Plan b in Ipoh

Plan b opened in 2013 and during the first 5 years of being in business this restaurant has established itself as the ‘coolest’ venue in Ipoh with positive reviews from major international newspapers such as the New York Times.

Plan b is designed in a modern hip style similar to the kind of place you might find in London’s Hoxton Square or New York’s SoHo district. Some reviews you will read state that the prices are the same as in Europe or North America as well, which is an exaggeration as food costs about half of what you would expect to pay in London for example. 

About Plan b

Plan b is located off Panglima Street in Ipoh’s ‘Old Town’ area. It’s a very short walk from Concubine Lane and right in the centre of the cluster of famous murals and other street art in Ipoh which have become a major tourist attraction in their own right.

What makes Plan b so successful is that it has blended modern architectural styles with the original features of the old building in which the restaurant is located, and brought elements of the Old Town from the street into the restaurant itself. 

Plan b has a large covered outdoor area, part of which is taken up with outdoor seating. The majority of the internal space is given over to small shops and an old fashioned local barbers shop. The shops sell local handicrafts and as well as some boutique outlets selling women’s clothing.

This airy space with high ceiling has the feel of a covered market, albeit a very upmarket bazaar. The walls have been left in a dilapidated condition, or stripped bare, in synthesis of the modern industrial warehouse look which has been in vogue in parts of large European and North American cities for some time now and the look and feel of the Old Town within which the restaurant in located. Its a clever and creative design which works very well and draws in a lot of customers.

Food at Plan b

Plan b has a combined Asian and Western menu which is priced much higher than most other outlets in Ipoh. For example, they sell a Nasi Lemak for 28 MYR which is very similar to a Nasi Lemak sold at the food court by the Birch Memorial Clock Tower in Ipoh for 2.8 MYR. You are paying for restaurant and its location, not necessarily the food. To put this into perspective, however, 28 MYR is roughly equivalent to £5.25, which is what it will cost you buy a plate of fries with cheese sauce in the Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen in London. Compared to Europe the prices at Plan b are still good value for money, particularly as this is the coolest venue in town.

Other Asian style dishes include Tom Yam Bouillabaisse Pasta, Vietnamese Grilled Chicken on Rice and a Beef Noodle Soup. The real draw on the menu, however, are the Western dishes which can be difficult to find in Malaysia outside of Kuala Lumpur. Plan b does steak and chips, several types of spaghetti, and other Western style dishes such as tacos and bakes. Along side full meals, Plan b does a healthy trade in snack food, such as ‘dirty fries’ and a fine selection of homemade/artisan cakes. A fair proportion of this restaurant’s customers come for tea or coffee and a snack in the afternoon as a break from sight seeing in the Old Town.

Location of Plan b

• Plan b is located at Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Negeri Perak, Malaysia.