5 Fabulous Hometown Foods In Taiping, Perak
The recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays gave me a rare opportunity to revisit the sleepy town of Taiping of which I first went on a four-day road trip with a bunch of friends five years ago. Nothing much has changed in this former Perak state capital other than some pocket developments in nearby Kamunting. This overnight stop-over was specifically about food hunting and although Taiping’s scene is no match for neighboring Ipoh’s zest, it is undoubtedly full of charm.
Here are five fabulous hometown foods in Taiping, Perak.
1. Shrimp Noodles – Mee Udang Mak Jah
Kuala Sepetang’s mangroves are a treasure trove of sea creatures and shrimps are no exception. Mak Jah’s shrimp noodles uses fresh-off-the-boat prawns (you know it’s fresh when the crustacean makes a “crunch” sound when you bite it) to entice us city dwellers to a sleepy village 15 km southwest of Taiping. The broth is made up of shrimp stock and chili to give that sweet and spicy combo while the noodles do not feel rubbery at all. If you’re a shrimp lover, they also serve Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp Kuey Teow and Deep-Fried Shrimp to satisfy your cravings!
Mee Udang Mak Jah Kuala Sepetang
10:00 am – 12:00 am, Daily except Wednesdays
Jalan Taiping – Kuala Sepetang
2. Cendol – Cendol Ansari
Ansari is one of the two cendol behemoths in Taiping (the other being Cendol Bismillah) and this giant is a delectable thirst quencher. The “restaurant” is a hole-in-the-wall that fits at most ten tables but most customers opt to take out, seen by the long lines in front of the shop. As for the cendol, it’s all home-made from the generous green worms to the thick batch of brown sugar syrup. My favorite bit is their pulut – the glutinous rice is wrapped in banana leaf and grilled (panggang) before added into this bowl of sweet icy goodness.
Restoran Ansari Famous Cendol
11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Daily except closed on alternate Saturdays
Corner of Jalan Barrack – Jalan Chung Thye Pin
Read Also: 6 Foods For A Full-Course Meal In Langkawi, Malaysia
3. Fried Mamak Noodles – Mee Combat
If you’re looking for the peanut-based fried mamak noodles made famous by Penangites, you won’t find it here. Mee Combat, at the Larut Matang Hawker Centre ( fondly known by locals as Cashier Market), is fried with a glaring red super-secret sauce that has a strong shrimp taste, owing to the prevalence of this crustacean in Taiping cuisine. Still, it is loved by locals as they tend to order from 5 – 10 packs at one go. The noodles is made to order in a giant wok so you’ll be guaranteed a piping hot Mee Combat ready for battle.
Gerai Makanan Mee Combat
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Daily
Larut Matang Hawker Centre, Jalan Panggung Wayang
4. Roti Jantan – Bukit Larut Entrance
Roughly translated as “manly bread,” Roti Jantan is basically two slices of thick toast slathered with butter then topped with two runny half-boiled eggs and a scoop of baked beans. It might look like a pile of mess but once you douse it with some soy sauce and white pepper, this soaked bread tastes as wholesome as a set of big breakfast. Located at the foothills of the famous Bukit Larut, this morning meal is ideal for hikers preparing to take on the hill’s 13 km trail to the peak.
Bukit Larut Entrance
7:00 am – 12:00 pm, Daily
Bukit Larut Administration Office, Jalan Bukit Larut
Read Also: Muar, Johor – 5 Meals That Embody “Southern Comfort”
5. Hainanese Chicken Chop – Yut Sun Restaurant
Yut Sun Restaurant is one of those establishments that has stood the test of time – it probably looked the same if your grandfather were to have his lunch in 1967. As far as its Hainanese fare goes, the Chicken Chop is one of the most popular dishes. The chicken is fried in a thin golden batter, drenched in brown sauce and accompanied by sprinkling of peas, sliced tomato and sauteed potatoes. The meat wasn’t really tender but the batter, sauce and potatoes really stood out in what turns out to be a fulfilling lunch.
Yut Sun Restaurant
8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Daily except Sundays
Corner of Jalan Pasar – Jalan Lim Tee Hooi
What’s your favorite food in Taiping? Did I miss any must-try dishes that’s worth a second visit? Let me know in the comments below!
Semuanya nampak delicious… , nak coba roti jantan 🙂 🙂 keliatannya mudah dibuat.
Iya kan? Kalau ada roti tebal, bisa dibuat di rumah aja.
Jadi kalau ada masa main ke Ipoh, bisa sekalian mampir ke Taiping ini ya?
Btw, Roti Jantan itu unik sekali. Cuma mungkin saya gak akan coba, karena kurang begitu suka dengan telur setengah matang. O iya, kenapa disebut Roti Jantan, ada histori nya kah?
Cara paling mudah selain mobil adalah menaiki kereta api dari Ipoh mengambil 1-2 jam. Antara Taiping dengan Ipoh adalah Kuala Kangsar, kota diraja kalau berminat belajar mengenai kesultanan Perak.
Kebiasaan roti bakar hanya dimakan sekeping dan sebiji telur. Roti Jantan pula ditambahnya roti, telur dan kacang!
Wah ternyata Negara Bagian Perak seru juga ya. Beberapa kali aku pernah dengar soal Kuala Kangsar, dan baru tahu kalau itu di Perak juga. Terimakasih penjelasannya Dan 🙂
Hehehe aku pikir kata Jantan nya karena ada hubungannya dengan kejantanan. Soalnya telur setengah matang selalu identik dengan menaikkan kejantanan pria.
Terimakasih penjelasannya Dan. Anyway, artikelmu simple dan menarik. Enak dibacanya 🙂
Escendol nya seger benerrrr
I don’t know why, but I always love to order that fried mamak noodles when I am in Malaysia. Love the taste!
And, of course, I love the cendol too! Haha :9
Yes, mamak noodles and cendol pairs well for a tea time snack!
Sepertinya bisa bikin sendiri yang Roti Jantan. Tapi sebagai penggemar mie, aku penasaran dengan mie Mamak-nya.
Iya, Roti Jantan bisa bikin sendiri di rumah aja!
Favorit Babang Trav Cendol Ansari. enak banget kayaknya 😱
That cendol though. 😀
The gula merah is legit!
Now I feel like getting one myself. At this hour! haha
I’m think i’m so familiar with Cendol – Cendol, it’s look like a Cendol in Indonesia, maybe with different ingredients and recipe 😀
Yes, it’s not that different from Es Cendol in Indonesia!