Rating the Best Cameron Highlands Foods [+ Our Preferred Places to Try Them!]
Aside from its beautiful views and exciting activities, I love visiting Cameron Highlands, as it gives me an excuse to pig out—don’t tell my nutritionist that. I’d like to think that it’s not entirely my fault though, as the highlands feature some of the most delicious dishes in Malaysia.
With that being said, you could call me an expert of some sort when it comes to Cameron Highlands’ best foods. Coincidentally, going on food crawls is one of the best things to do in Cameron Highlands, so consider this a sign!
For your convenience, I’ve decided to compile all of the best dishes you can find here along with the best restaurant that offers them.
Let’s get started!
Nasi Lemak at Uncle Chow Kopitiam
— Media credit: nelsonngo1186
Address: C2-G, 1, Jalan Royal Lily 4/2, Taman Royal Lily, 39000 Tanah Rata
Contact details: +60 13-574 8273
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$
Since this is a food crawl, you can’t leave Cameron Highlands or Malaysia for that matter, without trying the national dish, Nasi Lemak. It’s a dish that’s perfect to eat at any time of the day, but if you want our advice, we recommend having it for breakfast.
It features everything you need to start your day right, from the carbs of the fragrant rice down to the protein of the chicken. Plus, it’s just a delicious combination of ingredients overall, so there’s no real reason not to try it!
What makes ordering this dish in Uncle Chow Kopitiam, however, is the massive serving size they come in and of course, their quality. For its relatively cheap price, you’ll be surprised at how stacked your plate will be.
Pro tip:
If you prefer something a little sweeter for your breakfast, you can also order their pulut hitam. It’s a dessert made from glutinous rice that’s mixed in with coconut milk and palm sugar.
Steamboat at C Buddys Steamboat
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Cbuddys.steamboat.17/
Address: C-1-7, Cameron Fair, Jalan Camelia, 39000 Tanah Rata
Contact details: +60 11-3543 1813
Operating hours: Daily from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for a more personalised dining experience, then you should try dining at a steamboat restaurant at least once during your visit to the highlands! If you’re not familiar with these restaurants, they’ll give you the freedom to cook your own food in flavourful broth!
We highly recommend C Buddys Restaurant specifically because of its variety of ingredients, which range from seafood to different pieces of meat as well as fresh vegetables! With these on hand, you can create your own meal consisting of your favourite ingredients.
As for the broth, you can either opt for a spicy soup or something more kid-friendly. Regardless of which one you choose, however, you can expect amazing flavours!
Pro tip:
The place is almost always packed and features limited operating hours. If you want to experience a more peaceful dining experience, you can visit at around 8:00 PM.
Dim Sum at Dian Yi Long Dim Sum Restaurant
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Dian-Yi-Long-Dim-Sum-Restaurant-點一籠-點心茶樓-100054222171264/
Address: B1-10-G, Brinchang Square, Jalan Besar, Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang
Contact details: +60 5-491 4436
Operating hours: Daily from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $
Lovers of dim sum and other Chinese favourites shouldn’t miss out on dining at Dian Yi Long Dim Sum Restaurant. It serves one of the most authentic versions of dim sum we’ve tried in Cameron Highlands along with dumplings and buns.
What we love about this restaurant’s dim sum is that you can taste its freshness. You won’t find anything frozen from their menu, as everything is made in-house!
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something lighter, you can opt for one of their delicious pastries, which are also freshly made—yum!
Pro tip:
While you’re here, make sure to stop by nearby attractions like the Big Red Strawberry Farm and the Cactus Valley!
Nasi Goreng Kampung at Ikhwan Delights Restaurant
— Media credit: arynaris
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ikhwan-Delights-Cameron-Highlands-100064088049453/
Address: Tanah Rata, 39000 Tanah Rata
Contact details: +60 11-2142 1967
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $
Hailing straight from Indonesia’s traditional cookbooks, nasi goreng kampung is a delicious rice-based dish that you should try in Cameron Highlands. We also recommend eating this dish at Ikhwan Delights Restaurants because of the serene forest views it provides its diners.
Also known as Village-Style Rice, this local dish is beloved by many because of its assortment of ingredients, with the most notable one being dried anchovies. Don’t be scared that this will be the only flavour you’ll taste though, as it also comes with chili sauce and shrimp paste.
The variety of ingredients in this dish also makes for an interesting texture. The crispiness of the dried anchovies, mixed with the water spinach and fried rice may not be appetizing to think of at first, but once you put it in your mouth, you’ll be surprised!
Pro tip:
You can also order dishes from other cuisines here as well! Ikhwan Delights Restaurant offers pizza, pasta and other dishes that will be a bit more familiar to your tastebuds.
Pizza at Pizzarella & Misokimchi
Address: C-G, Cameron Fair, 9, Jalan Camelia, Tanah Rata, 39000 Tanah Rata
Contact details: +60 5-485 1249
Operating hours: 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
As much as I’m all for trying new things, there’s just something about a slice of pizza that never gets old. For those times when you just want to eat a dish that’s been proven and tested, we recommend visiting Pizzarella & Misokimchi.
This restaurant offers a wide array of pizza flavours, from the classic pepperoni to vegetarian options like their halal-friendly mushroom pizza. They also offer something called the BBQ chicken pizza, which is a great option for those looking for some kick in their slice.
Aside from pizza, however, they also serve a myriad of both Japanese and Korean food! We were also thrilled to see that they offered a steamboat dining experience—what doesn’t this restaurant have?
Pro tip:
If you’re looking to eat anything other than pizza, we recommend ordering their kimchi fried rice! It features just the right amount of spice and it pairs perfectly with their bulgogi beef.
Tea at BOH Tea Centre (Sungei Palas Garden)
Address: Brinchang, 39100 Brinchang
Contact details: +60 5-496 2096
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $$
A trip to Cameron Highlands wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the BOH Tea Centre. It also just so happens that one of the best restaurants that offer the most scenic views in the Highlands is located here, the BOH Cafe.
BOH Cafe is perfect for winding down after exploring every crevice of the garden. It’s here where you can sip on some freshly made tea while admiring the stunning lush greenery surrounding the cafe.
These delicious cups of tea also pair perfectly with one of their small cakes! So if you’re looking to do something calming during one of your afternoons in Cameron Highlands, consider coming here!
Pro tip:
Before leaving, make sure to stop by BOH Tea’s gift shop to bring home some tea-related souvenirs for your loved ones!
Cream Scone at The Lord’s Cafe
— Media credit: wy_lovesfoods
Website: https://hawayitelukintan.com
Address: Jalan Besar, Tanah Rata, 39000 Tanah Rata
Contact details: +60 19-572 2883
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $-$$
If you want to include something sweet and light in your food crawl, one of the best things you can do is score some scones at the Lord’s Cafe! We don’t usually recommend a place just because of a pastry, but their version of a cream scone is worth screaming to the rooftops!
For starters, its fluffiness is immaculate, as you can feel the air leaving the pastry as soon as you take a bite out of it. Plus, it’s served alongside some whipped cream, butter and a delicious homemade strawberry jam that just dials the pastry’s flavour to 11!
What we love about dining here is that it’s not too busy to the point where it’s always jam-packed. You can easily visit this place at any time and still enjoy a somewhat peaceful dining experience.
Pro tip:
If you want to accompany your meal with something sweet and refreshing, we recommend ordering their lassi. You could either opt for the plain yoghurt or the fruit-based flavours like banana, strawberry and mango.
Yoghurt Ice Cream at Puku Cafe
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Puku-Cafe-100042887275235/
Address: 187, Kea Farm, Pahang Tua
Contact details: +60 12-266 7860
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Cost: $
One of the best cold treats you can try while you’re in Cameron Highlands is a yoghurt ice cream, more specifically, from Puku Cafe. What makes these treats special is they’re completely homemade—plus, they’re dirt cheap!
Their flavours range anywhere from strawberry to chocolate, green tea, tiramisu and more. You can’t go wrong with anything from their flavour selections, but if you ask us, the best one is the strawberry ice cream.
You can literally feel and see the strawberry chunks mixed into the bar, and they’re as fresh as they can be! Also, since you’re in Cameron Highlands, where this fruit has become sort of an icon, it’s only right to try it in its frozen form.
Pro tip:
You can also order their doughnuts if you’re looking for something heavier! They’re just as delicious, sweet and fresh as their ice cream bars.
Deep-Fried Tilapia at Restaurant Tringkap
— Media credit: dr.sidneykan
Address: 14, Persiaran Taman Tringkap 2, Taman Tringkap, 39000 Brinchang
Contact details: +60 5-496 2324
Operating hours: Daily from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $
Restaurant Tringkap is your regular old Malay kopitiam, and we mean that in the best possible way! It serves a wide array of Chinese dishes, but the one that stood out to us the most was their deep-fried tilapia.
We’ve seen this dish being prepared in various ways but this is the first time we’ve seen it cooked like this, and we’ve got to say, it works! This method of cooking turns the fish into a light snack akin to fried chicken skin but with a bit more flavour.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something more vegetarian-friendly, you can also try out their deep-fried mushrooms!