King of Tea, Petaling Street

 

One of my favorite morning past-time is to 'jalan-jalan cari makan' in Petaling Street. Although it's one of the more famous tourist attractions in Kuala Lumpur, the breakfast stalls here is quite reasonable. And the feeling of having your breakfast here is not something that can be replicated. 

The 1st stall you see once you enter Petaling Street is 'Cha Wang' (King of Tea).

Unable to make up my mind, or rather wanting the best of both worlds, I usually order the 'Cham' (i.e. 'Mix' in Cantonese) which consists of Coffee and Tea.

You can then order Toasted Bread from the stall next door. The favorite breakfast combination, coffee and toast bread.

Generously filled with egg and luncheon meat.

Or, if toast alone is not enough to satisfy your hunger, feel free to explore the rest of Petaling Street where food stalls can be found everywhere. I went for the 'economy noodle' just a few stalls down from Tea King. Just RM3.30 for the whole packet, satisfying and delicious. 

 

The best part about having your breakfast here is to watch people from all walks of life pass by.  You will see laid back tourists, snapping away with their cameras, students from the neighboring schools heading for class, office employees walking briskly to buy their breakfast to-go before going to work, stall owners cheerfully going about their daily routine etc. 

All this while you slowly sip on your 'Cham'. Bliss. 

Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur

Business Hours: Opens from morning til night 

(Tea King probably opens only in the morning to give way to other stalls in the afternoon)

Patiserrie BoutiQue

 In Ipoh, cafes appear at the most unlikely places. Picture passing by an old, dilapidated building with its paint peeling off, but look closer and you will see a modern, cozy looking cafe staring back at you.

   
 Patiserrie BoutiQue is one of these hidden treasures, and its like an oasis in the middle of a desert given Ipoh's unusually scorchingly hot weather. 


 Enter Patiserrie BoutiQue and you will immediately see that it is relatively small in size. The interior is simple with black and white murals on the walls. Such a friendly and comfortable atmosphere to have your afternoon tea!

Smoked Salmon Sandwich

Steaming hot chocolate brownie topped with ice-cream on top

Nooo... don't make me go back out there into the scorching sun!!!

Too bad our stomachs are not big enough to try the other food on the menu. They all looked delicious!

Patiserrie BoutiQue

103 Jalan Sultan Yusof
30000 Ipoh, Perak
Business Hours: 11 am to 6 pm (closed on Wednesdays)

Myth Eatery & Bar

While staying in M Boutique Hotel, Ipoh the other day, we were given the opportunity to try out this grand-looking cafe situated right next to the hotel.

How cool is having your complimentary breakfast here early in the morning? 



The cafe certainly did not hold back in its decorations and designs. We happily took photos after photos for 10 minutes before actually sitting down to look at their menu. 



Old-fashioned chandeliers lined the ceilings, giving a soothing dim orange glow. Most of the light in the room came from natural sunlight.

The counter with all the neatly arranged glasses and coffee

Looks like water droplets

 Can't get enough of their chandelier.



And more chandeliers. The whole setting is just so pleasing to the eye <3



For the complimentary breakfast, not many choices (for now). You will be given 3 sets to choose from. 

And of course coffee or tea.

I opted for the sandwich. It comes with baked beans.

While the other human chose the big breakfast - eggs, potato, ham, garlic bread, and baked beans.

Nice, even if the choice of food is minimal (as opposed to the usual buffet spread), all is forgiven with the breath-taking decorations :) Who can chow down so much food that early in the morning anyway?

 Myth Eatery & Bar

(Next to M Boutique Hotel, Ipoh)

No. 2, Hala Datuk 5

31650, Ipoh

Business Hours: 8 am to 12 am daily

Kedai Makanan Yut Kee

If you're more of a kopitiam person, you would definitely have heard of this place. If you have not, please, climb out of that cave. YOU MUST try this place at least once.YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

Established in 1928 (86 years ago oh-my-Gawd), Yut Kee is known affectionately for its old setting -  graffiti across the wall, old windows which allow passers-by to peek inside the shop, tiled walls, ... 

Peeling off paint, iron bars, ...

Wooden ceilings with white fluorescent lamps, ...

Old fashioned tiled floors, dark wooden chairs, and of course the marble tables that you see when you were little (if you were born in the 80's or earlier of course).

If you plan to go during weekend or lunch hour, I strongly suggest that you do not wear thick clothes because it's going to be hot. Expect to stand awhile outside while waiting for available seats, there will be a crowd waiting out front. 

If you're expecting a quiet and private meal with your family then this is not the place for you (you have been warned). 

It is likely that you will have to share a table (or 'dap toi' in Cantonese) with one, or sometimes more, group of customers. The most we had was 2 young couples sharing a table with us ... it was awkward (think: quiet meal, everyone inexplicably focused on their plate of food with no eye contact whatsoever). I love sharing table with chatty elderly customers though, they will happily start a conversation with you and tell you about how they used to visit YK 'during those days' and how they will make an effort, even today, to travel all the way from their house (presumably from a land far far away) just to eat here. 

But of course, YK didn't gain its fame by its old-fashioned setting. Obviously people travel from afar for their food. I think my command of the English language is limited and as such, doesn't do justice for the food served here.

First off, I ordered their 'Kopi-Peng'. I'm no kopi-expert but when I brought my super-cerewet dad, he took a sip, and said 'good kopi'.

2ndly, must order their roast pork. Its not available every day so once you see it, lunge for it and order immediately before it is sold out. Pair it with YK's homemade apple sauce. I once brought a junior here who, after taking the 1st bite, kept describing it as 'amazing' throughout the meal and few days after that, he asked me 'Could you show me the directions to the glorious roast pork? I'd like to bring my parents there.' Yeah, he used the word 'glorious'.

Other than the usual half boiled egg and toast (which seem to be the staples for Hainanese), Yut Kee also serves other 'heavier' meals ranging from noodles, fried rice, porridge, to pork chop, chicken chop and their famous Roti Babi.

You must try their Pork Chop. Of all the chops, i.e. chicken chop, pork chop, beef or lamb chop, I think Pork Chop is the best. My mom liked it so much she 'took a peek' into the kitchen while 'on the way to the washroom' in hopes of reconstructing the same dish at home. She came back empty handed.  

I usually have my pork chop with a litttlleeeee bittt of ketchup for a bit of sour taste. Just imagining it makes me salivate :9 

Kedai Makanan Yut Kee

35, Jalan Dang Wangi 

50100 Kuala Lumpur 

Business Hours:  8 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)

Syarikat Kopi LOKL

If you're in the mood for a nice brunch on a Saturday or Sunday morning, why not head on down to LOKL, which is within walking distance from the Masjid Jamek LRT Station.

I would prefer to go during weekend though because it's quieter. For the same reason, parking would be less painful compared to weekdays. 

The simple black-and-white signage is easy to spot. 

Like most other cafés, the space in LOKL is not very big, which gives out a warm and cozy feeling.

 

Once inside, you will hardly remember that you are actually in the middle of the bustling city. 

Everything and anything can be used as props.

The Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel. One of my favorite choices here.

Pancake with Coconut Whipped Cream and Gula Melaka.

I'm still here!!!

Noooooo ... Don't drink meeeeeeeee!!!

Look, there's a cute bear in my coffee.

If the weather is not too hot, you may enjoy your brunch outside the little open space. 

There are trees at the open space to (partially) block the scorching sun. 

Kedai Kopi LOKL
30, Jalan Tun HS Lee
50000 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (closed on Mondays)