Kedai Kopi Malabar is just down the alley from Toh Soon Cafe where everyone queues for a Roti Bakar breakfast.
Here you get your toast, bread, eggs, kopi, and other noodle dishes without that long wait in the sun.
Some of the hawkers here used to operate from shophouses – as the landlords have taken back the shops, they now sell their food at Kedai Kopi Malabar.
If you want to eat Chinese food and noodle dishes for breakfast, this Kopitiam is convenient.
There are two pushcart stalls on the road before you enter the Kopitiam.
An old photo of Mr. Chan at his Ngao Lam Mee stall in front of Kedai Kopi Malabar
Contents
1 Ngao Lam Mee (牛腩面）Beef Brisket Noodles
Kampung Malabar Ngao Lam Mee’s taste is the old-school Beef Brisket Noodle that is traditional and classic.
The hearty, flavorful, and thick beef stock is best during the rainy season.
Cooked with ginger slices and herbs and simmered for hours, the beef brisket tastes tender and deliciously served over egg noodles.
If you’re not a beef eater, the Wanton Mee (Egg Noodles) and freshly made Sui Kow (Chinese Pork Dumpling) are equally delicious.
History: I’ve eaten at this stall since 2000 when old Mr. Chan and his wife were around.
Now, his daughter, Karen Chan, and her children operate the stall.
The Ngao Lam Mee (牛腩面) Beef Brisket Noodles at Kedai Kopi Malabar
2 Curry Mee
There are many variations of Curry Mee in Malaysia.
The Penang Curry Mee, with its bizarre ingredients, blood cockles, and maroon pig’s blood cubes, is not for the faint-hearted.
Available in most coffee shops and street food stalls in Penang, the Curry Mee here is mild and pleasant.
It has a light coconut milk curry gravy, yellow noodles, and vermicelli.
Instead, you can opt for a garnish with pulled Chicken meat, cuttlefish slices, shrimp, and tofu puffs.
History: Mr. Chan used to tell me that the Curry Mee stall started way back before he set up the Ngao Lam Mee stall.
Updated 18 October 2023 – the stall has ceased to operate.
Curry Mee
At the verandah, there are another two stalls
3 Chinese Rice Dumpling (罗氏粽子世家)
The fourth generation, Mr. Lor, runs the Chinese Rice Dumpling and Yam Cake stall.
Our family’s favorite takeaway is the Yam Cake.
You can get this all year round if you crave authentic glutinous rice dumplings.
Ask Mr. Lor for recommendations if you don’t want a Bak Chang (Pork). There are vegetarian versions with mung bean filling.
His Red Bean Soup is a great dessert, too!
If you’re interested in trying them out, you may visit the stall anytime from 12 PM to 5 PM, but be prepared to wait as the queue can be long sometimes.
History: This is our family’s favorite Bak Chang and Yam Cake stall.
I’ve seen Mr. Lor helping his parents at the stall since he was young.
Updated 18 October 2023 – the stall has ceased to operate.
The favored trio of Bak Chang, Yam Cake, and Red Bean Dessert.
4 Hup Kee Bamboo Noodle (合记竹昇面)
While it looks similar to other Wanton Mee, the stall’s Bamboo Egg Noodles are distinctively different – you get the springiest noodles.
The must order is the pork shrimp wontons soup.
You enjoy a most satisfying mouthfeel with the first bite.
Hup Kee Bamboo Noodle is a famous stall you shouldn’t miss at Kedai Kopi Malabar.
History: I accidentally found this noodle stall when I started blogging in 2014.
The delicious pork shrimp wontons soup.
5 Char Koay Teow (炒粿条)
While many famous Penang Char Koay Teow stalls on the island, most are delicious in different ways.
The Char Koay Teow started with an assortment of Fried Rice, including Salted Fish.
Feel free to try this if you are a Char Koay Teow fan.
Mee Sua Gor
6 Fried Noodles (翰记炒粉)
You can get various fried noodle options at this stall.
From Char Hor Fun, Hokkien Char, Hainan Char, Mee Sua Gor, and Yee Mee to Hong Tu Mee if you love noodles.
Customers claim the Hainan Char is the most popular choice.
When we went, we tried the Char Hor Fun.
7 Kedai Kopi Malabar Homemade Coffee (自制咖啡)
Back to waiting for your Roti Bakar and Eggs?
At Kedai Kopi Malabar, you can enjoy delicious Roti Bakar made with Hainanese bread without the long queues at Toh Soon Cafe.
The Kopitiam owner’s innovative idea of mixing local coffee powder with robusta beans creates a mean cup of coffee.
They also offer delicious local biscuits for sale.
Remember to order their coffee when visiting this Kopitiam!
History: The Kopitiam towkay has changed a few times over the years, but the current operator is a friendly chap who makes a great Cham Peng.
Great coffee with Roti Bakar and Eggs
Kedai Kopi Malabar Review
An old-time Chinese kopitiam, we have had many meals here.
The operator may change, and sometimes hawkers relocate.
Through it all, one thing remains true for Penangites – it is a community, Kopitiam.
It can be difficult to get both good food AND great coffee at the same time. Either the food is good and the drinks are bad, or vice versa.
Kedai Kopi Malabar is a gem as you have both here – good food and great coffee for a fraction of the price of cafe food.
The two pushcart stalls on the road before you enter Kedai Kopi Malabar are the oldest, probably 50 to 60 years in operation.
I’ll ask them when I visit again to confirm.
Drop by Kedai Kopi Malabar and eat where the locals hang out.
Kedai Kopi Malabar
Address: 55 Jalan Kampung Malabar 10100 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +6011-3324 5902
Operating Hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM (closed on Sundays)
