IPOH Garden Malaysian Cuisine Review: Brutally Honest Look at Ambiance vs. Taste
| Address | 100 El Camino Real Millbrae, CA 94030 |
| Cuisine | Malaysian |
| Parking | Street |
| Highlight | Giant Thai Iced Tea |
IPOH Garden Malaysian Cuisine is conveniently located along El Camino Real, just a stone’s throw from the Millbrae BART station, making it an easy stop whether you’re arriving by car or public transit. Parking in the area is less of a headache than you might expect; even though it’s limited to street parking, there are plenty of clearly marked two-hour spots, so finding a space usually isn’t too difficult unless it’s a particularly busy time of day.
At first glance, the restaurant’s exterior doesn’t immediately catch your eye. The building looks a bit plain compared to some of the more polished storefronts in the neighborhood. But once you step inside, the atmosphere shifts. The interior is neat and well-kept, with clean tables and floors and a simple that gives off a comfortable and casual vibe. It feels more inviting than the outside suggests.
The service starts off on a friendly note. The staff greet you warmly and allow you to choose any seat you like, adding to a laid-back feel of the restaurant. Shortly after sitting down, menus are brought over along with a glass of water, setting the stage for a relaxed dining experience without unnecessary fuss.
The menu consists of 3 pages worth of Malaysian Chinese Cuisine, with guidance on describing what each food item is.
IPOH Garden Malaysian Cuisine – Order Review
Thai Iced Tea
Strongly brewed black tea, sweetened with condensed milk, and a splash of creamer. Served over a cup of ice.
Definitely my favorite out of everything in this restaurant.
Roti Canai
Malaysian all-time favorite crispy pancake with curry dipping sauce. It was fairly okay, but I’ve had better at Banana Island. The downside of this dish is the curry dipping sauce. I can taste that the curry was made from some sort of powder.
Satay Chicken
Marinated chicken skewers served with peanut sauce
The chicken wasn’t bad, but it was fairly bland even with the peanut sauce.
Pad Thai
Chef’s Special Thai rice noodles with shrimps, chicken, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, and ground peanut
This was fairly disappointing. The rice noodles had no flavor even after a good mix of the overall bowl. I have a feeling we should have asked for Sriracha to give it flavoring.
| x2 Thai Iced Milk Tea | $9.90 |
| x3 Roti Canai | $20.85 |
| x1 Satay Chicken | $10.95 |
| x1 Pad Thai | $17.95 |
| Grand Total with Tax & Tip | $72.95 |
Closing Remarks for IPOH Garden Malaysian Cuisine
Overall, IPOH Garden Malaysian Cuisine left me with mixed impressions. I enjoyed the spotless, comfortable ambiance and appreciated how quickly the food arrived. The giant Thai iced tea was easily the highlight—refreshing and fun to sip from its oversized mug. Some dishes had promise, like the Roti Canai, which was nicely made even if the dipping sauce had an odd powdery taste. The satay chicken lacked flavor, but its sauce added some balance. Unfortunately, the Pad Thai never came together; even after mixing everything, the rice noodles remained bland and unsatisfying.
Still, I’ve seen plenty of positive reviews from diners who praised other dishes, so I’d be open to returning and exploring different options. With its friendly service and inviting space, there’s potential here for a better dining experience if I choose more of their popular specialties next time.
Check out other food articles that I’ve posted on this website.