Yinzo Kopi is the latest addition to the clutch of traditional Ipoh-style coffeehouses in Old Town, Ipoh.
Opened in May 2019, it’s located near the epicentre of the “Ipoh white coffee battlefield” of sorts: the intersection of Jalan Bandar Timah (Leech Street) and Persiaran Bijeh Timah (Patrick Street). Post-Independence and in recent years, many British road names from the colonial era had been replaced by Malay names, but local Ipohians still tend to use the old British names out of force of habit.
Sin Yoon Loong, right adjacent to Yinzo Kopi was established in 1937, and claimed to serve the earliest cup of the famous Ipoh white coffee.
Of course, Sin Yoon Loong’s claim is disputed by its next door neighbour, Sun Yuan Foong, now run by 64-year-old proprietor, Law Ching Hui, who’s the son-in-law of the founder of this coffeeshop that was established back in 1964.
Six-decade-old Nam Heong, situated right across the street from Sin Yoon Loong and Sun Yuan Foong, began marketing their coffee under the name Old Town White Coffee about 2 decades back, but is no longer related to the chain nowadays.
One difference between Yinzo Kopi to its rivals across the street is that it’s air-conditioned, so one doesn’t end up soaking wet after a meal or cup of coffee there. Ipoh’s weather is as hot and humid as any other part of Malaysia, and it really does make a lot of difference to be able to enjoy traditional street fare in a cool, comfortable environment for a change.
What we tried:
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Kai see hor fun - the version here had the requisite, well-balanced chicken-and-prawn broth - one of the better ones we’d tasted in town, actually. I personally preferred this one over the outrageously famous one over at Moon de Moon’s.
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Ipoh-style curry mee - another delectable option here, nowhere as good as the one we had at Ah Chow, but streets ahead of Moon de Moon’s. I quite liked its inclusion of poached chicken-meat plus “char siu” (Cantonese BBQ pork),
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Curry "chee cheong fun" - this was okay: “chee cheong fun” in a very light curry sauce, garnished with spongey deep-fried, then rehydrated pig’s skin, long beans, golden-crisp shallots and toasted sesame seeds.
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"Chee cheong fun" with bean sauce - this is the more traditional version, with Ipoh-style red bean sauce (the reddish hue was obtained from fermented rice grains).
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Ipoh white coffee
Despite its modern cafe ambience, Yinzo Kopi delivers on traditional, old-style flavours. Really good alternative to the “sweathouses” across the street.
Address
Yinzo Kopi
1 & 3 Persiaran Bijih Timah
30000 Ipoh, Malaysia
Tel: +6019 556 1393/+605 241 0571
Operating hours: 8.30am-5.30pm daily
