[Ipoh] My Grab driver recommended me to Tong Sui Kai 糖水街 in Ipoh, since it is also near Ipoh Parade shopping mall.
Situated along Jalan Sultan Ekram next to Sam Tet Primary School (SRJK Sam Tet), Tong Sui Kai is about a 10-minute walk from the mall, popular for its late-night offerings.
From the name Tong Sui Kai or “Dessert Street”, I initially thought it would be filled with many dessert stalls. But not quite.
The food selection here is vast, with nearly 50 stalls offering a mix of local delights, such as Bee Noodles, Popiah, Lok Lok, Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun, Wanton Mee, Bak Kut Teh, and Pangkor Curry Noodles.
Note that the row of hawker stalls mainly comes alive in the evenings, so do arrive after 5pm.
The atmosphere is typical of an open-air street food market – simple plastic chairs and tables placed beside the stalls, with the constant buzz of cars and foot traffic.
It does get tricky when it rains though, which happened the few nights I was there.
If you spot something you really want to eat, order it (rather than wait to come down on another night). I came to realise some stalls have sporadic opening days – learnt it the hard way.
Here are some of the stalls I spotted at Tong Sui Kai:
Cheong Kee Beef Noodles (Stall No 47)
My absolute favourite stall here. Cheong Kee is a popular spot known for its Beef Noodles, lauded for its savoury and aromatic beef broth that’s been simmered for hours.
The soup may look light and plain, but it was so flavourful – slow-cooked for hours with real beef stock.
The kuey teow was very glide-down-the-throat smooth, and well paired with the tender beef parts and flavourful beef balls as well.
Wai Wai Wan Tan Mee (Stall No 44)
I have come to appreciate all different styles of Wanton Mee, and this stall does have its own take (RM 8).
The egg noodles cooked till softer, tossed in a dark savoury sauce (reminds me of the Ipoh Horfun sauce) that quite complement the char siew and tender wontons. Not bad.
Chee Cheong Fun (Stall No 45)
I ordered the smooth and silky Mushroom Chicken Chee Cheong Fun (RM6), which pairs the delicate rice noodles with tender chicken and mushrooms for a comforting bite. Good stuff.
For those who prefer a bit of spice, there is the Spicy Chee Cheong Fun (RM6.00), offering a fiery kick. A more unique option is the Curry Pork Skin Chee Cheong Fun (RM6.00), blending the soft noodles with savoury curry sauce and pork skin.
Popiah (Stall No 23)
For freshly made Popiah (RM4)- soft spring roll filled with a mixture of finely sliced vegetables, crispy bits, and a dash of sweet sauce.
Dessert Stall (Stall No 41)
The stall’s mixed fruit ice dessert offering includes a mountain of shaved ice topped with various fresh fruits such as mango, watermelon, and longan, drizzled with rose syrup and condensed milk.
I ordered the usual Ais Kacang (RM6) that comes with a scoop of ice cream and some salted peanuts add an extra layer of texture and flavour.
Good for sharing and perfect after a warm day exploring Ipoh.
While there are many food stalls, there are a couple of repeated items, such as Ais Kachang and Wanton Mee – some stalls are better than the others, slightly.
Tong Sui Kai is a must-visit for dessert lovers and those looking to experience authentic Ipoh street food.
The food may not always blow you away, and dining by the roadside may not be your cup of tea, but that’s the charm of the place.
Tong Sui Kai
Jalan Carey, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 5pm – 11:30pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues
Google Maps – Tong Sui Kai
Other Related Entries
Thean Chun Coffee Shop 天津茶室 (Ipoh)
Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee 长江白咖啡 (Ipoh)
Restoran Tuck Kee 怡保德记 (Ipoh)
Canning Garden Chee Cheong Fun (Ipoh)
Big Mom Beancurd 靓妈豆花店 (Ipoh)
Read: Other DFD IPOH Food Entries
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Telegram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
