Latte art used to be a relatively niche thing, but it is available in cafes everywhere now. However, some places with latte art still stand out from the rest. Such as Hainam Island Kopitiam in Kuala Lumpur, a traditional kopitiam with a unique story to go with its gorgeous latte art.
60 y.o. kopitiam
Located in Setapak, this kopitiam has been around for more than a whopping 60 years now. At first glance, it looks indistinguishable from any other kopitiam in the city. As you know, though, looks can be quite deceiving.
Bold & rich Hainan Kopi
Settle yourself down and order a drink. What should you go for? Order the Hainan Kopi, the kopitiam’s speciality. The coffee here is brewed fresh every morning, with it being most potent when you order it early in the morning.
The hand-crafted Hainan coffee is, in fact, made according to a recipe passed down by the auntie’s grandfather. To ensure the coffee is made perfectly, the auntie personally supervises its brewing. She’s also the one responsible for the amazing latte art.
In addition to looking pretty, the Hainan Kopi is an amazing way to start your day. If I had to pick two words to describe it, they would be: bold and rich. The sweetness and bitterness are balanced perfectly, an ideal state for any good coffee.
Eggs and bread!
And what’s the best thing to pair with a good cup of coffee? Warm toast, of course, with a smattering of butter and kaya and a side of half-boiled eggs! Those are available here and they are made just the way your grandpa would have loved.
There’s other food too
There’s more than coffee and toast at this respectable kopitiam, though. If you are looking for a meal, you can find one from one of the many stalls available here. We tried a handful of these and here are some of our favourites.
Cod Fish Curry Mee
The Cod Fish Curry Mee is a little pricey, coming in at RM16 for a small bowl, but the taste is to die for! The curry mee comes with a deep-fried cod fish head, which is so crunchy. The broth itself is flavourful, but further enhanced by the fish head.
Char Siew Wantan Mee
You can never go wrong with the Char Siew Wantan Mee served here at Hainam Island Kopitiam. Imagine slices of pork roasted to delicate perfection. Add to that mix some juicy prawn wantans and you got an incredible wantan mee on your hands.
Nasi Lemak & Chee Cheong Fun
Also worth trying here is the Nasi Lemak, which is best eaten with a side of Malay Spiced Fried Chicken. Have I mentioned that the sambal which comes with the nasi lemak is so good? Alternatively, the Chee Cheong Fun is always a good choice, with how slurpy it is.
What do we think?
With modern-style coffee shops springing up every other day, it is nice to see these old-school establishments still thriving. Hence, if you want some good coffee, be sure to pop by this place sometime soon.
Hainam Island Kopitiam
Address: 31, Jalan Prima Setapak 5, Taman Setapak, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 8 am – 2.30 pm daily | Closed on Sundays
Contact: 016-6878338
You should also check out: This stall in an SS2 kopitiam is where you can get char siu made with a 100-year-old recipe
