Ipoh runs on chicken. Ask anyone from the old town what to eat and the answer comes back the same: nasi ayam, or more precisely the city’s beloved ayam tauge, poached chicken paired with the plump, crunchy bean sprouts that only Ipoh’s cool limestone water seems to grow right. Add a plate of fragrant rice or a bowl of silky kuetiau soup, a dip of ginger and chilli, and you have a meal that Ipoh families have queued for across generations.
The tricky part is knowing which shop to point your car at, because the famous names are not always the best plate on the table, and half of them only open for a few hours a day. We did the legwork so your weekend does not go to waste. Every spot on this list holds a Google rating above 4.0 from real diners, is still very much open, and serves chicken worth the drive. From decades-old salted chicken institutions to bean sprout chicken specialists and Bercham chicken rice ball shops, here are the 10 best places for nasi ayam in Ipoh.
What Makes Ipoh Nasi Ayam and Ayam Tauge So Special?
Two things set Ipoh chicken apart. First is the bean sprouts. Ipoh’s tauge are famously short, fat and snappy, a result of the mineral-rich limestone water the town sits on, and a good plate of ayam tauge is really a celebration of them as much as the chicken. Second is the poaching. The best shops cook their chicken low and slow so the meat stays silky and the skin turns jelly-smooth, then serve it cool with a light soy dressing. Pair that with oil-glossed rice or a bowl of kuetiau in clear chicken broth, and you understand why locals treat this as comfort food, not fast food.
Nasi Ayam or Kuetiau: How to Order Like a Local
In Ipoh, chicken almost always comes with a choice: a plate of rice on the side, or a bowl of flat kuetiau noodles in soup. Locals often order both to share, along with the chicken, the bean sprouts and a plate of chicken feet or offal for the table. Timing matters more than anywhere else. Many of these shops are lunch-only and sell out by mid-afternoon, while a couple of the old Cowan Street stalls only fire up in the evening. Go early, go hungry, and do not be shy about pointing at what the next table is eating.
Table of Contents
- 1. Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant
- 2. Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken
- 3. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
- 4. Pak Kong Chicken Rice Restaurant
- 5. Cowan Street Chicken by Ann Xin
- 6. Restoran Tauge Ayam Tim Wong
- 7. Restoran Wong Koh Kee
- 8. Yong Meng Chicken Rice Shop
- 9. Golden Chicken Rice Ball
- 10. Kedai Ayamas Medan Gopeng
1. Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant
Tucked in Taman Ipoh Selatan, Sam Ma has quietly become one of the most talked-about chicken rice shops in the city, and the queue at lunch tells you why. The draw is beautifully poached chicken with that signature smooth, gelatinous skin, served alongside rice cooked in chicken fat and a generous mound of Ipoh bean sprouts. Regulars swear by the chilli sauce, which has a proper kick and lifts the whole plate. It suits families and solo diners alike, though it shuts on Wednesdays and runs a lunch and dinner service with a break in between. Come early before the best cuts sell out.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Closed Wednesday)
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. Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken
No round-up of Ipoh chicken is complete without Aun Kheng Lim, the salt-baked chicken institution on Jalan Theatre that has been perfuming the neighbourhood for decades. This is a takeaway shop, not a sit-down restaurant, so you buy your chicken by the whole or half bird, wrapped in paper and still warm from the salt. The meat is remarkably tender and deeply savoury, with a fragrance from the herbs and paper-wrapping technique that keeps people coming back. It sells out most days, so phone ahead or arrive early. Grab one for a picnic in the park or to bring home for the family table.
Operating Hours: Mon 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Tue–Sun 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Address: 24, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 05-254 2998
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. Cowan Street Ayam Tauge & Koitiau Restaurant
Named after the old Cowan Street, now Jalan Raja Ekram, this evening-only spot is a classic ayam tauge experience for people who like their chicken with a side of old-Ipoh atmosphere. The chicken is poached to that silky, cool finish and paired with a bowl of kuetiau in clear, sweet chicken broth and a plate of the crunchy local bean sprouts. It only opens Thursday to Sunday from dinner onwards, which makes it a bit of a weekend ritual for regulars. Casual, no-frills and often busy, it is a solid pick when you want the authentic bean sprout chicken plate after dark.
Operating Hours: Thu–Sun 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Closed Mon–Wed)
Address: 44, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 012-520 3322
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Pak Kong Chicken Rice Restaurant
A short walk from the salted chicken shops on Jalan Theatre, Pak Kong is the sort of unfussy chicken rice shop that Ipoh does so well. It keeps things simple: smooth poached chicken, well-oiled rice, a plate of bean sprouts, and clear soup, all served fast and priced kindly. The midday crowd is a mix of office workers, families and old regulars who have been coming for years, which is usually a good sign. Because it runs a lunchtime service and closes by late afternoon, it is best planned as a proper sit-down lunch. Reliable, honest and easy on the wallet.
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
5. Cowan Street Chicken by Ann Xin
Just up the same stretch of Jalan Raja Ekram, Ann Xin has built one of the strongest reputations in town for ayam tauge, and the ratings back it up. The chicken here is a standout, cooked to that soft, springy texture and dressed lightly so the natural flavour leads. It comes with the usual generous heap of bean sprouts and a choice of rice or kuetiau soup, and the service moves quickly even when the place is full. Unlike the older evening-only stalls, Ann Xin opens through the day, which makes it an easy option for a late lunch. It closes on Thursdays, so plan around that.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm (Closed Thursday)
Address: 36, Jalan Raja Ekram, Kampung Jawa, 30450 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 011-1502 2800
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Restoran Tauge Ayam Tim Wong
Tim Wong on Jalan Ali Pitchay is one of those places that locals recommend with a knowing nod. It specialises in tauge ayam and sar hor fun, the smooth rice noodles Ipoh is equally famous for, so you can get the full old-town spread in one sitting. The chicken is tender and clean-tasting, the bean sprouts snap the way they should, and the noodle soup is light but full of chicken flavour. It keeps long daily hours and stays open later on Fridays and weekends, which makes it a handy choice for a supper-hour craving. Friendly, consistent, and a favourite for good reason.
Operating Hours: Sun–Thu 10:30 am – 9:30 pm; Fri–Sat 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
7. Restoran Wong Koh Kee
Set on Jalan Panglima in the heart of Ipoh Old Town, Wong Koh Kee is a heritage favourite that pairs chicken with the city’s other big noodle name, sar hor fun. Come for the poached chicken and prawn sar hor fun combo that regulars order almost by reflex, and stay for the old-shophouse charm of the location, right in the middle of the mural-lined lanes. It is a strictly lunchtime affair, opening late morning and winding down by mid-afternoon, so slot it into a walk around the old town. A great way to eat well and soak up some of Ipoh’s history at the same time.
Operating Hours: 10:30 am – 3:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 3, Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 016-731 3766
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. Yong Meng Chicken Rice Shop
Out in the Bercham neighbourhood, Yong Meng is the kind of neighbourhood chicken rice shop that locals keep to themselves. It runs a morning-to-afternoon service, so it draws the breakfast and early lunch crowd looking for a quick, satisfying plate. The chicken is tender, the rice fragrant, and the whole thing is priced for everyday eating rather than tourist wallets. It is closed on Mondays and tends to sell out its best chicken by the early afternoon, so treat it as a morning mission. If you are staying on the Bercham or Tasek side of town, this is a handy and dependable local pick.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (Closed Monday)
Address: 471, Jalan Bercham, Taman Ramai, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 014-622 8604
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Golden Chicken Rice Ball
If you want your nasi ayam with a twist, Golden Chicken Rice Ball in Taman Medan Bercham serves the classic chicken with rice rolled into warm, bite-sized balls, the Hainanese style more often linked with Melaka. The rice balls are hand-rolled and packed with chicken-fat flavour, which makes them a fun order for kids and a talking point for visitors. The poached chicken is smooth and well-seasoned, and the shop keeps both a lunch and a dinner service, so it is more flexible than most on this list. Modern, clean and family-friendly, it is a good shout when you fancy something a little different from the old-town norm.
Operating Hours: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm & 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 340, Jalan Bercham, Taman Medan Bercham, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 018-790 6788
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. Kedai Ayamas Medan Gopeng
Rounding out the list is the one halal-friendly option for Muslim diners who want in on Ipoh’s chicken obsession. Kedai Ayamas at Medan Gopeng, on the Gunung Rapat side of town, is a halal-certified chicken shop selling roast and fried chicken to take away, along with marinated cuts and ready-to-cook items for the home kitchen. It is grab-and-go rather than a sit-down meal, which makes it perfect for a picnic in the nearby limestone parks or a fuss-free family dinner. The chicken is consistently juicy and the pricing is friendly. A practical, reliable pick when halal certification is the priority.
Operating Hours: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm (Daily)
Address: No. 252, Jalan Sultan Nazrin Shah, Kampung Gunung Rapat, 31350 Ipoh, Perak
Tel: 014-307 1061
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Ipoh gives you the full range of chicken, and the right pick comes down to timing and taste. For a proper plate of nasi ayam, Sam Ma and Pak Kong rarely miss, while the bean sprout chicken purists should head to the Cowan Street stalls or Ann Xin for that classic ayam tauge and kuetiau combo. If you want something to carry away, the salt-baked chicken at Aun Kheng Lim is an Ipoh rite of passage, and Muslim diners have a solid halal option at Kedai Ayamas. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can plan around any of them with confidence.
Just remember that many of these shops are lunch-only and sell out fast, so it is always worth a quick call or a check on Google before you set off. Now round up the family, pick a shop, and make a proper Ipoh chicken run of it this weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which nasi ayam in Ipoh is halal?
Most of Ipoh’s famous bean sprout chicken and chicken rice shops are Chinese-run and not halal. For a halal-certified option, Muslim diners should head to Kedai Ayamas at Medan Gopeng, which sells halal roast and fried chicken to take away. As always, confirm the current certification before you order.
What is ayam tauge, and how is it different from nasi ayam?
Ayam tauge, or bean sprout chicken, is Ipoh’s signature version of the dish: poached chicken served with a big plate of the town’s plump, crunchy bean sprouts and usually a bowl of kuetiau soup. Nasi ayam simply means the chicken is served with rice instead. Many Ipoh shops offer both, so you can mix and match.
What time should I go for nasi ayam in Ipoh?
Go early. A lot of Ipoh chicken shops run a lunchtime service and sell out their best chicken by mid-afternoon, while a few of the old Cowan Street stalls only open in the evening. If you have your heart set on a particular spot, aim to arrive within the first hour or two of opening, especially on weekends.
Where is the best area for nasi ayam in Ipoh?
The Taman Jubilee area around Jalan Theatre and Jalan Yau Tet Shin is the traditional heartland, with several salted chicken and chicken rice shops within walking distance of each other. The old Cowan Street stretch on Jalan Raja Ekram is best for bean sprout chicken, while Bercham has newer family-friendly options.
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.
The post Top 10 Nasi Ayam in Ipoh 2026 appeared first on My Weekend Plan.
