Ipoh

Sometimes, the line between tourist trap and local authentic food is a thin one. Whenever Pasir Pinji's Big Tree Foot Yong Tau Fu is mentioned, I get the same reaction: "it's a freakin' tourist trap!"

Can't believe it had been 10 years since the first time I came to Nam Heong. The coffee shop is busy as usual and customers still come for their freshly baked egg tarts, dim...

Eating is easily the best activity to do in Ipoh. Bean sprout chicken rice, 'kai see hor fun', egg tarts, white coffee, hakka mee, curry mee, ABC, caramel custard, yong tau fu and the list goes on. If you are visiting Ipoh for a 'makan trip' soon, I hope you are going with an empty stomach. Here's a list of 20 must-try food, coffee shops and restaurants to get you started.

Hong Kee makes one of the best egg tarts in Ipoh that are reputed to have a crust with 48 crispy layers. It's a family run business and they get up as early as 3am to bake their pastries and cakes. The products are then delivered fresh to their stall in Weng Seng coffee shop around 6.30am.

Tong Sui Kai (Dessert Street) is one of the most happening eating places in Ipoh after the sun sets. The street is lined with dozens of food stalls mostly selling desserts (hence the name), snacks like rojak, boiled cockles and various noodles.