ipoh kopitiam

a popular malaysian restaurant worth the wait

San Gabriel Valley might be most known for Chinese food, but over the years there’s been more and more Asian cuisines represented. Ipoh Kopitiam is a Malaysian restaurant that has not only gained popularity among SGV residents, but also become a destination in its own right with weekenders happily waiting out in front of the restaurant for a table to open up. It’s even been recognized as a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant.

The food is classic Malaysian cafe fare. There’s roti canai and nasi lemak and bak kut teh, and of course coffee (white and black, perfectly paired with kaya toast). The format makes it fine for individual person entree style, but the best way to go is to order a bunch of things for the table to share. From breakfast to dinner, it’s a solid all day casual eatery to diversify the Asian palate in the neighborhood.

the details

Address 1411 S Garfield Ave #104, Alhambra
Website https://www.ipoh-kopitiam.com/
Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/ipoh-kopitiam-alhambra
Hours 9:00am – 8:45pm every day, closed Wednesdays
Price $$ – pretty much everything is sub $20 
Aesthetic generic, contemporary, no frills but comfortable 

good to know

Go here for: a casual lunch, family dinner

Order this: nasi lemak with curry (or beef rendang), hainan chicken rice, roti canai, char kway teow

Amount of time to spend: an hour or two (longer side on weekends given there’s usually a wait around lunch and dinner time)

When to come: weekdays, off-hours and earlier in the day to avoid a wait

Parking: they have a parking structure attached (we love the burbs)

Other things to note: They don’t take reservations, but there’s an online waitlist that you can join before you get there.

Last visited: November 2023

Last updated: March 2024

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