Kong Fu Kopitiam Serves History Too

On the way down from Cameron Highlands, we headed into Ipoh for its famous chicken taugeh hor fan. The usual Kong Heng & Thean Chun were packed, so we went round the corner & spotted the Kong Fu Kopitiam, located within the historic Perak Ku Kong Chow Association building at 39, Jalan Panglima.

Seeing that it was a brand new setup though in a vintage building, we were skeptical - but the food was really good, portions were large & prices, reasonable.

The best part of the experience for me, however, was its heavy lean on the history of the place. In the heart of Ipoh’s Old Town, the kopitiam offers more than just classic local flavors. Officially having opened its doors on 8 January 2025, it takes us back to its early days with the story of immigrant & freedom fighter Kwan Tak-hing - a man who taught martial arts & lion dance in the building for three years in the 1950s. On his return to Hong Kong, Kwan inspired the creation of silver screen legend Wong Fei Hung.

By the way, the kopitiam also houses a secret museum above it, providing a window into a forgotten era of brotherhood, martial arts, and clandestine societies. I just loved the way it's blended culinary tradition with historical intrigue.. how can you not like food with a backstory like that?