Sin Hup Kee — Restaurant in Perak

The short summary: Air conditioned, quick and great service, delicious Chinese food, English-friendly menu. Nice hidden gem in Ipoh.

Visited Ipoh with my family for the last leg of our vacation in Malaysia. We randomly decided to go to this restaurant because it was one of the ones open during a school holiday that seemed good. We were tired of the humid weather so the air-conditioned indoor space was a nice relief.

The restaurant was filled except for one table which needed cleaning, which they promptly cleaned and we were sat within minutes. The staff quickly tended to us and helped us order from the menu, giving suggestions and letting us know what was not available. The menus had Chinese and English in it and helpful stars next to popular items in case you are not sure what to order. They used a tablet to take orders so they have a proper POS system; our food didn't get messed up or missed or come out in random intervals like a lot of the busy restaurants we had eaten at. And we ordered A LOT of food.

We didn't have to wait too long before the food started arriving, especially considering how busy it was. We ate and a bunch of us were still hungry for more when all the food was eaten because it was so good (or maybe we were just super hungry from a long day without lunch). So we ordered a second round. By then it was near closing time and the kitchen was already cleaning up. But they fired up the woks again and made our food. By this time we were the only ones ordering food and it started coming out after a couple minutes.

It was past closing time by the time we were done but I didn't get the sense that they wanted us to get out of there at all. In fact, they talked to us and asked where we were from and stuff. They even let us taste test something they might put on the menu as a complement on the house. It was a little spicy for me but the gesture was generous. You could tell they cared a lot about customer service and getting feedback and were trying to constantly get better. Next time I'm in Ipoh, I would definitely go back again and try the Gu Lao Rou/Sweet and Sour Pork because it was sold out or unavailable when we were there. Everything we ordered was really good regardless. I was very impressed...

Dined for dinner on 22 November 2023.

The ambiance is to be expected with what it is, the semi-rustic old-school style of Malaysian Chinese restaurants back in the 90's.

However, the staff and service were horrible. The person taking our order kept "asking" if we should order other dishes on top of what we had ordered and it somewhat became ludicrous. We somewhat knew we only wanted to have 3 dishes and yet the portion sizes and types of food recommended were sorely disappointing.

To be exact, we wanted the stir fry flat noodles, yet they only recommended a medium portion, clearly, came out underwhelming although it tasted well.

The vegetables, we ordered the classical 3 types of eggs with vegetable. What came out was a monstrosity, horrible vegetable (as in the wrong type) with pitiful amount of eggs. We initially picked specific type of vegetable which they informed us was available. However, 5 minutes later, they told us they ran out and recommended something else making it much worse.

The drinks were ordered, might as well just opt for self service as the service staff were more concerned about their own "sanity" than about ensuring the satisfaction of the diners.

We ordered

Fried flat noodles - Amazing dish that we had to add on another additional portion. Vegetable soup with 3 types of eggs - Don't waste your money and calories. Steamed XXL prawns - Overall was fine considering Ipoh is not near the seaside.

Value wise, could have been slightly more pocket friendly but would go back for the overpriced fried flat noodles. At least until we find somewhere better.

Pardon me for my language and grammar (in the event that I wrote something unpleasant here)

Hope future diners will enjoy the food there and may the service...

After nearly two decades, I revisited Sin Hup Kee with my father, and the experience brought back many fond memories. The restaurant maintains its reputation for serving quality Chinese cuisine in Ipoh.

Dishes We Tried: Steamed Egg with Century and Salted Egg: A must-try dish, though I found it slightly bland and would prefer a bit more saltiness to enhance the flavors. Signature Stir-Fried Chicken: The chicken was tender and flavorful, living up to its signature status. Claypot Tofu: A comforting dish with well-balanced flavors; it didn’t disappoint. ‘Four Kings’ Vegetable Dish: This combination of long beans, aubergine, petai, and okra stir-fried with belacan was delightful and added a nice variety to our meal.

Service and Ambience:

The staff were attentive, providing good service throughout our visit. Our food was served promptly, likely because we dined during off-peak hours. The restaurant offers a clean and welcoming environment, making the dining experience pleasant. 

Pricing:

While the food quality is commendable, I found the prices to be on the higher side compared to other neighborhood restaurants. A more generous portion size would enhance the value for money. However, considering the overall experience, it’s a place worth visiting for those seeking traditional Chinese dishes in Ipoh.

Introducing vegetarian options to the menu would make Sin Hup Kee even more appealing, catering to a broader range of dietary preferences.

Overall, my return to Sin Hup Kee was a nostalgic journey filled with good food and memories. It’s heartening to see the restaurant maintaining its standards...