20 Must-try Restaurants and Street Food in Kampar

Kampar is our hometown—a small town in Perak known for its diverse range of unique foods. Whenever we return, we always take the opportunity to visit the stalls and restaurants intertwined with countless memories and emotions. While it may be true that not everyone will appreciate the food herein Kampar, many types are unique and only available here.

We grew up enjoying these foods, many of which have been passed down through generations. In this article, we will recount our recent trip back to Kampar, exploring the familiar food stalls and discovering some new eateries that have emerged since we left for opportunities in the bigger city.

1. 安记 Beef Noodles

This is one of the street food stalls that has been passed down through generations. I vividly remember the original stall was on a side road beneath a big tree in an open-air area. I first tried the food there about 40 years ago, and surprisingly, the taste remains unchanged! It’s incredible how this heritage and flavor have been religiously preserved through the years.

While the noodles were not exceptional, the braised beef truly stood out. The most significant flavor contributing to its uniqueness is dried tangerine peel 陈皮. Also, the daikon in the stew was so tasty, as it absorbed all the flavors from the broth.

The handmade beef balls had a delightfully springy texture. The beef tendon was chewy, and the beef itself was very tender and aromatic. We ordered the soup noodles, which were garnished with chopped green onions. 

I highly recommend trying this beef noodle. It is one of the best in Kampar.

2. Kedai Hong Kee 洪记鱼蛋老鼠粉档

This stall is renowned for its fish balls, a Kampar specialty. It offers a Kampar version of the Ampang Yong Tau Foo in Kuala Lumpur. While both are primarily made with fish, pork, and tofu, the flavor of Kampar’s version is quite distinct from that of Kuala Lumpur.

We had the 炸丸 (deep-fried fish balls) made from a blend of fish meat and flour. Another specialty was their pork balls, which combine cuttlefish pieces for added flavor. Another specialty is the fried crispy yam bean, popular in Kampar and Ipoh.

This stall serves one of the best fish balls in Kampar, and I highly recommend trying these local specialties.

3. Kelapa Lelehhh Kampor

If you have a sweet tooth and enjoy ice cream, wafers, and chocolate, you should check out the dessert house Kelapa Lelehhh Kampor. This unique shop is located along the trunk road from Tapah on the way to Kampar.

At first, we thought it was just another generic dessert house like many others. However, after browsing the menu, we realized that their specialties are one-of-a-kind, and you won’t find anything quite like them elsewhere. 

The dessert we ordered included five scoops of colorful ice cream, a Magnum stick, sweet corn, and numerous other toppings. It was all served with fresh coconut flesh on a halved coconut. It even included a piece of Oreo, a wafer, and marshmallows. What a delightful combination and beautiful presentation!

We also ordered their signature, Lombok,  a twist on the Chinese sweet 莲子羹. It included coconut water and shredded coconut flesh, served right in the coconut! Adding coconut water and flesh gives it a distinct taste from the traditional 莲子羹. It was incredibly refreshing on a hot afternoon!

We spoke to the owner of the Kelapa Lehhh Kampor, who told us that the shop has been open for eight years and has gained popularity recently thanks to social media. The name of the dessert house comes from his wife—“Leleh” in Malay means “to drip,” referring to how the desserts overflow onto the plate beneath the coconut.

The dessert house is open every day except Monday, starting at 4:00 PM. In addition to desserts, they also serve a variety of dinner items, including pasta, burgers, grilled dishes, and tom yum soup.

Address: Kampung Batu Berangkai, 31900 Kampar, Perak. GPS: 8534+8R Kampar, Perak

4. 水记 (Kampar Market)

On our first day, after visiting the alley filled with murals, we had dinner at the store called 水记, which offers a variety of street food, including 猪肠粉 (Chee Cheong Fun / flat rice noodles), 花生糊 (groundnut paste), 芋头糕 (taro cake), and 糯米饭 (glutinous rice).

The Chee Cheong Fun was served with fried springy pork skin. We ordered two types: one with soy sauce, green chili pickles, and fried shallots and another with a thin but flavorful curry sauce. The deep-fried pork skin absorbed the curry flavor, making it very tasty. 

The glutinous rice was served with Char Siu (Chinese barbecue pork) cut into small pieces. I particularly enjoyed the barbecue pork because it was leaner than other stores, making it a healthier choice. It was also accompanied by crunchy fried ground peanuts, which complimented the soft and sticky texture of the glutinous rice very well. I would rate it high on the list of the best street food in Kampar.

If you’re new to Malaysian street food, try a drink made from the leaves of a plant called 崩大碗 (Malay: Pegaga, English: Gotu Kola). This drink is unique and is not commonly served in many other places, especially outside of Malaysia. It has a grassy flavor that is sweetened with sugar. While it may be an acquired taste, it’s worth trying.

5. Rice congee stall (Kampar Market)

We also ordered some congee from a congee stall. Although it has no specific name, it’s marked stall  No. 52.

I want to highlight this stall because the congee was incredibly smooth. They offer three different types: chicken, fish, and pork. We ordered the chicken, which was poached to perfection—smooth and flavorful, with silky and springy skin. We returned for another round of chicken and congee the night after our first visit. Another reason I loved this place was that the price was far more than reasonable. 

We returned to the market for breakfast the following day, knowing that a different set of stalls would open than the night before.

6. 咸角仔 Ham Kok Zai (Kampar Market)

Before entering the street food complex, we stopped by a small stall selling a unique item called 咸角仔 (Ham Kok Zai). 

This small dumpling is made with glutinous rice flour and primarily filled with yam beans. What makes this stall special is its long history, as it has been a family business for generations. The young man in the picture is the third generation of the family business, having taken over from his grandmother. Watching the accompanying video, you can hear an old Chinese woman’s voice repeatedly calling 咸角仔. Since his grandmother stopped working, the young man and his father have used this voice recording to promote the dumplings. 

7. Kuih Muih Fong & Ming 芳与明糕饼之家 (Kampar Market)

After that, we entered the street food complex and dropped by a stall that collectively sells local desserts called Kuih. Most of the Kuihs are mainly made with sugar and flour. We bought only one piece of each to try since we still had a lot more food tasting to do on our list.

8. Chee Cheong Fun stall (Kampar Market)

We had another round of Chee Cheong Fun for breakfast, which tasted quite different from what we had the previous night at 水记. The noodles were steamed with embedded spring onions and dried shrimp. Before serving, the noodles were topped with crispy shallots and roasted sesame seeds. The texture of the noodles was very smooth, and the combination of the condiments complemented the noodles perfectly. 

I prefer this stall over the one we had at night. It is very famous, yet surprisingly, it does not have a signboard.

9. Ice Blended stall No 25 高高冰沙 (Kampar Market)

We didn’t want to miss out on another famous stall on social media that sells ice-blended items: stall 25. In Chinese, it is called 高高冰沙, which means “tall ice blended drink.” The uniqueness of this drink is that it is extremely tall, way surpassing the height of the glass. We ordered a blend of almond powder with Milo, which the lady boss recommended. It cost us over RM15, which was considered pricy by Kampar’s standard, but the quantity was so generous that we ultimately asked for empty glasses to be shared among the three of us. We requested less sweet, and she graciously accommodated our request. The combination was unique and is another food item you should not miss.

10. Stall 26 金宝美味炸虾饼 Cucur Udang (Kampar Market)

Instead of only buying the prawn fritters from this stall, we ended up trying other kuih and puffs that the owner promoted to us.

One of the unique items was the fried Chinese barbecue pork puffs (叉烧角), which they made on the spot. We also tried the prawn fritters, which were very crunchy and with whole shrimp, complete with heads and shells on top.

A special local kuih worth mentioning is 碗仔糕 (literally means cupcake). It is made with rice flour and topped with preserved pickles (the salty version) or added flavor with pandan (screwpine leaves) and shredded coconut (the sweet version). This street food is a specialty of Kampar, and very few other places serve it.

11. 搓粉仔 (Kampar Market)

We also ordered 搓粉仔, which are handmade short noodles typically measuring about two to three inches long. These noodles are stir-fried mainly with long beans and dark soy sauce, then topped with roasted sesame seeds. While I wouldn’t describe it as the best food in Kampar, it is unique to Kampar, so it’s worth trying them since you may not find them anywhere else.

Note: My brother-in-law purchased this from a store, but I couldn’t remember the stall’s name. However, you can ask any hawkers here for recommendations on which stall sells 搓粉仔 for you to try.

12. Char Keow Teow (凳仔炒粉) (Kampar Market)

Finally, we ordered the famous Char Kuey Teow, which the hawker fried while sitting on a small stool. His unique method of frying the noodles while seated has become an iconic symbol of this stall. This distinctive approach has contributed to its fame, resulting in long queues of customers eagerly waiting to be served.

We placed our order, and receiving our noodles took more than 30 minutes. The fried noodles were fried with raw cockles, Chinese chives, scrambled eggs, and bean sprouts. The noodles were slightly charred to enhance the wok aroma. 

While the flavor was satisfactory, Char Keow Teow of similar quality can be found elsewhere.

13. Restoran IQA Corner Nasi Wanggey Malim Nawar

Food in Kampar is not just Chinese food. So we went to Malim Nawar for lunch at Restoran IQA Corner Nasi Wanggey.

The restaurant has a large parking area in front and is a stand-alone shop with an open-air design. Despite it being without air conditioning in the open area, it is spotless and cool.

The owner told us that she is Malaysian and has Pakistani heritage. The food served here is halal, and we were particularly impressed by the cleanliness of the entire place.

After finding a seat, we ordered our favorite drinks from the menu. However, we had to go to the counter to choose the dishes we wanted for the rice.

We tried the signature dish, Nasi Wanggey, served with sambal kelapa, acar, and a drizzle of a combination of six types of curries. Although it is usually served with white rice, today they made a special dish for us: Biryani Ayam Wanggey (Wanggey biryani rice with chicken).

In addition, we sampled their deep-fried onion chicken, which is dressed with a spicy onion sauce.

The combination of the six curries was absolutely delicious. Overall, the quality of the dishes exceeded our expectations. With the cleanliness of the restaurant and the friendly staff, I highly recommend dining here to enjoy Ayam Wanggey.

Address:18/2G, JALAN MALIM NAWAR, Jalan Kampung Changkat Baru, 31700 Malim Nawar, Perak. GPS: 84R4+F7 Malim Nawar, Perak

14. Wings Cottage Restaurant 荣华阁

On the second day of our visit to Kampar, we went on an eating spree from the afternoon until night. Our first stop was the Wings Cottage Restaurant around 5 p.m.

Knowing we would visit two more eateries later, we ordered the lighter dishes. 

We started with Rojak, a Malaysian fruit salad with delicious peanut sauce. The ingredients included pineapple, yambean, cucumber, and more. While the choice of ingredients was quite common, the peanut sauce stood out and was a hit with all of us.

Next, we ordered squid with paku, a type of local fern. Usually, this dish is made with kangkung (water spinach), so substituting it with Paku made it exceptionally unique. I particularly enjoyed paku, which was one of my favorite dishes.

We also tried the fried mango chicken dressed in a Thai-inspired sauce. It had a perfect balance of sweetness and spiciness.

Although it is a small shop, I felt cozy and inviting here. The owner, a friendly lady, mentioned that they also cater for various occasions and arrange buffet services and home delivery.

Address: 2305, Jln Kolej, Taman Bandar Baru, 31900 Kampar, Perak. GPS: 84GV+X8 Kampar, Perak.

15. 威记四会赖粉 Wai Kee Sei Wu Lai Fan

Although it was raining heavily, we were determined to continue our food hunt. Our next destination was a famous rice noodle stall called 威记四会赖粉, located at New Wah Loong in Kampar, which opens only at night. We arrived slightly early to avoid the dinner crowd.

I couldn’t find a proper English translation for this type of noodle, so I’ll refer to it phonetically as Lai Fun. These noodles are primarily made from rice, and the stall has existed since 1973. My wife and her family have been patrons of this place since they were young.

The Lai Fun has a texture quite different from others. All the noodles are handmade, and my wife loves the texture, but it isn’t what I was looking for. In short, the noodles tasted a bit flat and were not very springy. However, it was probably just me, as the stall is always full of customers. The noodles were served dry or with clear or curry soup.

Address: 29, Jalan 12, New Wah Loong, 31900 Kampar, Perak. GPS: 845W+HX Kampar, Perak.

16. Restoran Heng Kee 慶記馳名瓦煲雞飯

Visit Restoran Heng Kee to try the famous Kampar clay pot rice. This restaurant has been operating for over sixty years.

The menu primarily features clay pot rice and some items such as vegetables to accompany the rice. 

The rice was cooked from the raw state in clay pots over an open fire using charcoal. The clay pots and stoves were lined up on a large counter in front of the restaurant. I enjoyed watching the cooking process, from the prepared rice to the finishing touch of adding chicken on top.

There are two types of clay pot rice. The first type is the more common version, mixed with a sauce primarily consisting of dark soy sauce. As the cooking process nears completion, marinated chicken, salted fish, Chinese sausage, and other ingredients are placed directly on the rice, covered, and simmered until perfectly cooked.

The second type is the white version. The chicken is placed on a small plate before being added to the cooked rice. While the chicken and rice continued to cook together, the gravy from the chicken spilled over the plate into the rice.

We ordered both versions to share, and both were delicious. I particularly liked the white version because it was unique and something I couldn’t find anywhere else.

Address: 86, Jln Idris, Kampung Masjid, 31900 Kampar, Perak. GPS:8562+XX Kampar, Perak.

17. Laksa stall at Gold Wing

The Laksa from this stall is quite special because it combines Penang-style Laksa with braised pork ribs and intestines in soy sauce. While both Penang-style Laksa and braised pork in soy sauce are common, I’ve never seen them mixed in one bowl of noodles. The combination is surprisingly delicious. If you’re interested in trying this unique food in Kampar, this may be the only stall where you can find it.

18. Rice congee stall at Gold Wing

The second stall serves chicken and fish congee. The poached chicken was decent, but the fish congee was better as it was made with 鮸鱼 sliced on the spot, which makes it extremely fresh. Personally, I prefer the congee served at the Kampar Market at night for its texture.

19. Curry chicken Bread (面包鸡) at Yau Kee Restaurant

Yau Kee restaurant started the craze and hype of chicken curry bread from Kampar. Nowadays, many restaurants offer similar dishes, but they are the original creators. For this reason, we decided to visit them and try their chicken curry bread.

This famous food in Kampar is not particularly difficult to make. It’s all about combining a loaf of bread with local curry chicken. In this case, bone-in, skin-on chicken chunks are wrapped in parchment paper to prevent the gravy from leaking into the dough. The curry is then encased in the dough and baked to perfection. This creative idea has captured a lot of attention and become quite popular.

We ordered one loaf for our lunch, and the taste was just okay. The bread and chicken flavors were quite ordinary. So, it’s more about experiencing the creativity and originality that created the chicken curry bread,.

Address: 55 & 57, Jln Idris, Kampung Masjid, 31900 Kampar, Perak. GPS: 8562+MW Kampar, Perak.

On our way back to Kuala Lumpur, we stopped in Temoh, a small town about a 10-minute drive from Kampar. While there isn’t much to see in Temoh, it is home to two eateries that attract the attention of many travelers along this trunk road. One is a coffee shop specializing in unique buns, while the other offers traditional Malaysian Chinese seafood.

20. 地摩 南商茶室 Kedai Kopi Nam Seong Temoh

Our list of the best food in Kampar also includes those within a short drive. So we were at Kedai Kopi Nam Seong in Temoh, famous for its homemade buns. The signature bun has fermented bean curd braised pork (南乳猪肉) as the filling. So far, this is the only place I know that sells these buns. The buns were usually ready at 2 p.m. When we arrived at the shop, it was already packed with people waiting for the buns. It wasn’t easy to get one because they made a limited amount, but we were fortunate to grab the last one, along with the coffee and other types of buns we ordered.

The texture of the bun feels quite homemade, which is different from the Hong Kong-style steamed buns. Compared to the Hong Kong version, it is less fluffy and slightly yellowish. That is precisely why people love it, as they appreciate this traditional texture. If you ever take this trunk road to Kampar, it’s worth stopping to grab a bun, as you may never find anything like it anywhere else.

Address: Jalan Besar, 35350 Temoh, Perak. GPS: 65VW+88 Temoh, Perak.

Bonus: Nam Hing Loong Restaurant 南兴隆海鲜饭店

We had lunch at Nam Hing Loong Restaurant before returning to Kuala Lumpur. This restaurant is located directly opposite Nam Seong Coffee Shop.

Nam Hing Loong is in an old shop lot, just like the Nam Seong. Most neighboring shops are no longer operating, so this restaurant is the only bustling spot in the entire row of shops. Initially, I thought it was without air conditioning, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it cozy and well-decorated inside.

We ordered signature dishes: Kung Pao snakehead (宫保生鱼片), salted egg paku (咸蛋巴古菜), tofu topped with dried shrimp and shallots (菜香豆腐), and chicken wings.

The Kung Pao snakehead stood out among the other dishes due to its crunchy texture. It was prepared with dried chili, green onions, ginger, carrots, lettuce, button mushrooms, and baby corn.

Address: 88, Jalan Besar, 35350 Temoh, Perak. GPS: 65VW+7C Temoh, Perak. 

That is the entire list of food and restaurants we tried in Kampar. While comprehensive, we know it’s incomplete, as many more food stalls are yet to be explored. However, it should cover all the major stalls in Kampar. Now it’s your turn to start your food hunt! Go to Kampar and have the real experience in person. Good luck, and enjoy your food journey!

There are many worthy places to visit around Kampar. Please check out our article “12 Best Places to Visit in Kampar,” which provides detailed information about things to do here.

🎞️ Watch the video of the restaurants and street food in Kampar

Please watch the video we made for our trip on YouTube. As below: