When you visit Ipoh, you simply can’t miss trying the famous salt-baked chicken, locally known as Ayam Garam Ipoh.
The top three foods to eat in Ipoh are the city’s famous salt-baked chicken, known as Ayam Garam Ipoh, followed closely by ‘Tauge Ayam’ (bean sprout chicken) and ‘Tau Foo Fah‘ (a delicate Chinese soya bean dessert).
First-timers to Ipoh will be curious to try this chicken dish and want to taste it.
Customers can only buy this dish for takeout, as shops don’t offer dine-in options.
Visitors often stop and buy the famous Ayam Garam at one of the 4 Tastiest Salt Baked Chicken 盐焗鸡 Yim Kook Kai in Ipoh.
Some are openly curious and think the chickens are salty, like salted fish.
Contents
Salt Baked Chicken Cooking Process
The name “salt-baked chicken” comes from the cooking process, where the chicken is marinated with Chinese herbs, wrapped in paper packets, and baked with rock salt.
Some of the herbs used in the marinade are
- Chinese Rice Wine
- Tang Kuei or Chinese Angelica
- Ginseng
- Wolfberries
If you prefer organic kampung chickens, you can request them at the shops when you purchase them.
Usually, there aren’t any chili sauces to go with the birds.
What’s in the box?
The salt-baked chicken sold is pre-cooked, boxed, and refrigerated.
The chickens are cooked in a fetal position and are usually about 1 to 1.2kg in weight.
What’s the taste of Salt Baked Chicken?
Due to the cooking process, white meat is slightly dry, while dark meat is tender.
Taste-wise, the dish is salty overall with the fragrance of Chinese herbs.
How to Eat Salt Baked Chicken?
The dish may be a tad salty for delicate palates; therefore, it is not recommended to eat it on its own (like steamed Chicken).
Instead, it is best paired with plain rice porridge, salted eggs, and pickled vegetables, which help balance the flavors.
Alternatively, it can be enjoyed as a dish with rice and stir-fried vegetables at home.
How do you reheat the Salt Baked Chicken?
You can steam the chicken in its envelope or pour over a bottle of Brands’ chicken essence and chopped carrots and wolfberries for extra flavor.
The chickens are flavorful and satisfying enough to have it on their own without adding other ingredients.
But if you like it, why not?
You’re the boss of your Ayam Garam!
What to do with leftover Salt Baked Chicken?
Leftover bones can create a distinctive stock for soups, porridge, casseroles, and gravy.
While the leftover Chicken meat can be used as a filling for a Chinese herb-infused chicken sandwich.
Where to buy Salt Baked Chicken?
If you want to purchase salt-baked chicken, a quick search on Google Maps will generate incredible results identifying the shops.
If you’re in the heart of Ipoh, just a few turns and you’ll arrive at the shop in the shortest queues. It all depends on the time you reach Ipoh.
Don’t worry.
The bird is ready-cooked, and you purchase a chilled bird to take home.
You can’t miss the Ayam Garam Outlets!
Three of the top Yim Kook Kai outlets are situated at Jalan Theatre, within a stone’s throw away from each other.
It’s so handy to swing the car around, run to the shop, place your order, and return to the car with your previous purchases.
Don’t worry.
Upon reaching the counter, you’ll find a multitude of chickens ready, packed in boxes, all lined up and ready to go.
So here’s the list of the outlets I’ve tested.
Ayam Garam Sin Tat Seng
Location: 48, Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakry, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh
Notable Items:
Whole Salted Chicken: RM19 (packaged in a yellow or brown and white box)
Boneless Roast Duck: RM32
Smoked Duck: RM38
Assorted Pork Dishes
Additional Info: Operates two shops; the older shop is called Tat Seng, located across from Funny Mountain’s soya products.
Ayam Garam Sin Tat Seng Photo: Facebook
Happy Delicious Salted Chicken (福禄寿盐焗鸡)
Location: 54, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh
Business Hours: Daily 9:30 am – 9:30 pm
Notable Items:
Eight Treasures Salt Baked Chicken: RM22
Regular Salt Baked Chicken: RM19
Smoked Duck: Half – RM19, Whole – RM37
Chicken Drumstick: RM7
Duck Drumsticks: RM8
Taste Profile: Robust flavor; salted thoroughly, with a distinct herbal taste. Note: breast meat may be slightly dry.
Ayam Garam See Heong
Location: 51, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh
Business Hours: Daily 10 am – 6:30 pm
Notable Items:
Ordinary Salted Chicken: RM19
Vacuum-Packed Salted Chicken: RM19
Full Moon Package Salted Chicken: RM22
Additional Info: A lesser-known but respected option among salt-baked chicken shops in Ipoh, offering various food gifts.
Ayam Garam See Heong Photo: Zupermar
Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken (宴琼林盐焗鸡)
Location: 24, Jalan Theatre, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh
Business Hours: Daily 9 am – 6:30 pm
Notable Items:
Kampung (Free-Range) Chicken: RM19 (with herbs like female ginseng and Goji berries)
Vacuum-Packed Version: available for freezing
Taste Profile: Juicy, tender meat; infused with salt and herbs, perfect for making stock or chicken porridge with leftovers.
Reputation: The most famous salt-baked chicken shop in Ipoh, established in 1987.
Image: Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken
Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken 宴琼林盐焗鸡
