5 Fabulous Hometown Foods in Taiping, Perak, Taiping, Malaysia

The recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays gave me a rare opportunity to revisit the sleepy town of Taiping of which I first went on a four-day road trip with a bunch of friends five years ago. Nothing much has changed in this former Perak state capital other than some pocket developments in nearby Kamunting. This overnight stop-over was specifically about food hunting and although Taiping’s scene is no match for neighboring Ipoh’s zest, it is undoubtedly full of charm.

Kuala Sepetang’s mangroves are a treasure trove of sea creatures and shrimps are no exception. Mak Jah’s shrimp noodles uses fresh-off-the-boat prawns (you know it’s fresh when the crustacean makes a “crunch” sound when you bite it) to entice us city dwellers to a sleepy village 15 km southwest of Taiping. The broth is made up of shrimp stock and chili to give that sweet and spicy combo while the noodles do not feel rubbery at all. If you’re a shrimp lover, they also serve Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp Kuey Teow and Deep-Fried Shrimp to satisfy your cravings! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).