Best Food In Ipoh – Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)

Best Food In Ipoh - Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)

After an afternoon touring Ipoh, we returned to have an early night at Hotel Excelsior Ipoh. The plan was to wake early and enjoy a good breakfast at one of the places that has the Best Food in Ipoh. It was the famous and popular Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼).

We were fortunate that Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) was located just behind Hotel Excelsior Ipoh. Just a 2 to 3 minutes walk and we were there. My Malaysian friend advised that we must try this eating place. Everyone who visits Ipoh must try it.


Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) – The Overview & Rankings

Madam Kwan KLCC - 4 Star Rating

Name: Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, Dim Sum
Meals Served: Breakfast to Lunch
Dining Choices: Dine In, Reservations, Takeout
Family Friendly: Yes
Food: 4.0 out of 5.0
Service: 4.0 out of 5.0
Value: 4.0 out of 5.0
Atmosphere: 4.0 out of 5.0
Prices: $$ out of $$$$$
Asia Travel Gems Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 


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Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) – The Video

Here is a short video showing the street where Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) is located. Also, the entrance, what is at the entrance, the dining area on the ground level, the counters where you order food, and also the traditional push trolley where they bring food to you for you to choose. Also, don’t forget the pics of the food, too.

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About Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)

Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) has been around since 1971. They actually create their own dim sum and manufacture Mooncakes. Mooncakes are delicacies enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

They have won awards such as the Premis Makanan Terbaik 2011 Award. This tells you the high quality and standard of their delicious food.

Entrance of Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)
Entrance of Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼), © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

The restaurant is popular with locals and tourists. Even with two floors of dining area, the place gets packed and there is usually a long queue.

Thankfully, we went during off peak season in January, and arrived early in the morning around 6.30 am.  Already there were many customers. At least, we managed to get a table immediately. As you can see in the photo below, the place was already getting packed.

Customers at one of the dining areas
Customers at one of the dining areas, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

Tip: Visit during Off Peak Seasons (for example, in January),
and you can get a table easily.


Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) – The Food

How to Order the Food?

There are few ways to order the food. You can either go to the counters and ask or point for what you wish to have, order from the wait staff, or look at the food brought on trolleys and point at what you would like to eat.

Here is a photo of the deep fried and baked food counter. One of my favorites is the Egg Tarts.

Deep fried & baked dim sum counter
Deep fried & baked dim sum counter, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

Here is counter with steamed dim sum such as siew mai, har kow, dumplings, baos, and many other choices. They are all covered.

All you have to do is ask them what they have, and the service staff will open each dim sum carrier as well as tell you what is inside. If you are unsure what are the ingredients inside a dim sum, you may ask them.

For example, you cannot tell what is inside a bao. Ask them and they will tell you what is inside it; for example, a cha siew bao will have Barbecued Pork inside.

Assorted Steamed Dim Sum Counter
Assorted Steamed Dim Sum Counter, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

For the above two counters, just order the food, and they will bring to your table. Alternatively, if you already know what you wish to have, you can order direct from the wait staff.

Another choice would be to stop a trolley when it passes by, and ask what goodies they have on the trolley. The service staff will patiently describe all the food on the trolley, and even show you if you would like to see before you decide. Then order and the service staff will place it on your table.

Old Style Push Trolley still one of the ways they serve at Foh San
Old Style Push Trolley still one of the ways they serve at Foh San, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

The Dim Sum!

After we ordered the food, the dishes were served. I am quite the simple person. My usual favorites are the usual fare such as Siew Mai, Har Kow and Cheong Fun, as shown below.

Some of the dim sum we had - siew mai, har kow, cheong fun & tea
Some of the dim sum we had – siew mai, har kow, cheong fun & tea, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

The Siew Mai was really good. Fine taste and the texture of the meat is smooth and tender. The Har Kow was a little disappointing. I hate it when the skin of dumplings fall off easily or are a little hard. Their Har Kow was both.

The Cheong Fun was the best! Being Ipoh that has the best hor fun, I am glad this continued to dishes that use this ingredient. It was thin, smooth and so soft. The mix of soya sauce and condiments created a delicious flavor that reminded me of the Bean Sprouts at Lou Wong.

As mentioned, my tastes for dim sum usually are quite simple. And of course, I must have the Cha Siew Baos (Barbecued Baos). Occasionally, I might get adventurous, and will try something a little different. Case in point, the Shrimp Dumpling with Spinach (tray on the left).

Steamed shrimp dumplings and cha siew baos (bbq pork baos)
Steamed shrimp dumplings and cha siew baos (bbq pork baos), © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved

The Cha Siew Bao good. Nothing to rave about. But, good enough to stand out from other mass manufactured baos sold at coffee shops. The skin could have been a bit fluffier.

The Shrimp Dumplings with Spinach was a surprise! I liked the freshness of the shrimps and how the taste of the spinach and shrimp played off each other to create a delightful combo in the mouth.

After an enjoyable breakfast, we headed back to the hotel to get our luggage and checked out. Next – Penang! Here we come!


Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) – Asia Travel Gems Final Word

Overall, I am awarding Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) 4.0.

Madam Kwan KLCC - Rating

Not all the dishes are good. But that’s normal in any restaurant right? There are some good ones, and some not so good.

The important thing is the good one must be of high standard and quality. And the not so good ones are tolerable.

Also, it must be noted that while I only tried the few dishes, they are the ones that are popular. Most people who have dim sum will usually order these dishes. So, it is important that these hallmark dim sum be the most delicious of all in the menu.

As you can tell from my review above, they have done well with most of the dim sum. The food stands out from other restaurants but not enough to get a 4.5 or 5.0. These are ratings that are hard to get from Asia Travel Gems.

A 4.0 means this is a place you can enjoy good food. It has some dishes that really delight the taste buds. It stand out from other restaurants but only barely.


How To Get There?

As mentioned earlier, Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼) is behind Excelsior Hotel, which is in the heart of the small town of Ipoh. If you stay at Excelsior Hotel, you are just a stone’s throw from this restaurant. See map below.

Address of Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼):

Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼)
51, Jalan Leong Sin Nam
30300 Ipoh, Malaysia

Operating hours:

Wednesday to Monday, 6.30 am to 2.30 pm

Contact Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼):

Phone Number: +605-254-0308

By Foot

Generally, Ipoh is not a big town. You can almost walk to anywhere from anywhere within the town. But, do check the map to see how far it is from where you are. Better still, check with your hotel for the distance and how long will it take to get there.

By Train

This is a small town. There are no train services. And there are no trains to this place.

By Bus

There are local buses, but information on their routes and stops are not well provided. Better to go by car, taxi or Grab.

By Car

If you drove to Ipoh, you are at an advantage. Traffic is not as heavy as cities such as Kuala Lumpur. Navigating around is easy, especially if you have Waze app.

By Taxi

They rarely go by meter. If you choose to go by taxi, sometimes it may be better to book them for the afternoon or day. This way, you can be assured of getting a ride back to the city, as and when you like it.

Tip: Negotiate and agree on a price before you take the taxi.

By Grab

This is my preferred option. One reason is that there is no need to negotiate. Another is that the price is usually reasonable and affordable. No hassles.

It is so easy to travel around in cities now because of Grab. Just download the app, state your destination, a driver is assigned to you, take the transport, and you arrive at your destination. Comfortable and easy.

I have switched to Grab for my travels within a city ever since this option became available.


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We have come to the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed reading this.

If you have ANY questions about this review, about Best Food In Ipoh – Foh San Dim Sum Restaurant (富山茶楼), ANY at all, please submit your questions as comments below. I will be happy to help you out.

Wishing you and your loved ones safe and happy travels.

Timotheus

Best Food In Ipoh – Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉)

Best Food In Ipoh - Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken - header

It had been a long drive from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh. We were ravenous. After we checked in to Hotel Excelsior Ipoh, we sought out Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉). We heard much about this restaurant, that it is one of the Best Food in Ipoh.

If you are like me, and did your research before coming to Ipoh, you would know that this is the best known Hainanese Chicken in Malaysia. And you should add this to your itinerary.

Since Ipoh is a small town, we decided to leave the car parked at the hotel, and walk to the restaurant. We got a little lost. Thankfully, the restaurant is so famous that any local seemed to know where it was. So, a little realignment from a friendly local, and we were on our way.


Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉) – The Overview & Rankings

Madam Kwan KLCC - 4 Star Rating

Name: Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉)
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Meals Served: Lunch, Dinner
Dining Choices: Dine In, Reservations, Takeout
Family Friendly: Yes
Food: 4.0 out of 5.0
Service: 4.0 out of 5.0
Value: 4.0 out of 5.0
Atmosphere: 3.0 out of 5.0
Prices: $$ out of $$$$$
Asia Travel Gems Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 


Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken – The Video

Need visuals to locate the restaurant? Our helpful video shows you the street where Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken is at as well as shots of the kitchen, the available seating outside, and how it looks inside, too.

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About Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken 

Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken is one of Ipoh’s most popular food places that serves the best bean sprouts and chicken. Bean Sprout Chicken in Cantonese is ‘Nga Choy Gai’. The concept is actually eating Chicken with Bean Sprouts, together with Chicken ice or Hor Fun, which is flat white noodles.

The restaurant’s humble beginnings started when the food was sold from a pushcart. Today, it spans the entire corner unit of a row of shophouses.

Best Food In Ipoh - Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken - restaurant front
Restaurant front of Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken, © Timotheus Lee for Asia Travel Gems
Best Food In Ipoh - Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken - inside the restaurant
Inside the restaurant of Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken, © Timotheus Lee for Asia Travel Gems

Tip: Visit during Off Peak Seasons (we went in January),
and you can get a table easily.


Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken – The Food

As mentioned earlier, the restaurant is famous for the chicken and the bean sprouts. Customers have a choice of eating them with the fragrant chicken rice or hor fun, which is flat white noodles.

The chicken rice is really fragrant. It is cooked in chicken fat, ginger, garlic and spring onions. Plus, it is scented lightly with pandan flavor from natural pandan leaves. The hor fun is, on the other hand, is thin and light. It slides down the throat so easily.

As you can see in the photo below, we chose hor fun over the rice. In retrospect, we should have ordered one bowl of chicken rice and one bowl of hor fun. Just so that we could try both and know the difference.

A delicious and full meal - Chicken with Bean Sprouts, Hor Fun (Flat white noodles), and meat balls in soup
A delicious and full meal – Chicken with Bean Sprouts, Hor Fun (Flat white noodles), and meat balls in soup, © Timotheus Lee for Asia Travel Gems

Tip: Order at least one bowl of Chicken Rice and one bowl of Hor Fun

The Chicken

The chicken was tender and tasted really good! And no wonder. They used fresh free-range chicken that they boiled to tenderness. Then they cut it into thick slices, and dunk it in ice and water. This process created the perfect Pak Cham Gai which means White Cut Chicken.

The chicken is then lathered in superior soy sauce, and sprinkled with pieces of scallion. The combined taste and texture was superb!

Pak Cham Gai - White Cut Chicken - Boiled to tenderness, flavored with superior soy sauce, and garnished with scallions
Pak Cham Gai – White Cut Chicken – Boiled to tenderness, flavored with superior soy sauce, and garnished with scallions, © Timotheus Lee for Asia Travel Gems

The Bean Sprouts

Ipoh has the reputation of having the best bean sprouts in the country. The high quality seedling is produced with high quality and superior minerals in the ground. Added to that, natural spring water from the limestone hills, enriched with minerals, is used to grow the bean sprouts.

As a result, the bean sprouts are thick short and juicy. The fresh bean sprouts are flash-blanched to get rid of any raw taste of uncooked bean sprouts. This method is fast and quick enough to retain the crunchiness of the bean sprouts.

Then they are flavored in chicken fat, sesame oil and soy sauce and other condiments. This is followed by a topping of chopped scallions and red chilies with a light layer of pepper. The result is a delightful and delicious mix of fat, juicy and crunchy bean sprouts.

We truly loved and enjoyed the bean sprouts!

Fat, Crunchy and Juicy Bean Sprouts grown with fresh spring water from the limestone hills
Fat, Crunchy and Juicy Bean Sprouts grown with fresh spring water from the limestone hills, © Timotheus Lee for Asia Travel Gems

After having a great meal, we took a walk to explore the city, and searched for Mural Art, followed by an enriching and serene visit to Kek Look Tong, a cave temple with an award winning garden.


Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken – Asia Travel Gems Final Word

We give Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉) a firm 4.0.

Madam Kwan KLCC - Rating

They deserved this relatively high rating for serving food of high quality and standards.

But do take note that not all their dishes are of the same. If you order their signature dishes; that are the Chicken, Bean Sprouts, Chicken Rice and Hor Fun, you will be safe and assured of an enjoyable dining experience.

Do take note of our Tip to visit during the off peak seasons. If not, you will have to be very patient, and wait a long time for a table, and to be served.

Other than that, you can be sure to enjoy the food here, and have a memorable meal in Ipoh.


How To Get There?

Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉) is in the heart of the small town. It is within walking distance from most of the hotels. Use the map below to find out how far this restaurant is from the hotel where you are staying at.

Address of Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken:
Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken Rice (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉)
49, Jalan Yau Tet Shin,
30000 Ipoh
Tel: +605-254 4199

Operating hours: 10am to midnight

Contact Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken:
Phone Number: +60-5-254-4199


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We have come to the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed reading this.

If you have ANY questions about this review, about Best Food In Ipoh – Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken (老黄芽菜鸡沙河粉), ANY at all, please submit your questions as comments below. I will be happy to help you out.

Wishing you and your loved ones safe and happy travels.

Timotheus

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