Malaysia Authentic is loading.
Skip to content
Malaysia Authentic
Get started

From the Journal

Beyond Bean Sprout Chicken: Exploring Ipoh's Underrated Seafood Scene, From Tai Chow Steamed Fish to a Supper-Time Lala Pot in the City Centre

An editorial guide to Ipoh's underrated seafood, from decades-old tai chow steamed fish in Kampung Jawa to a late-night lala pot at Soho Ipoh, with picks across Bercham, Pasir Puteh and Menglembu.

Malaysia Authentic

4 min read

Updated

AI illustration: Steamed fish topped with ginger and scallion in soy broth, a classic tai chow seafood dish served family-style in Ipoh.
AI illustration: Steamed fish topped with ginger and scallion in soy broth, a classic tai chow seafood dish served family-style in Ipoh.

Ask anyone what to eat in Ipoh and the answer is nearly always white coffee and bean sprout chicken. Locals know there is a quieter strength: Chinese-style tai chow seafood. Because Ipoh sits inland, the scene is not built on seaside catch but on the big-fry tradition — steamed fish with ginger and scallion, grouper and patin, butter or salted egg prawns, crab and clams in broth, often using Perak river fish. The good kitchens are scattered through neighbourhoods like Menglembu, Bercham and Pasir Puteh, which is exactly why weekend visitors miss them.

This is an editorial selection, not an official ranking. We drew on a current roundup of well-rated seafood restaurants — every place listed there holds a Google rating above 4.0 — and organised the picks by the kind of seafood night you are actually planning.

The Institution: When Only the Heavyweight Will Do

Pusing Public Restaurant in Kampung Jawa grew from Pusing town roots and is widely treated as Ipoh's benchmark for Chinese seafood. Its signatures are fried cod fish, butter prawns and steamed fish. Expect crowds — weekend booking is advised.

A useful comparison is Mun Choong Seafood Restaurant in Pasir Puteh, a mainstay often mentioned in the same breath as Pusing Public. It is praised for stir-fried prawns, spring onion venison, crab meat shark fin soup and braised sea cucumber — a broader menu if your table wants more than shellfish.

Homely Tai Chow: Steamed Fish and Assam Classics

For a smaller, more personal table, Sin Hup Kee on Jalan Leong Sin Nam is a homely tai chow favourite known for steamed patin fish and assam seafood. It closes on Tuesdays.

Sun Marpoh Restaurant in Taman Canning has served home-style Chinese cooking for over fifteen years. The pineapple fish is the standout, and dishes come in three sizes, which makes splitting easier for mixed appetites. It closes Wednesdays.

Old-school neighbourhood energy also survives at Sun Wen Cau Seafood Restaurant, which serves har cheong kai (prawn paste chicken) and deep-fried fish head from 12 pm to 10 pm daily.

Big Groups and Banquets

Two rooms suit large gatherings. Exquisite Ipoh Restaurant (東勝海鲜酒家/Dong Sheng) in Medan Bercham Bistari is a roomy banquet hall, with fried mantis prawn with oats as a highlight. Over in Menglembu, East Ocean Seafood Restaurant caters to big groups with set dinners; its white pepper crab and prawn hor fun broth are the signatures, and reservations are strongly advised on weekends.

Crab Specialists and a Rare Halal-Friendly Option

In Bercham, Restoran Rasa Lain opens for dinner only and closes Wednesdays. Its glass noodle crab — cooked with two crabs — is the signature, backed by unagi claypot rice and steamed fish balls.

For pork-free seafood, Restoran Hj Sharin Low in Greenhill is a long-running Chinese-Muslim kitchen serving prawns and fish. It closes Mondays, and as halal status should be confirmed before booking, check directly with the restaurant if this matters to you.

The Supper Finish: One Lala Pot Worth Staying Up For

Not every seafood night needs a full banquet. Dai Fatt Lala Pot at Soho Ipoh, in the city centre, is the go-to for clams — its Sake Clam Hotpot pairs fresh lala with a drinkable broth, and the late hours suit supper rather than an early family dinner. If you have already explored our guide to Ipoh's handmade yong tau foo, a lala pot makes a natural second-night plan in the same city.

How to Choose

Match the venue to the occasion: Pusing Public or Mun Choong for a proper seafood dinner; Sin Hup Kee or Sun Marpoh for a relaxed, home-style spread; Exquisite or East Ocean for large tables; Rasa Lain or Dai Fatt for a focused crab or clam night. And always check closing days — Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday closures all appear on this list.

Visual note: this AI-generated illustration is not a photograph from a visit to the listed venues.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Is Ipoh seafood fresh even though the city is inland?

Ipoh's tai chow tradition leans on freshwater fish from Perak rivers, such as patin, alongside prawns, crab and clams. The roundup we referenced notes the scene is built around this inland Chinese cooking style rather than seaside catch.

Which of these restaurants are halal-friendly?

Restoran Hj Sharin Low in Greenhill is a long-running Chinese-Muslim kitchen serving pork-free seafood like prawns and fish. Its halal status should be confirmed before booking, so contact the restaurant directly if certification matters to you.

When should I book ahead?

Weekend booking is advised at Pusing Public Restaurant, and reservations are strongly advised at East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Menglembu on weekends. Banquet-style venues like Exquisite Ipoh Restaurant also work best for large groups with advance planning.

Are any of these places closed on certain days?

Yes — Sin Hup Kee closes on Tuesdays, Sun Marpoh on Wednesdays, Restoran Rasa Lain on Wednesdays (and opens dinner only), and Restoran Hj Sharin Low on Mondays. Sun Wen Cau operates from 12 pm to 10 pm daily. Check before you drive out.

There’s more to discover.

Explore more places, makers and perspectives in the Journal.

Back to the Journal

Found an error? Contact the editorial team with the article and correction.

Keep exploring

More from the Journal.

View all stories