In Malaysia, as in Singapore, kopitiams and coffee shops are found almost everywhere.
A kopitiam is a type of coffee shop mostly found in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Southern Thailand patronised for meals and beverages, and traditionally operated by the Chinese community of these countries.
Menus typically feature simple offerings: a variety of foods based on egg, toast, kaya, plus coffee, tea, Horlicks and Milo.
Here is a good list of Kopitiams and coffee shops for your review and enjoyment:
Recently a new breed of “modern” kopitiams have sprung up.
The popularity of the old-fashioned outlets along with society’s obsession with nostalgia and increasing affluence has led to the revival of these pseudo-kopitiams.
The new kopitiams and coffee shops are fast-food outlets which are reminiscent of the old kopitiams in terms of decor, but are usually built in a more modern, hygienic setting such as a shopping mall rather than in the traditional shophouse, catering mainly for young adults.
To offer the true kopitiam experience, modern kopitiams mostly offer authentic local coffee brews, charcoal grilled toast served with butter and kaya (a local version of jam made from coconut milk and eggs) and soft-boiled eggs.
Some have extended menus where local breakfast, lunch and dinner meals are served.
To tap into the sizeable Muslim market, these kopitiams usually serve food that is prepared to conform to Islamic dietary laws, unlike the traditional shophouse kopitiams.
3pm – 6pm (Friday)
Traditional dishes from different ethnicities are usually available at kopitiams to encourage people from different ethnic backgrounds with different dietary habits to dine in a common place or even at a common table.
Some of the more common foods that can be seen in kopitiams, besides the ever-popular eggs and toast, consist of char kway tiao, Hokkien mee and, possibly the most common, nasi lemak.