Sam Ma Chicken Rice Restaurant — Restaurant in Perak

Best Bean Sprout Chicken Rice in Ipoh!

Please noted they do NOT accept credit card. E-Wallet and Cash ONLY.

They have 2 types of chicken. Kampung and their local chicken. Tables quite packed and near to each other, lively environments due to the loud crowd and chattering.

Don’t be intimidated by the large crowd outside their shop. Best to visit during off peak hour before 12pm where you can almost walk in directly. If it’s lunch peak hour at weekdays the waiting time range around 20-30mins. Weekend usually need to wait about 30-40mins. No reservations need to walk in queue except for Sat you can call to book table. Parking will be hard to find so best drop 1 person to queue while driver slowly find carpark.

Once you reach the shop, straight head to entrance write your car plate number x number of people. Example : 2388 x 4. Take note of how many group in front of you in the list. Let’s say 5 group until your turn, in about 3 more groups you need to stand where you can hear the worker shout your number. Usually they will ask for your order food first then right before your turn they will ask for drinks. Then they will assign your table number accordingly. Once you sit down, less than 5 mins you will have your food. Efficient and great system. Due to large crowd still waiting outside, best you quickly eat and go, don’t sit there to chat.

If you have less than 4 people best to order individual rice set more worth and cheaper too.

Chicken rice ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rm 6.80 (Drumstick version Rm 7.30) Aromatic ginger garlic rice. Soft, silky and just right chicken meat even it’s chicken breast. Not hard and dry at all. Generous cucumber below the chicken pieces soaking up the excellent local soy sauce blend. Their chili is really spicy for me but it’s great to put a dab on the chicken with the aromatic ginger paste given, a specialty of Ipoh chicken rice style.

Braised Chicken Feet ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rm 9 Don’t miss this if you’re a chicken feet lover. Big portion. Mind exploding well marinated aromatic chicken feet! We finish a plate and order again feeling not enough every time.

Fishball ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rm 1.50 each Comes in small bowl of clear soup. Great to go with their rice. Smooth, springy and large in size.

Bean Sprout (Small) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rm 5 Ipoh specialty is their fat fat crunchy bean sprout that doesn’t have the “green” taste. 😋 So yummy with their local soy sauce as well!

Definitely will come again. It’s been my regular place whenever I...

A very ordinary chicken rice. Don't waste your time buying into the fear of missing out. Waste of time and effort to queue.

I daresay lou wong and onn kee are even much better, and those the typical tourist spots - though I do not go to those places. Instead, I would highly recommend Buntong chicken rice, New Kah Seng, Yoon Kee, Cowan, and Hin Loong.

I ordered kampung ¼ chicken. Very ordinary, nothing to shout about of the texture. Even the soy sauce was normal. A tad too salty. Chilli was too spicy for chicken rice. Chilli needs to have sweet, salty, sour, and the right amount of spice to complement the chicken. Unfortunately, this one masked the flavour of the chicken. The ginger, on the other hand, was very sweet. They added too much sugar into the ginger, further reducing the heat. That's not what a ginger should be!

Next, the rice wasn't fluffy and hard as if it had been left overnight. Tauge, why do you need to add so much pepper on top?

The service, rubbish. Horrible staff. Especially the malay speaking staff. I had asked for more chilli and giner even when I was served two saucers. Clearly , I finished it, and she still refused. So I asked another male staff member, and he said "OK he will go and get." But the female staff told him these words - "Jangan angkat untuk dia, dia sudah ada 2 chilli, nanti tak habis, bazir." Horrible customer service. Sure, I said the Chilli wasn't good, but I needed more to put on each piece.

Fish balls were bouncy, the only good thing. Pork balls had a foul smell, and they didn't seem fresh at all.

Never again. Won't recommend this to anyone in...

Sam Ma Chicken Rice Shop, located in Ipoh Garden South, Ipoh, is a well-regarded establishment known for its traditional Hainanese chicken rice.

Key Highlights:

Signature Dishes: The restaurant specializes in poached or steamed chicken, often referred to as "nga choy kai" in Ipoh. Diners can enjoy tender chicken accompanied by aromatic rice infused with a light pandan fragrance. The meal is typically served with fresh cucumbers, clear soup, and a selection of spicy chili and ginger condiments.

Operating Hours: Sam Ma Chicken Rice Shop operates from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and resumes from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Notably, the restaurant opens its doors at 6:00 PM for dinner, but eager customers often begin queuing by 5:15 PM, indicating its popularity among locals and visitors alike.

The establishment has received positive reviews for its flavorful chicken rice and efficient service. Best chicken rice I've tried and deemed it "a must try" when in Ipoh. The restaurant for its "delicious fresh chicken" paired with rice that has a "light scent of Pandan," all at an affordable price point.

Conclusion:

Sam Ma Chicken Rice Shop offers a quintessential Ipoh dining experience, serving traditional Hainanese chicken rice that has garnered acclaim from both locals and tourists. Its convenient location near the PLUS highway makes it an accessible stop for travelers seeking authentic Malaysian cuisine.

For those planning a visit, it's advisable to arrive early, especially during dinner hours, to avoid the usual queues and ensure a timely...