Friday, January 24, 2025

Restoran Kopitiam Number One (Taman Sri Muda) Shah Alam

Big red signboard with yellow lettering for a Chinese coffeeshop, mounted above the front entrance.
Recommended by a friend, we decided to visit Restoran Kopitiam Number One, a corner-lot Chinese coffee shop, on a Saturday. Parking was a bit of a challenge; it took a few rounds before we finally found a spot. Arriving around 11:30 a.m., we were greeted by an array of hawker stalls offering a modest yet varied selection of food. As expected of a traditional coffee shop, staples like bread toast with eggs and hot beverages shared the spotlight with other local favorites.
Marble-top tables and brown plastic chairs in a Chinese coffeeshop near stalls serving a variety of hawker foods.
After pacing around indecisively, I settled on Pork Belly in Soy Sauce, paired with Kuey Teow Soup and a spicy dip (RM10.00). Unfortunately, it was underwhelming. The pork belly, served with egg and tofu in a light soy-flavored sauce, lacked depth and tasted bland. The Kuey Teow Soup, oddly similar in flavor to the soy sauce from the pork belly, left the dish one-dimensional. Even the spicy dip couldn’t salvage it, and I left most of it uneaten (PORK CHOPS RECIPE). 

A bowl of flat rice noodles in pork soup, paired with pork belly, sliced egg, tofu in soy sauce & a spicy dipping sauce.
My husband’s Char Kuey Teow, priced at RM9.00, was a better choice. He found it flavorful enough to finish, though he mentioned having enjoyed superior versions elsewhere (FRIED MEE HAWKER STYLE RECIPE). For drinks, we kept it simple with Calamansi Lime Juice and Chinese Tea - refreshing but nothing out of the ordinary.
A plate of flat rice noodles fried with bean sprouts, prawns, soy sauce, and garlic.

A glass of warm calamansi lime juice and a glass of Chinese tea.
Before heading out, I picked up some dim sum from the front stall, a branch of Restoran 998 Bukit Rimau. Having tried their food before, I chose their Fried Dim Sum with a flaky, crumbly yam-filled crust, along with a few sweet options. The pricing was reasonable and on par with typical hawker-style dim sum stalls.
Steamed Chinese buns on a closed metal container.


Overall, it was a mixed experience. While some dishes showed promise, others fell short of expectations. Still, it provided a snapshot of the variety offered at a typical local coffee shop.

(Ms. Nava, a Zenpreneur in her 60s, founded Nava’s Zen at 58. She has 22 years of experience as a former lecturer, including with Curtin University’s Degree Twinning Program. Ms. Nava is also a passionate foodie who loves discovering eateries. For Ms. Nava, food brings people together, and sharing her Zen dining experiences celebrates this connection with others).

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Restoran Kopitiam Number One (Taman Sri Muda) Shah Alam

Recommended by a friend, we decided to visit Restoran Kopitiam Number One, a corner-lot Chinese coffee shop, on a Saturday. Parking was a bi...