You want to step back in time to 1950s/60s Johor, sip thick black bitter sweet coffee and eat kaya toasts like a local? If you are shopping at Johor Premium Outlet in Kulaijaya or trekking at Gunung Pulai, I suggest you swing by Tai Chiang Coffee Shop 大眾茶餐廳 in Saleng between Kulai and Senai.
It's very basic inside the 45 year old kopitiam (coffee shop opened in 1970). Bare grey cement floor, Formica top folding tables, plastic stackable chairs and stools, and whirling ceiling fans above our heads. It is bright, comfortable, clean and cool inside.
The towkay (boss) Mr 王光進 makes coffee using the good old sock method.
Credit: Photo from 沙令大眾茶餐廳 Facebook
Mr 王 also roasts his own coffee beans using the old soot blackened rotating drum over wood fire (at the back of the coffee shop).
Business is brisk on this bright Saturday morning.
Many people take away Mr 王's kopi (coffee black sweetened with condensed milk) in plastic bags.
I ordered a kopi O kao (thick coffee black with sugar).
The Nanyang style coffee was thick, bitter and slightly ashy.
Tai Chiang is also famous for their freshly charcoal grilled kaya toast.
The fluffy white bread is grilled till it is charred outside. Each toast is individually scrapped to remove the surface char.
The toast is spread with kaya (coconut jam), margarine, peanut butter or butter. I like that seasoned looking wooden spatula :-D
Customers take away stacks of this famous kaya toast.
Our two slices of plain, innocent looking kaya toast.
The golden yellow toast bread was as light as paper.
hmmmm!! The featherlight toast bread was delightfully crispy, sending bits of crumbs into the air and onto the table with each bite. The mildly savoury sweet flavour from the kaya and butter was great too.
One of the best kaya toast that I have tasted.
Of course, we must have two half boiled kampung chicken eggs with a drizzle of light soy sauce and a dash of white pepper.
Old style nasi lemak - coconut flavoured rice with sambal chili, fried anchovies, peanuts and a slice of boiled egg wrapped in banana leaf. Perfectly simple, simply perfect.
Still my favourite way of eating the classic nasi lemak.
Good morning Johor.
Wish you were here.
->> Enjoy old Nanyang style coffee, eggs and toast with friendly locals in a rustic Malaysian small town coffee shop. I am grateful that we can still enjoy the wholesome experience that hasn't changed much in the last 60 years.
Restaurant name: Tai Chiang Coffee Shop 大眾茶餐廳
Address: 7 Jalan Jelawat, Taman Saleng Jaya, Senai, Johor, Malaysia
GPS: 1.628250, 103.636160 / 1°37'41.7"N 103°38'10.2"E
Hours: 7:00am to 5:00pm
Non Halal
Date visited: 19 Dec 2015
Perfectly simple, simply perfect ! That's a catchy description. Will drop by one if these days.( Pn Chong)
ReplyDeleteNice rustic place. The coffee is roasted much darker than usual (maybe this is Nanyang style) which is not to my liking. One strange thing is they only use Planta margarine for their kaya toast (margarine is Transfat btw). I asked and the lady who served us confirmed they never use butter. Usually traditional place use real butter. Anyway we ordered the toast with just kaya which is good, but it will never be complete without the butter.
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ReplyDeleteis it halal?
ReplyDelete