Durbar At FMS

“Our first time here as walk-in after reading some positive reviews on Google and Tripadvisor; we were not disappointed. Ordered Hainanese Chicken Chop with very flavorful sauce and their savory Chicken Mornay. Ended the meal with Banana Fritters recommended by many.”

milestone check★★★★★

Dining at Durbar at FMS Ipoh feels like stepping back in time. We were served by Susan, whose warmth and genuine passion for Ipoh’s heritage made our visit especially memorable. Surrounded by antiques, stained glass, stone lions, chandeliers, and portraits from Old England, the restaurant oozes colonial charm. The menu captured the flavours of a bygone age. The Chicken Maryland, Oxtail Stew, Chicken Mornay and Hainanese Chicken Chop were superb, while the Crepes Suzette, Banana Fritter, and Panna Cotta provided a delightful finish. The off-menu Fried Hainanese Noodles was a “wok hei” bonus. A truly memorable and unique dining experience worthy of return visits. With heritage charm and a nod to the past, This Ipoh icon is built to last!

Swon★★★★★

We stopped by Durbar at FMS during a day trip to Ipoh, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our visit. We ordered the Sang Har Mee, Hainanese Chicken Chop, steak, and the poached pear for dessert. Every dish was excellent, but the poached pear deserves a special mention. It was the perfect way to end the meal and was absolutely delicious. As great as the food was, the service was even better. Susan made our experience go from good to truly memorable. She was warm, friendly, and so passionate about the restaurant. She shared the fascinating history of the building and even taught us about Ipoh’s rich tin mining heritage, which made us appreciate the place so much more. Thank you, Susan, for your wonderful hospitality. It’s people like you who make a restaurant worth returning to. We can’t wait to visit again the next time we’re in Ipoh!

Mun Woh Chin★★★★★

Excellent fish and chips. Interiors and ambience wonderfully done to preserve the halcyon days of the place when it was FMS bar & restaurant. Kudos to owner Seow Wee Liam for the great restoration job 👏 Credit to in-house history teller Susan for a riveting narration of the restaurant's past and the efficient service team.

John Siow★★★★★

Our first time here as walk-in after reading some positive reviews on Google and Tripadvisor; we were not disappointed. Ordered Hainanese Chicken Chop with very flavorful sauce and their savory Chicken Mornay. Ended the meal with Banana Fritters recommended by many.

Christine Tho★★★★★

We had dinner at Durbar in FMS last night and it turned into one of the best meals we’ve had in a while. The food was excellent — the Hainanese Chicken Chop and Banana Fritters were both delicious — but what made the evening truly memorable was the service and atmosphere. The restaurant’s 60s decoration is still maintained beautifully. It really brought me back to the past and set such a warm, nostalgic tone for the whole evening. Susan, the most senior waitress here, was outstanding. She’s observant, caring, and genuinely attentive without being overbearing. When she noticed we were using serviettes as napkins around our necks, she quietly brought over a bib to save my white dress from any spills. She also shared the history of the restaurant with us, and we really enjoyed our conversation. I heard she now works part-time due to her age, and it’s rare to see that level of commitment and care in service today. I also want to mention one of the Indian servers who was equally accommod

Teng Teng★★★★★

I had a truly pleasant experience at Durbar @ FMS yesterday. The service was exceptional — Ms. Lai was extremely polite and patient. When I entered the restaurant with a cake in one hand and a bag of fruits in the other, she immediately noticed and understood the situation. She kindly assisted me by placing the cake in the chiller and even arranged a more comfortable table for us. It made me feel that the restaurant is very fortunate to have such a thoughtful and attentive staff member. We ordered the Crab Cakes, Hainanese Chicken Chop, and Grilled Lamb Cut. Ms Lai knowing that we were celebrating a birthday, also suggested adding the Sang Har Mee as a symbolic “birthday longevity noodle” for health and good fortune — a wonderful idea that made the meal even more meaningful. The ambience was comfortable, the food tasted great, and the overall experience was excellent. Definitely a place worth returning to. Once again, thank you, Ms. Lai, for providing us with such warm and heartfelt

Jean Paul Cortes★★★★★

Stopped by this place on our way to George Town. Delicious food and Susan not only took care of us, but also shared the history of the restaurant with us. We would not have known that it is the oldest restaurant in Malaysia had she not taken the time to share with us. I enjoyed the traditional fried chicken and a side of the fried anchovies. My brother even got a bib for enjoying his steak.

CS Chai★★★★★

Always wanted to have a meal here since they refurbrished and took over from the legendary FMS Bar which closed for many years. Was delighted that the new owners maintained the good old British charm when they refurbished the place. Even the waiters and the bartender were very charming, friendly and very attentive to the needs of the customer. We even managed to chat with the friendly head chef. As for the starters, the highlight was the Classic Hainanese Oxtail soup. Brings back memories with this classic. Newer establishments I tried could not rival this. For the mains, the 3 that we had were all very well done and delicious. The Slow-Braise Lamb shank was soft, moist, and well marinated, flavour deeply penerated throughout the shank. The Hainanese Chicken chop was classic. The Pan-seared Sea bass with Mango Salsa was a delightful combination. The sea bass was nicely done, crispy skin and moist meat paired nicely with the mango salsa. The Enche Kabin was excellent, very fragrant, c