Restoran Thean Chun 天津茶室 — Restaurant in Perak

🍜Thean Chun, also known as the "House of Mirrors," is a renowned coffee shop located at 73 Jalan Bandar Timah in Ipoh's Old Town. Established decades ago, it has become a staple for both locals and tourists seeking authentic Malaysian street food in a nostalgic kopitiam setting.

Signature Dishes:

Kai See Hor Fun (Chicken and Prawn Flat Rice Noodles): This dish features flat rice noodles in a flavorful prawn-based broth, topped with shredded chicken and prawns. Despite its simple appearance, the clear broth is surprisingly rich in flavor.

Caramel Custard: An unexpected offering in a traditional coffee shop, this dessert is praised for its smooth texture and delightful caramel flavor. It's a must-try for visitors.

Satay: Thean Chun offers a variety of satay, including pork and pork liver skewers, served with a delicious sauce. The pork liver satay, in particular, is noted for its unique taste and texture.

Chee Cheong Fun: Steamed rice rolls that can be enjoyed with different sauces, such as curry or sweet sauce. This dish adds to the diverse culinary experience at Thean Chun.

Ambiance:

Thean Chun exudes a nostalgic charm, reminiscent of classic Malaysian coffee shops. Its bustling atmosphere, especially during peak hours, reflects its popularity. The interior maintains traditional decor, offering a glimpse into Ipoh's rich heritage.

Location and Accessibility:

Conveniently situated near Concubine Lane, Thean Chun is easily accessible for those exploring Ipoh's historical sites. Its central location makes it a perfect spot to take a break and enjoy local delicacies.

Customer Reviews:

With over 430 reviews on Tripadvisor, Thean Chun holds a 4.0 out of 5 rating, indicating consistent appreciation from its patrons. Reviewers often highlight the quality of the food, the nostalgic ambiance, and the efficient service.

Operating Hours:

Thean Chun typically operates from morning until mid-afternoon. It's advisable to arrive early, especially on weekends, to secure a table and enjoy the full range of offerings.

In summary, Thean Chun offers a quintessential Ipoh dining experience, combining traditional dishes with a historic setting. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local resident, it's a must-visit spot to savor the...

I bet this place has been blogged, shared and recommended many times!

Located at 二奶街 （concubine street), this is a joint visited by locals but flooded by tourists nowadays.

What you have to do: pop in to the coffee shop look for a table (expect crowd) like you are in a food court. go to individual store and order what you like

What should you try? Ipoh hor fan (first store at the entrance) satay chang fen (next to satay store) poh piang (this is at the next door coffee shop) pudding (from drinks store)

Price at this joint is exceptionally affordable. For 5 pax, we ordered whatever there is to try and bill didn’t come up over $100.

Ipoh hor fan this was served hot with flavorful soup. Hor fan is smooth and slurps with no issue. Topped with good serving of boiled chicken and small prawn, this is one of the must try.

Satay what’s unique? Pork liver satay! Literally pork liver and this is my first time having grilled pork liver. It’s cooked to perfection, beautiful texture and the grilling eliminate any porky taste/ smell. The chicken and pork satay was tender and comes along with nice grilled aroma.

Chang fen now, if you are a fan of chang fen and is used to the ones you had in SG, you have to try this. It’s served with the same hor fan as the Ipoh sar ho fan, but the sauce that comes along is the surprise. It’s the first time I have chang fen with assam flavored sauce. It’s neither too salty, sweet or sour, the kick is there. If you love chang fen, u will love this!

Poh Piang unlike the ones in SG, the ones here has “hei bi” and the sauce they use again has tinge of assam sourness. Texture and taste of the radish is cooked to perfection, another must try.

Pudding have sweet tooth? Try this. The only misgiving is it doesn’t have the burnt crust at the top, probably because they were selling so many that no one has the time to add the sugar and get it melted.

Overall, I’m super satisfied with the food and its...

I rate the atmosphere 5* bcos I love crowd. More the merrier. It proves that the food is edible and you hardly go wrong. However, this place is an exception.

Firstly, it is expensive for Ipoh standard. Rm10.10 for a normal/standard portion of their Kai-xi hor fun. The 10sen is for the take away bag. I accept that. I couldn't find a place to dine in at abt 830am, hence I opt for take away.

Happy to see such a busy place. They are thriving and the atmosphere is fantastic. As a tourist, what we want is something flavourful and authentically local and edible. We don't mind paying the extra but please offer us something acceptable in return.

I know taste is subjective. However this is ridiculously not up to Kai-xi hor fun standard. This kind of flavour made first timer traumatic. Very complicated flavour and correct me if I'm wrong, high in MSG. Just not right, my friend. If you ask me to rate, it is definitely below the one in Wing Fat Xiao Chao and Moon de Moon. It is just half a point above Loke Wooi Kee(I find it bland).

IMHO, a bowl of kaixi hor fun has to be clean in prawnly flavours (hor-fun, I'm not good at it and I find almost the same in every stall), chives a must to balance the flavour and the soup is thick with body but clean and balance. If everything is met as above, you get the oomph and wow factor. I found these flavours in Wing Fat Xiaochao (Kg. Pasir Pinji) kaixi hor fun. Moon de Moon is the one to go if you like lighter/clean version of Kaixi hor fun.

All the above are just my opinion during my visit to Ipoh in February 2024. I loved kaixi hor fun therefore, Ipoh is the place to go. Embark on a journey to try every kaixi hor fun in Ipoh and you'll find many surprises....