Places to Eat in Cameron Highlands

The very first thing that springs to mind when thinking about the food in the Cameron Highlands is unquestionably the popular Chinese or Japanese steamboat. With cool, mountainous temperatures a steamboat dinner will satisfy, comfort and heat you up from the inside. This famous highland dish is a hot-pot of steaming, aromatic broth that one cooks vegetables or thinly sliced meat in at the table. Once the meat or vegetables are cooked they are usually paired with a dipping sauce.

An excellent eatery to try the renowned steamboat is at Gonbei located on Jalan Bukit Street in Brinchang. Prime slivers of meat, delectable seafood morsels and fresh, local produce are all on offer at Gonbei. Another excellent restaurant for steamboats is the May Flower on the main road of Tanah Rata.

In all the steamboat restaurants you can also order ordinary items from their menu, including variations of fried rice, noodles and vegetables for about MYR6-8 per dish.

Aside from the famed steamboat, the Cameron Highlands are also well known for their spicy and delicious Indian food, delicious English high teas with scones slathered in jam, strawberries and endless cups of fragrant tea. Filled with bustling eateries, cafes and restaurants, travellers will have no problem sourcing food fit for all budgets.

Markets and Cheap Eats

The Brinchang Night Market or Pasar Malam promises visitors a culinary adventure and with the helter-skelter of parked cars, traffic jams, an abundance of lined up stalls it is evident to see that this market is popular with locals and visitors alike. Fresh strawberries, fresh produce and a dizzying array of snacks and meals will have you leaving the market with full stomachs and satisfied grins. This is probably the most affordable food on offer in the highlands and allows customers a truly authentic and local experience.

Be sure to try butter slathered corn on the cob, sweet potato balls, deep fried tempura vegetables and seafood. Lastly a taste sensation that cannot be missed at the Night Market is the apam balik. Apam balik is a popular sweet, griddled pancake stuffed with buttery, sugary nuts. The market is unfortunately only open on weekends and holidays and starts from around 4pm.

Another affordable dining option is Rosedale Bistro which caters for locals and tourists. This bistro serves up local grub, Chinese meals as well as Western fare in a quaint, little café on Jalan Besar. Do not leave the highlands without sampling their sliced strawberries and ice-cream.

Indian Food

For all visitors who are looking for spicy curries, buttery naan breads and mouthwatering rotis, you have an abundant selection of Indian dining options. The two Indian eateries that we can recommend are both located in Tanah Rata. Barack’s Café serves up scrumptious India cuisine in an outdoor, garden setting with a wide range of vegetarian and meat curries on offer. Be sure to try the chickpea curry and a markisa tea. The banana milkshakes are also incredible! The second Indian eatery that springs to mind is Sir Brinchang, located on Tanah Rata’s main road. This restaurant is extremely affordable and is well-known for its friendly, smiling staff and its Tandori Chicken.

There is actually a large choice of other Indian restaurants along the main road in Tanah Rata, starting from opposite the bus station.

Cafes and Teahouses

With its lush and fragrant tea plantations, scones and jam and the colonial architecture, the Cameron Highlands has been fondly dubbed, ‘Little England’. What could be more English than a scrumptious high tea of scones, tea and dainty cakes?

Serving up excellent scones, scones and more scones is Lords Café on the main road in Tanah Rata. The chicken pie, hot chocolate and brunch menu are all must-try munchies too. Lord’s Café is closed on Sundays but is open every other day from 11am until 10pm.

For visitors longing for a taste of nostalgia of times long gone and tea and cake served among elegant décor, be sure to try the Jim Thompson Tea Room in the luxurious Cameron Highlands Resort. Picnics on the plush grounds, a candlelit dinner or tea next to a crackling fireplace are all on offer at this first-class establishment.

Fine Dining

The Smoke House by the Tanah Rata golf course is arguably the finest restaurant in the highlands. It is ideal for those with generous budgets who are longing for a traditional English breakfast or dinner. The ambiance is one of old, classic country style living and with the colonial architecture, fireplace and spectacular grounds you’ll hardly believe you’re still in Malaysia at all.