Kuantan’s 6 Most Famous Foods [and Where to Find Them!]
Whenever we find ourselves in the Eastern Peninsula of the country, we always try to stop by Kuantan to feast on its delicious offerings. In fact, it’s a crime not to visit the city when you’re in the area, especially if you’re a foodie like us because you’ll miss out on spectacular dishes!
You don’t have to try everything on your visit, but it would be great to try some of Kuantan’s most famous foods. To give you an idea of what you can miss out on, we’ve curated a list consisting of the usual dishes we grab in the city and where we prefer getting them.
Let’s get started!
Ice Cendol at Cendol Air Putih
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Cendol-Air-Putih-100063721773838/
Address: Jalan Air Putih, Taman Berserah, 25300 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 16-933 3111
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM
- Monday: 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Cost: $
Let’s start off this list with one of Malaysia’s best traditional sweets, ice cendol. This dessert is essentially shaved ice that’s been topped with green grass jelly, palm sugar syrup and tons of coconut milk—so refreshing!
If you ask any local where to find the best ice cendol in town, they’ll likely answer with Cendol Air Putih, and we can easily see why! This historic store has been around since 1978, so if there’s someone who knows the perfect recipe for ice cendol, it would be them.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something more savoury and heavy, you can also order their nasi lemak! In true Malaysian fashion, this dish is dirt cheap and it’s filled to the brim with toppings.
Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak at Akob Patin House
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Akob-Patin-House-Kuantan-100063487725708/
Address: A2, Lorong Haji Abdul Rahman 1, 25000 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 13-931 2709
Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $
When you’re in Pahang, you must try Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak, as it’s one of the specialties of the state. Simply put, Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak is a dish consisting of a catfish that has been steamed in fermented durian paste.
We gotta say, it doesn’t look and smell appetising at first, but trust us, your future self will thank you for trying this dish! The somewhat strong smell of this dish is mainly because of the durian, but even that tastes delicious!
The reason we recommend Akob Patin House is that aside from being one of the original places to serve it, the restaurant also features various branches across the city.
Pro tip:
If catfish and durian are a little too funky for your taste, you can also order their fried patin.
Roti Kahwin at Hai Peng Kopitiam Kuantan
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Dian-Yi-Long-Dim-Sum-Restaurant-點一籠-點心茶樓-100054222171264/
Address: Jalan Haji Abdul Aziz, 25000 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 5-491 4436
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Cost: $
If you’re looking for something to jumpstart your day, we recommend trying roti kahwin at Hai Peng Kopitiam Kuantan. Roti kahwin is the perfect example of going back to basics, as it’s just a simple concoction of sliced toast with a side of margarine and coconut jam.
What makes it a special dish in Hai Peng Kopitiam Kuantan is its delicious homemade coconut jam, known locally as kaya. It features just the right amount of sweetness that can be perfectly absorbed by the slightly crispy toast.
If you want the ultimate combination, you must order this alongside their home-brewed coffee. You’re not gonna regret it!
Pro tip:
You can also order other Malay delicacies while you’re here like nasi lemak and laksa!
Curry Laksa at Hoi Yin
Address: 31, Jalan Telok Cempedak, 25050 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 12-921 3732
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $
Tons of restaurants in Malaysia put their own little spin on the classic curry laksa, but there’s nothing like making it the traditional way. A perfect example of a restaurant keeping it by the book is Hoi Yin.
Their version of this all-time classic is elevated by their broth, as it perfectly combines spiciness with creaminess and sweetness. Plus, we wanted to give them extra points for letting customers choose their noodle size (Jambo, Besar and Kecil).
Pro tip:
For the untrained palate, this laksa may be too spicy. To avoid going overboard, we recommend starting with a couple of ladles of broth and gradually adding more until it suits your taste.
Nasi Kukus at Dapur Mama
Website: https://dapurmama.my/
Address: 36, Jln IM 6/7, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 9-575 0381
Operating hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Cost: $
If you’ve tried nasi lemak before, nasi kukus won’t be that much of a big leap for you. It’s essentially the same dish but this time, the steamed rice is drenched in gravy, giving this delicious savoury flavour that goes perfectly well with the fried chicken and red sambal.
The reason why we recommend Dapur Mama is simple—it’s the original maso kukus restaurant in Kuantan. They’ve been around since 1994 and they continue to make some of the best and most authentic Malay dishes today.
Pro tip:
If you’re quite hungry, we recommend ordering the special set, which pairs this dish with a drink, a boiled egg, cucumber slices and of course, a delectable fried chicken.
Mango Cheesecake at Kula Cakes
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064268876544
Address: 96, Jalan Besar, 25000 Kuantan
Contact details: +60 17-971 1396
Operating hours: 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Another sweet dessert that continues to captivate the taste buds (and hearts) of people is the mango cheesecake from Kula Cakes. It’s not hard to see why though because as soon as you take a bite out of it, you’ll be greeted by a soft and fluffy cake that’s oozing with sweetness.
Since trying it back in 2013, it’s been a must to stop by this cafe and grab a whole piece of mango cheesecake whenever we’re in Kuantan.
The cafe itself is quite quaint as well, featuring Insta-worthy corners for all the artsy people out there.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a birthday cake or you just want to buy something to share with a large group, we recommend opting for the 1kg mango cheesecake, which will ring you up to around RM90.