If you plan a trip to Teluk Intan and want to explore the town’s culinary scene, you’re at the right place. The town is home to many descendants of the Malay and Chinese people who have been running food businesses for generations. Some of the most famous Teluk Intan food outlets have been passed down from generation to generation for more than fifty years.
In this article, we will share our personal experiences of the eateries we visited in Teluk Intan. Our food journey included trying out various local delicacies such as Chee Cheong Fun (flat rice noodles), rojak (local fruit salad), the famous mee rebus, traditional Chinese biscuits, and freshly fried prawns from four giant woks. As we had only stayed overnight in Teluk Intan, we focused on Teluk Intan’s most unique and famous foods. We aim to provide insight into what you can expect to eat in Teluk Intan. Our review, written from the perspective of someone who has been in the food industry for two decades, will be helpful to you.
Here is the list of the eateries we visited during our trip:
1. Liew Kee (Ah Lek) Chee Cheong Fun
Liew Kee (Ah Lek) Chee Cheong Fun is a unique eatery in Teluk Intan. The owner told us that if we hadn’t tried their food, our trip to Teluk Intan would not be complete, and we entirely agreed with him.
We arrived at the eatery around noon and were fortunate that they were open despite usually being closed on Mondays. They had opened that day due to a particular order from a customer. We noticed they were expanding into the next lot as some renovation was underway.
The shop mainly focuses on takeaways and has only a few tables. The rest of the space is used as a large kitchen for production.
We were fortunate to be given a tour of the production area where they made Chee Cheong Fun. What intrigued me was that it was the first time I had seen rice noodles made using a semi-automatic process.
The batter is poured into a rectangular tray and then topped with a unique blend of fried yam beans (jicama/sengkuang) and dry shrimp. The tray is then placed onto a conveyor belt, slowly transporting the noodles into a steamer, where they are cooked.
The secret recipe has been passed down to the third generation. Although a few shops with similar names sell Chee Cheong Fun, this is the original Teluk Intan Chee Cheong Fun, indicated by the round logo.
Unique Chee Cheong Frun Liew Kee
The packaging of the takeaway noodles is unique., It includes the noodles cut into small pieces and nicely arranged and two wooden skewers for you to pick up the noodles. It is also packed with marinated green chili to be eaten with the noodles. The owner told us that the noodles can last a full day at room temperature. If I want to keep them longer, keep them in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or freeze them for up to a week.
The Chee Cheong Fun is freshly made, and we can still taste the crispiness of the yam bean. The filling has a slightly darker color because it is fried. Its presentation of color, texture, and flavor is unique. I have never tried this kind of rice noodles anywhere else before. It differs from the Chee Cheong Fun from Penang, Ipoh, or Hong Kong. The silky smooth noodles provide a blank canvas to highlight the unique savory flavor of the filling. It is a must-try if you come to Teluk Intan because of its uniqueness.
Watch the video we shot at Teluk Inta at the end of this article 👇👇.
2. Mastan Ghani
During our food trip, we visited Mastan Ghani, a restaurant the same family has operated for four generations. The young lady running the restaurant informed us that there are several branches of Mastan Ghani, all family-owned and mostly located in Teluk Intan, with one outlet in Ipoh, Silibin. The restaurant is known for its signature dishes, mee rebus, rojak, and chicken rice, which are highly recommended.
The store is usually crowded with customers, especially during the festive season. Besides serving dine-in customers, the restaurant constantly fulfills numerous takeout orders.
The Mee Rebus dish is made with typical yellow noodles. The ingredients include fried prawn fritters, green chili, boiled egg, bean sprouts, tofu, and fried onion. The noodles have a well-balanced taste and mild spiciness that perfectly tantalizes my taste buds.
My wife particularly enjoyed the taste of the rojak dish. The chicken rice is also quite delicious and comparable to other traditional Chinese chicken shops. It is a great option for those looking for halal chicken rice when they come to Teluk Intan.
3. Kedai Biskut Sin Guan Hoe
Teluk Intan is well-known for its traditional Chinese bakeries that have been passed down as family businesses for generations. We stopped by Sin Guan Hoe, a renowned Chinese bakery specializing in Heong Peah (fragrant biscuit/香饼), a flaky Chinese pastry filled with sesame and sugar. Although they offer many other traditional Chinese bakery items, the Heong Peah is their most famous in-house product.
The Heong Peah at Sin Guan Hoe is moderately sweet compared to others, which we tried elsewhere. I believe they reckon people have become more concerned about sugar intake in recent years, and the amount used in the pastry has been reduced accordingly.
They also offer a plain pastry version without the filling for those who prefer no sweetness. The pastry is incredibly flaky and makes for a great snack or afternoon tea accompaniment.
4. Sin Joo Heong Confectionery
We visited a confectionery producing the famous Tiger Head Brand biscuit during our trip.
The shop is well-known for its traditional Chinese pastry, 马蹄酥, with sweet filling encased in crispy shells.
As Chinese New Year approaches, we purchase some 马蹄酥 to bring back to Kuala Lumpur as a gift for our families and friends.
Sin Joo Heong has been in business since 1962. We have enjoyed their Tiger Head Brand biscuits since childhood.
5. Restoran M Gulam Rasul
This restaurant in Teluk Intan is quite famous, with multiple outlets. Since we were staying near Changkat Jong, we decided to visit the outlet closest to us.
Plenty of parking lots are available on a side street near the restaurant. Even though it was already 8:00 pm when we arrived, the restaurant was still bustling with customers, which is a testament to the quality of their food.
We ordered the chicken biryani, beef stew, tandoori, and tosai. The food we received was of a high standard, consistent with the positive online reviews we had read.
We spoke with the person in charge, who was from Pakistan. This could explain why the food here differs slightly from what’s served at a local Mamak or Malay store, possibly due to the owner’s background.
The restaurant offers a wide range of dishes, from pre-cooked options served with rice to freshly made rotis. It operates 24 hours, which means you can have a meal here any time of the day.
6. Kedai Kopi Ah Wah 阿华茶室
The next day, we decided to try out a local coffee shop that had received many positive reviews online. The cafe was an old traditional Chinese establishment run by the owner’s family, operating it since 1947. Despite its age, the shop was well-maintained and had been renovated recently. The signboard is huge and prominent.
We ordered the famous curry noodles, clear soup noodles, and coffee. The curry noodles had a unique side dish flavored with whole spices like star anise and cardamom. This was my first time seeing such a dish in a coffee shop.
The flavor of the curry noodles was similar to Ipoh curry noodles, with a hint of coconut milk. The ingredients included chicken meat, fish cake, fish balls, and Cha Siu. The clear soup noodles have similar ingredients with the addition of marinated pork.
Although the accompaniment of the curry noodles is unique, the taste of the noodles is not exceptional.
7. Nasi Kandar Krishnan
We went for lunch to try Nasi Kandar Krishnan, a famous open-air restaurant in Teluk Intan. They have an extensive selection of food with more than 30 different types. You can scoop whatever food you like to serve with rice or noodles.
The most famous items are the fried chicken and prawns. It’s quite an unusual scene because the prawns and chickens are fried nonstop in four giant woks with covers. Customers were gathered before it to wait for the freshly fried prawns and chicken from the wok to be poured into a large tray, where they immediately grabbed whatever favorite pieces they liked. You can see the satisfying expression on their faces when they pick up those incredibly crispy chicken and prawns.
I particularly like the fried prawns, which are juicy and very fresh. Besides, other dishes are similar in flavor and price to many other Mamak restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.
8. Rojak Ah Chai
The last famous Teluk Intan food we tried before returning to Kuala Lumpur was Ah Chai Rojak. It is just next to the main market of Teluk Intan, and it operates with a permanent trishaw cart. Although tables and chairs were available, most customers preferred the takeaway fruit rojak. This rojak type differs from the one we tried at Mastan Ghani yesterday.
The store is run by two brothers who always wear masks and gloves for cleanliness. The rojak has multiple fresh fruits such as beansprouts, cucumber, pineapple, yam bean, kangkung (water convolvulus), guava, mango, squid, and prawn fritters. The secret ingredient that makes this rojak so famous is the sauce, which is their trade secret. I couldn’t decipher what made the rojak so special, but it was delicious. We tried and guessed that it might include dark soy sauce, caramelized sugar, chili, shrimp paste, and possibly Taucu.
My wife loved it and said it was one of the best fruit salads she’s ever had. We are sure that we will return whenever we visit Teluk Intan.
Watch the video we shot at Teluk Intan👇👇.
Other eateries that we did not cover
As mentioned earlier, trying all the Teluk Intan food within a short stay is impossible. Therefore, we cannot comment on or review any food or restaurants we have not tried. This includes the food court in Teluk Intan, the bak kut teh store mentioned by some bloggers, and an array of seafood restaurants along the riverfront. However, we will try these items during our next visit to continue our Teluk Intan food hunt.
Teluk Intan offers many activities for visitors to enjoy besides its unique cuisine. Numerous historic buildings were constructed during the British administration era, which reflects its old name, Teluk Anson. The old police station and courthouse are among the most notable ones. The Leaning Tower is the main attraction located in the town’s center. Please read our article detailing what to see in Teluk Intan.