While Singapore boasts a wide range of hearty breakfast, often frequenting their favourite kopitiams for kaya toast and a cup of kopi, Malaysia is renowned for excelling in traditional breakfast offerings. Both Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya also boast excellent kopitiams.
Essentially, kopitiams are traditional coffee shops found everywhere that offer a variety of local food, especially breakfast dishes. The world ‘kopi’ derives from the Malay term for coffee while ‘tiam’ comes from the Chinese Hokkien/Hakka dialect that stands for shop.
But what makes a good kopitiam? People usually tend to stick to a particular dish that it’s known for. Local favourites like char kuey teow, wonton mee, chicken rice, and prawn mee are popular and very hearty breakfast options when it comes to traditional breakfasts in KL, and some of the best in the city can be found in these time-tested establishments. Those seeking the quintessential local experience won’t go wrong with the kaya toast and eggs combo, although some on this list have more modern takes with croissants and more.
Traditionally, kopitiams are the best places to go to for breakfast and/or lunch for many families across the KL and PJ. It offers a smorgasbord of choices with plenty of vendors packed under one roof. Known as hawkers, some have been in the same spot for years now, cementing a reputation with the neighbouring community.
With that said, all kopitiams serves a purpose to its neighbourhood. Find out all the best places in KL and PJ for the heartiest local and old-school breakfast dishes today.
(Hero and featured image credit: @wxngcy718/Instagram)
8 places for the best traditional breakfast in KL and PJ today:
Jump To / Table of Contents
Tucked into the tiny neighbourhood of Damansara Kim is Restoran Golden Kim Wah, known for its delicious char kway teow. If you’re in this time-tested KL establishment for breakfast, be sure to also sample the other hawker stalls like curry laksa, Assam laksa, and prawn mee. For a lighter breakfast, be sure to order the Chee Cheong Fun, which comes with toppings like fish balls and fish cake.
(Image credit: @luxent/Instagram)
2 /8
One of the true OGs in the KL and Selangor kopitiam game is O&S Restaurant in Petaling Jaya’s Taman Paramount. It is home to some of the greatest hawker stalls around, with an array of old-school local dishes like char kuey teow, wonton mee, tau foo fah, assam laksa, and prawn mee that are immensely popular with locals and visitors alike. Be sure to come early as getting a table will be difficult once the crowd pours in.
(Image credit: @diana.chan.au/Instagram)
A popular old-school kopitiam in the heart of Malaysia’s Aman Suria in Petaling Jaya is Restoran Sun Yin Loong, which has been feeding the many white- and blue-collar workers in the area for decades. It also sees a healthy stream of families of the neighbourhood on a daily basis. Some popular items include its Chinese mixed rice, wonton mee, and char kuey teow, but it’s not a proper breakfast here without an order of its Ipoh White Coffee and eggs on toast.
(Image credit: @riceats2/Instagram)
4 /8
There are many different types of eateries in TTDI, from high-end establishments to affordable budget eats, which is very much what New Yong Len Restaurant has to offer. The Penang Prawn Mee here has become a staple breakfast for those who live in this KL neighbourhood and beyond, many of which brave the traffic and queue here for a bowl of the flavourful noodles. The eatery is known to get crowded during the busy lunch period so its best to get there early.
(Image credit: @sawawho/Instagram)
While Chun Heong coffee shop offers plenty of variety when it comes to hawker food, there are two stalls here that stand out. This humble kopitiam in KL’s Bangsar is well known for its chilli pan mee, as well as Chinese nasi lemak. Both are popular breakfast choices for people in the neighbourhood, and the queue starts from as early as 8am. Other notable dishes here include Kampar noodles, Sarawak laksa, and kolo mee.
(Image credit: @simonchf/Instagram)
6 /8
Chuan Lee Restaurant at Section 11 of Selangor’s PJ is one of the most popular breakfast spots for traditional local fare. Expect great food from the old-school eatery, regardless of which stall you order from. This ranges from char kuey teow to prawn and curry mee, chicken rice, wonton mee, and even the classic pan mee.
(Image credit: @charlsenming/Instagram)
7 /8
If you’re in KL, you’ll want to dedicate one morning to Win Heng Seng, which is one of the best breakfast kopitiams for lovers of authentic local cuisine. One of the most talked-about dishes here is the pork ball noodles, which come with a huge helping of noodles and pork balls for maximum flavour. Other notable inclusions are wonton mee and Sarawak kolo mee.
One of the most OG kopitiams to date, Thong Kee Hainan Coffee Shop serves up delectable Hainanese breakfast treats. Originating from Bentong, Pahang, the kopitiam focuses mainly on its coffee, soft boiled eggs, and kaya butter toast combos, making it one of the best quintessential breakfast spots in KL for Malaysians. If that isn’t enough, fret not as there are many other stalls at the modernised old-school eatery selling other popular breakfast items as well.
Wi-Liam Teh
Senior Writer
Wi-Liam is a geek at heart with a penchant for tattoos. Never without a drink in hand (preferably whisky, gin, or Guinness), he is also a writer by day and a keyboard warrior by night. On his day off, he masquerades as a streetwear and sneakerhead enthusiast while his bank account says otherwise.
Most Popular
