Nestled in the state of Perak, Sitiawan is a hidden gem for food lovers, offering a rich tapestry of flavors shaped by its diverse cultural heritage. This small town is famous for its authentic Foo Chow cuisine, thanks to the early Chinese settlers who brought their unique culinary traditions to the fishing village. Whether you're craving traditional Foo Chow dishes, fresh seafood or local snacks that have stood the test of time, Sitiawan is a worth-visiting place to savor all these traditional delicacies and Foo Chow delights. Visitors from the north may use the new West Coast Expressway (WCE) and it takes less than 2 hours to reach Sitiawan from Penang island. Definitely one of the day-trip destinations you should consider.
1) Restoran Chai Chin 才进肉骨茶-鱼头
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Contact Number: 011-3608 8221
Bak Kut Teh (Rm 45/ 3 pax)
Add On: Fu Chok, Meat Balls and Enoki Mushrooms (Rm 10/ small)
Steamed Grouper (Rm 93.70/ market price)
One of the most popular places in Sitiawan to enjoy both Bak Kut Teh and steamed Fish would be Chai Chin. The place has been churning out Bak Kut Teh since 1990 and for more than 3 decades, the place has garnered an appreciate following... not only from locals but tourists as well. Chai Chin only serves 2 items: Bak Kut Teh or Steamed Fish (Head). You get to pick the different parts and add-ons for the Bak Kut Teh and for the Fish, to choose between Tail or Head. The Bak Kut Teh was very different than the ones in Penang- slightly thicker in consistency and it has a bold Chinese herbaceous flavor. We opted for the Tail... served with plenty of julienned raw Onions and some Calamansi as well as Soy sauce. Pretty straight-forward, the Grouper was fresh but the flavor-combo was not exactly my favorite.
2) Yiho Bakehouse YI 号坊
Halal
Service Charge: Yes 6%
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 10 am to 10:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 05-693 0130
Choco Sea Salt Cream Cheese Waffle (Rm 16.80)
Creme Brulee Bun (Rm 7.60 for 2)
Pandan Kaya Cheese Cake (Rm 7.90)
Yuri Matcha (Rm 14.90/ ice)
Yiho Bakehouse is definitely the most popular bakery in Sitiawan. The place was packed to the brim over the long weekend. The bakery has plenty to offer- not only freshly baked pastries, cakes, desserts but they serve mains as well. Most of their cakes are affordably priced; with alluring packaging and attractive presentation, you tend to give in! Yiho is also Halal-certified, making it suitable for our Muslim friends to visit and dine-in. We had some cakes and desserts- some hits and misses. We enjoyed their Creme Brulee Bun, they were lightly toasted before serving to us... crispy edges with flowy-custardy filling in the middle. The Pandan Kaya Cheese Cake was quite good too- perfectly moist with bold Kaya flavor with a touch of real Kaya Jam within. We did not like the Waffles though, terrible texture with unmatched dips and sauces. Just go for the cakes and desserts on display fridge, probably a safer option.
3) Restoran Makanan Laut Villa 乡村海鲜饭店
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 11 am to 10 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Contact Number: 019-574 5918
4-King cooked in Thai sauce (Rm 155/ market price)
Fried Oyster Omelette (Rm 30)
Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce (Rm 18)
Stir Fried Yau Mak (Rm 18)
Tuak (Rm 18)
Villa Seafood House is one of the few restaurants in Kampung Cina and they serve a Chinese-Thai menu. Sitiawan being a fishing village, it is easy to source for fresh seafood supplies and it is a no brainer that the restaurant offers a Seafood-focused menu. We tried the 4-King cooked in Thai sauce and it had a Mud Crab, a Fish, Prawns and Clams. Not everything was fresh unfortunately but no complaints for the sauce. We thought it was quite an okay dish, not to say very special. The Foo Chow Oo Chien (Fried Oyster Omelette) is definitely something different. There were plenty of small Oysters but unfortunately, the dish was overly greasy and we struggled to finish it. We did enjoy the Fried Tofu with Soy Sauce as well as the Tuak (Coconut Wine).
4) Hock Chew So Mee Shua Konpian 福州面线寿
Business Hours: 7:15 am to 5:15 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 012-564 9061
Homemade Mee Sua with Ready-To-Eat Sauce (Rm 15/ 5 portions)
It is common to shop for some handmade Mee Sua in Sitiawan as the town is home to many handmade Mee Sua factories. Hock Chew So Mee Shua Konpian is a short 2 min drive away from Villa Seafood Restaurant. You will find plenty of Mee Sua right outside the place, drying under the sun. But don't worry, they have well-packed and ready-to-cook ones in the shop. They are available in different sizes- some thick and some thin, depending on your needs. We chose the ones with ready-to-eat sauces so we don't have to mix our own. You can also find the famous Kampung Koh Chili sauce here for as cheap as Rm 2.50 per bottle!
5) Moh Kee Coffee House 茂记咖啡屋
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 9 am to 4 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 010-266 9636
Nanyang Toast with Premium Butter and Kaya (Rm 3.90)
Golden Sand Toast (Rm 3.90)
Nasi Lemak Bun (Rm 4.50)
Nanyang Affogato (Rm 8.90)
Moh Kee Signature Kopi (Rm 3.90)
Sparkling Ribena Longan (Rm 7.90)
Housed in a standalone Bungalow, Moh Kee is probably the busiest Coffee House in Sitiawan. It offers free-parking and the place is fully air-conditioned, making it ideal for a quick, casual fix. We took a quick respite from the sultry hot weather and had some Coffee. We enjoyed Moh Kee Signature Kopi- smooth with a good Coffee kick. The Toasts were not shabby too- according to the server, Moh Kee uses quality New Zealand Butter on their Toasts so the buttery fragrance prevails. A convenient place in town for a quick Coffee boost.
6) San Yew Chay Biscuit Shop 三友齋饼家
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 9 am to 4 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 016-528 7314
Hock Chew-style Tambun Biscuits with Red Bean Paste (Rm 1.10 each)
If you do enjoy a good Tau Sah Piah (or Tambun Biscuits), make your way to San Yew Chay Biscuit Shop... where you will find freshly baked Tau Sah Piah (available in 2 variants: Red Bean paste or Mung Bean paste). Everything is handmade so they bake in small quantities, they are often sold out in the weekends so you will need to place your orders in advance. In our case, we had to wait for 30 mins for the next batch to be ready. But we were glad that we did. The freshly baked, still-warm Tau Sah Piah from San Yew Chay is probably the best ones I have ever had- flaky pastry skin and not overly-sweet Red Bean paste. It does resemble Mooncake in a way but not that sweet and greasy. Personally, I recommend going for the Red Bean paste. Give it a try!
7) Tua Pek Kong Temple 品仙祠大伯公廟观音堂
Business Hours: 7 am to 10 pm. Opens Daily.
Admission: Free
The Tua Pek Kong Temple is probably the most famous tourist spot in Sitiawan, its almost like the must-visit place whenever you visit Sitiawan. The temple is a short 15 min drive away from the town and it is easy to locate. Simply follow the signages and you will find yourself here. There are ample parking space and you will find plenty of tour buses (especially on weekends). You can start the tour by going through the street with plenty of shops. You can find local delicacies, souvenirs and street food... though I can't say you will get the best prices here or the ones with best quality but it is definitely the most convenient spot to grab something. Before reaching the actual temple, you will find some food stalls with tables, almost like a food court. We did not manage to try any of the food but we did see some visitors enjoying their meal there. The area is huge and if you are into prayers, you will probably spend quite some time here.
Some shops selling Souvenirs and local snacks right next to the temple
Freshly baked Kong Pia available
Pillow Bun up for grabs
Mini food court in a hall next to the temple
8) Restoran Sungai Kampung Bharu 新甘光河畔海鲜酒楼
Non-Halal
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No
Business Hours: 11:30 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Contact Number: 016-266 9975
Foo Chow-style Spicy and Sour Fish Maw Soup (Rm 45/ small)
Teo Chew Seafood Porridge (Rm 50)
Poached Kampung Chicken with Sprouts (Rm 35/ half bird)
Broccoli served with Crab Meat gravy (Rm 30)
A short drive from Sitiawan's town, Restoran Sungai Kampung Bahru is the local's favorite go-to place when it comes to proper Chinese restaurant. The place is usually packed on weekends, with both local patrons and tourists. The menu features quite a big selection of Chinese dishes- with Foo Chow influences. We recommend trying the Foo Chow-style Spicy and Sour Fish Maw, served with fresh Bamboo Shoots and Wood Ear Fungus. The consistency was easy on the palate, not overly thick or watery; the Fish Maw Soup was also well-seasoned. Something unusual but might be an acquired taste for some. Do not miss their Poached Kampung Chicken with Sprouts too, they source their Bean Sprouts from Ipoh (can be seen from the picture- its the short, fat type). The Sprouts were sweet and the Poached Chicken was expertly cooked to the right texture; simple but delicious.
Have Fun Exploring Sitiawan!
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