9 Teppanyaki Restaurants in Ipoh For THAT Perfect Grilled Meat
I’m a simple man; it doesn’t take much than meat being grilled in front of me to put a smile on my face. Whether it be popular Malay street foods like satay, Korean barbeque, yakiniku, you can expect me to be there!
However, when I moved to Ipoh, I fell in love with teppanyaki the most! To be honest, I didn’t expect the city to feature many teppanyaki spots, and most of them are too good to pass on or gatekeep, hence this list!
Aside from perfectly grilled meat, the dining experience that teppanyaki offers is worth the experience in itself. So if you’re looking for good food and an equally good show, keep on reading!
Kampai Japanese Restaurant
– Media credit: isoke81
Address: 5 & 7, Jalan Lim Bo Seng, Kampung Jawa
Contact details: +60 5-242 5388
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday: 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM
- Monday: 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Kampai is more than just a teppanyaki spot; it’s home to other Japanese favourites, such as udon, bento boxes, and, of course, sushi! However, their grilled meat takes the spotlight because of the quality of their meat, whether it be their chicken, beef, or even seafood!
It’s impossible to make the wrong order from their selection of grilled meat, but if you ask us, their seafood is among the best. Their delicious yellow tail neck offers a different type of smoky goodness, as it’s paired with a subtle fishy flavour.
However, their grilled beef is still worth mentioning, as they don’t skimp out on quality! Each piece of meat they slam on the grill features amazing marbling, allowing for a more flavourful taste and tender texture.
Pro tip:
If you’re craving something creamy that’s smokey at the same time, we recommend getting their grilled cheesy scallops! They’re great for sharing and feature big meat, so you won’t feel unsatisfied with every shell.
Mokuren Japanese Restaurant
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Address: 20, Jln Medan Ipoh 1B
Contact details: +60 12-568 5286
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $
When it comes to variety, Mokuren Japanese Restaurant is among the best, mainly because of its seafood offerings. They offer just about every seafood delicacy to be thrown onto their grill, from prawns to squid, different types of fish, etc.
If you’re feeling adventurous, however, we highly recommend trying their unagi kabayaki, also known as roasted eel. It may sound and look scary at first, but its smoky flavours, roasted onions, and rich marinade make this dish taste amazing.
Each serving of their grilled meat also comes with a plethora of roasted vegetables to provide a balance for your palate. If you find the flavours of grilled seafood and meat, however, we recommend ordering their fried rice to soften the landing of the strong flavours.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with a group, you MUST order one of their plates of sushi rolls. They’re flavourful, made from fresh ingredients, and best of all, come in generous servings!
Sushi YA
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Address: 12, Greentown Business Centre
Contact details: +60 11-5589 2201
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Sushi YA is widely beloved in Ipoh because it’s one of the few restaurants that offer authentic yet budget-friendly sushi. However, it would be a disservice not to highlight it being an amazing teppanyaki spot, as it offers so many grilled treats.
For starters, they offer a wide array of yakimono dishes, among which is ika teriyaki, a grilled squid that’s been soaked in a homemade teriyaki sauce. We also love their saba shioyaki, which features a massive mackerel that’s been grilled to perfection and seasoned with salt.
If you want the cream of the crop, however, look no further than their grilled salmon with mentai mayo! It features a massive slab of salmon meat with little to no fat, but if you prefer something with a richer flavour, we recommend getting the salmon belly for that extra fatty goodness.
Pro tip:
Consider coming here if you’re a vegetarian or visiting with someone who follows a meat-free diet. They offer amazing vegetarian-friendly dishes like kimchi fried rice, cabbage itame, deep-fried vegetables, etc.
Dozo De Garden
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Address: DGR-1, Ground Floor, Zone D, De Garden, No. 1
Contact details: +60 5-543 0666
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Dozo De Garden is great for those special occasions where you want to treat you and your loved ones with premium grilled Japanese food. One of the perfect examples of this is their robatayaki series, which features different types of skewered meat.
These meats can vary between chicken, scallops, and pork. The chicken can come in fillets or wing form, but the latter is our personal favourite because we love the process of taking the meat from the bone with our bare hands.
Another highlight from their menu is the pork belly. Once these bad boys spend enough time in the fireside grill, the fat will start to render, leaving you with the most tender piece of pork.
Pro tip:
You can also order their yakiniku wagyu if you’re craving something more premium than pork and chicken. These are flavoured with their signature Japanese barbeque sauce, and the best part is you can grill them to your liking!
Hasshu Izakaya
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Address: Palo 101 191D & 191D1
Contact details: +60 10-365 8006
Operating hours: Daily from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$$
If premium wagyu is what your tastebuds desire, then Hasshu Izakaya should be at the top of your list! This place serves A5 Miyazaku wagyu beef, which features fantastic marbling, flavour, texture, and juiciness.
When thrown on the grill, they develop this amazing smoky flavour and an almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. However, their grilled beef cubes are just barely scratching the surface of what their amazing menu entails!
For instance, they offer an amazing udon, complete with perfectly springy noodles, umami broth, and an abundance of toppings. Meanwhile, you can also order their yakitori set if you’re looking to add more grilled treats like chicken teriyaki, corn, salmon, and oyster to your order.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning to accompany your premium grilled meat with cold beer, we recommend visiting from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM during their happy hour promotion.
Miya Kushiyaki & Teppanyaki
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Address: 10, Hala Datuk 5
Contact details: +60 5-241 8706
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Miya Kushiyaki & Teppanyaki is a solid option if you’re looking for a mid-tier restaurant (price-wise) that doesn’t fall short on quality. For starters, it offers a cosy dining experience thanks to its warm and rustic interior decor, akin to those famous steakhouses in the US.
The selection of authentic Japanese dishes is impressive as well, featuring a wide variety of sushi rolls and hearty bowls of ramen. However, their marbled beef on a flat grill takes the cake as the main star, with its perfect tenderness and savoury flavour.
They also offer a wide assortment of sides that pair perfectly with these grilled meats, among which is the famous edamame. It features an almost creamy texture thanks to its time in the boiler, but it still retains its iconic sweet and nutty taste.
Pro tip:
You MUST get their fresh oysters, especially if you’re looking to add some flavours from the sea to your otherwise meaty order.
Toki Japanese Dining
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Address: 9, Persiaran Greentown 8
Contact details: +60 17-786 9354
Operating hours:
Cost: $$$
Toki Japanese Dining is among the most “Insta-worthy” teppanyaki spots in Ipoh, and it doesn’t take much than entering their tori gate-inspired entrance to see this. It features everything you can expect from a traditional teppanyaki restaurant, including an open kitchen!
It’s captivating to see how their expert chefs work like a well-oiled machine, and an honour to try their grilled offerings. You can either go for the usual beef chunks or go down the seafood route, and enjoy perfectly grilled salmon, prawns, and even the fatty portion of a flounder.
Their most prized delicacy here, however, is their grilled foie gras, which is as buttery and creamy as it can be. They can also serve as a topping for one of their sushi rolls for the ultimate umami bite.
Pro tip:
The restaurant features limited designated parking spots in front of its store and they’re usually filled up. Alternatively, you can park your car at Greentown Parking, which is only a few minutes away from the restaurant.
Genki Japanese Food
– Media credit: genki_izakaya
Address: 9, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
Contact details: +60 17-520 4210
Operating hours:
Cost: $
It’s hard to choose just one dish to highlight in Genki Japanese Food, but for the sake of this list, we’re sticking with their teppanyaki offerings. For starters, these grilled dishes are presented neatly, complete with beautiful green garnishes that will further entice your tastebuds.
They offer four different teppanyaki dishes: salmon, kaizen, shiro maguro, and tory. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but if you want our advice, we recommend their salmon because of its perfect balance between smoky and rich buttery flavour.
If you’re unfamiliar with tori and shiro maguro, don’t worry because your tastebuds will immediately recognise them! The former consists of chicken, while the latter is delicious white tuna.
Pro tip:
While you’re here, be sure to stop by some of Ipoh’s top attractions like the Birch Memorial Clock Tower and the famous Concubine Lane, where you can find tons of hidden cafes and restaurants that were formerly old shophouses.
Akamomiji Japanese Restaurant
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Address: 36-38, 36-38, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1e
Contact details: +60 5-548 6368
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday and Friday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM
Cost: $$$
Akamomiji Japanese Restaurant features some of the most premium pieces of beef on their arsenal, so consider this as your top prospect if you’re looking for amazing steaks. They offer both Kobe and Wagyu, the former of which is a specific strain of the former.
If that’s a bit confusing, all you need to know is that both these premium-grade steaks feature amazing marbling, and the cows they come from are grass-fed. Not only does this equal a more tender texture, but it also guarantees that distinct meaty taste.
Meanwhile, you can order their grilled squid if you’re looking for fresh seafood. These have been perfectly grilled, so don’t worry about them having that annoying rubbery texture that most squid dishes suffer from.
Pro tip:
You can also order their curry chicken chop if you’re looking to add something local to your overall order.