Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop: A Timeless Piece of Penang’s History
It’s been ages since I last visited Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop.
I think it was before they were evicted from their original premises at Hutton Lane in 2016.
The place was an institution, a spot that felt like home to so many of us.
After that, they moved to 38 Leith Street.
I couldn’t find them for a while—especially Tan Jeng Seow, the third-generation owner, with his iconic beretta cap.
And it wasn’t just about the coffee.
It was the whole experience.
Kong Thai Lai is a legendary kopitiam that has stood the test of time.
It’s a place with history.
A place that feels like Penang itself.
For many locals, it’s the favorite haunt of Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew, the late magnate.
Today, as I drove along Dicken Street, hoping to find parking, I saw the familiar old signage.
It made my heart skip a beat.
I did a couple of spins around the block, couldn’t find a spot, but finally parked at Sri Bahari Road and walked over.
There it was—Kong Thai Lai.
The wooden tables, the hum of chatter, and the unmistakable smell of coffee.
Drink hot coffee ☕️
Drink hot tea.
Burn your lips.
And remember me.
Oh, the memories. The taste of that hot coffee that burns your lips, the crispy toast with melting butter—pure bliss.
Coffee the old-fashioned way — brewed with a cloth sock filter at Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop, just like in the good old days.
Contents
A Legendary Kopitiam
Kong Thai Lai isn’t just any coffee shop. It’s a piece of Penang’s heart.
Back in the day, it was always bustling with regulars.
Locals came for the coffee, yes, but also for the warmth of the place.
Today, that’s still true.
The crowd’s different now.
There are tourists, and I overheard a lot of Spanish and German.
“I love your toast and kopi,” one of them said.
All of them found this place on Google.
A far cry from the old days kopitiam, but still, the essence of Kong Thai Lai remains the same.
I remember the old crowd—those uncles who always sat at the same corner, oblivious to everything around them, reading their newspapers.
The place was always full of life.
Now, the old-timers still come, but the crowd has definitely shifted.
The perfect Hainanese breakfast at Kong Thai Lai — soft-boiled eggs, crispy roti bakar, hot kopi, and a newspaper in hand. Simple joys, timeless memories.
Soft-boiled eggs done right — silky whites and molten yolks, a timeless Malaysian breakfast at Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop.
Kong Thai Lai’s History
According to Malay Mail, Tan Jeng Seow’s grandfather started Kong Thai Lai in 1920.
That’s a century of coffee, history, and memories.
Tan grew up living above the shop with his parents and siblings.
It’s incredible to think how many generations have walked through these doors.
I had a chance to talk to Tan, and he even posed for a photo.
We reminisced about the old days.
The workers were as friendly as ever.
I sat down for my breakfast: kopi, buttered toast, and two soft-boiled eggs—for a princely sum of RM8.
Prices have gone up, sure.
But it still felt like a steal for a piece of history.
Kedai Kopi Kong Thai Lai’s Menu
Kong Thai Lai Old Memories, New Faces
As I sipped my kopi, I remembered the times I visited Kong Thai Lai with my dad.
We used to come here or go to Hai On.
I remember spilling coffee all over the sauce.
Dad would gently scold me, warning me that coffee would stunt my growth.
But I didn’t mind.
Those little moments are some of my best memories with him.
Sitting in a kopitiam, sharing a drink, and simply being together.
That’s what life was all about.
Lau Yi, who would sneak me off for afternoon snacks. Mei’s mother, yelling at Lulu to make me an Ais Kacang and a kopi.
And Lulu, making that face when I ate for free, just 11 years old. Those were the days.
Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop lovingly preserves its original bamboo chick from the 6 Hutton Lane days, a beautiful nod to its rich history
Famous Coffee Powder
After my breakfast, I bought some of Kong Thai Lai’s famous black coffee powder to take home.
Made from Robusta beans, roasted with a secret recipe, it’s like taking a piece of the past with you.
I couldn’t help but remember Barry’s mom, sitting in the afternoon sun, peeling garlic and onions for their economy rice stall.
She’d sip her Koleh of kopi-o as she worked.
Simple, but meaningful.
The kopi-o, the quiet moments, and the sense of belonging.
That’s what I’ll always remember.
An Invitation to Kong Thai Lai Coffee Shop
For those of us who grew up in Penang, Kong Thai Lai feels like home.
It’s where Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew came for his coffee.
Back then, it wasn’t just about the coffee—it was about the bond between customers and shop owners.
It was about community.
Today, I’ll be bringing my friend Wei Ying.
Not to a new café.
But to an old one.
Kong Thai Lai is more than just a place for coffee.
It’s a place to relive the past.
To step into a time capsule.
A place where every sip of coffee brings back memories.
And where we can savor a cup of history together.
Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop
32, Lebuh Dickens, George Town, 10050 George Town, Penang.
Business Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Closed on Sundays)
Blog Disclosure: This blog is written independently. No compensation, such as free meals, monetary payment, or services, has been received from featured establishments. These are some of the old places that the editor visited while exploring Penang.
