounding out the list, KyoChon is the Korean fried chicken franchise that brings a globally loved name to AEON Ipoh Station 18, and importantly it is halal-certified, so it is an easy pick for Muslim diners. The chicken is the star: hand-brushed with the brand’s signature soy-garlic or spicy red-pepper glaze and fried to a light, glossy crunch. Pair it with tteokbokki, japchae, or a rice bowl and you have a full meal in a clean, mall-based setting. Open daily with long hours, it is a fuss-free stop for a quick Korean craving while you are at the mall. Order a mix of flavours and share.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: G82, Ground Floor, AEON Ipoh, Susunan Stesen 18, Station 18, 31650 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 05-830 0387
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Ipoh gives you the full spread of Korean food, and the right pick really comes down to the occasion. For a halal meal the whole family can share, Seoul Garden’s buffet grill and KyoChon’s fried chicken are the safe bets. For charcoal barbecue done properly, Seoul Maru, Da Ohn Da, and Misa rarely miss. When you would rather someone else do the cooking, home-style kitchens like Chingooya and Dae Jang Geum deliver stews, bibimbap, and generous banchan, while BBC Korean Cafe and Jisoo cover the casual, cafe-and-fried-chicken cravings. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can book any of them with confidence.
Hours and menus do change, and a few of these places take a weekday off, so a quick call or a check on Google before you set off is always worth it. Now round up your crew, pick a grill or a stew, and make a proper weekend of it in Ipoh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Korean restaurant in Ipoh is halal?
Seoul Garden HOTPOT at AEON Kinta City and KyoChon Chicken at AEON Station 18 are both halal-certified, making them the strongest choices for Muslim diners. Many barbecue spots in Ipoh serve pork, so always confirm the latest certification before you visit, as menus and suppliers can change.
Where is the best Korean BBQ in Ipoh?
For charcoal barbecue you grill yourself, Seoul Maru and Da Ohn Da in Medan Ipoh Bestari and Misa on Jalan Raja Ekram are the standout picks. All three let you cook marinated pork and beef at your table with a generous spread of banchan on the side.
Do I need to make a reservation for Korean food in Ipoh?
For weekends and larger groups, yes. Popular grill houses like Seoul Maru fill up quickly during peak dinner hours, and the buffet at Seoul Garden gets busy on weekends. A quick call ahead usually saves you a wait, and it is worth checking rest days too, since several spots close one weekday.
How much does Korean food in Ipoh cost?
It varies by style. Korean fried chicken or a casual cafe dish can run around RM15 to RM30 per person, while a full charcoal barbecue or a free-flow buffet with meats and sides typically lands between RM40 and RM80 per person, depending on how much you order.
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.
