Old Town White Coffee Cafe – Ipoh, Malaysia
Clockwise L to R: a traditional business signage in chinese characters painted in gold on black wood; the decor inside the Gunung Rapat outlet; a white coffee mocha frappe; customer reading newspaper on a saturday morning while enjoying a cup of white coffee
In the modern, fast-paced (and westernised as a matter of fact) Malaysia, the first thing you will notice is food franchise outlets popping up everywhere! Majority of the chains are US franchises like Macdonald’s, KFC, Kenny Rogers, and Marry Brown (comes with seatings hang from the roof like a swing), Chilis just to name (seriously) a few of them; then there’s also tech savvy Chinese businessmen turning old recipes into fast food money making machine like Secret Recipe, and also, no doubt the popular Old Town White Coffee Cafe. When we talk about white coffee, it is all started in Ipoh of course.
The ever-filthy little cafe called White Cafe in old town Ipoh, has now become a multi-million successful business with over 100 outlets across the country plus Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Old Town White Coffee cafe is definitely the most convenient and cleaner option to try some of the famous food from Ipoh, with a nice cup of white coffee of course. They even keep the decor pretty close to the original cafe, using old black wooden tables with marble tops; and some beautiful nostalgic photographs of the old town cafe scenes once used to be like.
Dry Curry Mee - RM6.30
Franchises are franchises, the food will never be the same and as tasty as those from the original cafe in Ipoh. Having said that, there are definitely a few items on the menu that I can say is pretty close to the originals, if not even better.
My all time favorite will have to be the Dry Curry Mee. A very simple dish by using instant noodle mixes with dry soy sauce (Gon Lou － 干撈), topped with steamed chicken slices, then christened with a nice scoop of hot curry sauce. Don’t be fool by the little smidgen of curry sauce, it won’t blow your head off, but definitely will give you a tingling sensation on the lips and will send you off looking for that glass of Ice white coffee.
Omega half-boiled eggs - RM2.50
If you like your half boiled egg, then you will have to try the Malaysia/Singapore (or asia countries generally) version. The egg is cooked to perfection with a runny egg white that has no lumpy bits and the yolk is still holding its shape. Most people will just drink it in one go with a dash of soy sauce, or dip with bread toasts. The secret for such perfect half boiled egg is all thank to this most amazing cooker ever invented in this world! I am bringing one back home, so will showcase how it works when I get back and write a post about it.
Old Town curry mee - 6.30
The Old Town Curry Mee is also one of my favorite, a dish will make you sweat. It is an alternative name to the Curry Laksa, and also the soup based version of the Dry Curry Mee. The instant noodle along with fishcake and chicken slices are submerged in bowl of curry soup with tofu, long beans sealed with a layer of chili oil. The only down side is how to refrain myself from drinking all the soup and having the urge for toilet-run the day after.
Most franchises will use the instant noodle for the Curry Mee but the one I had again at LCCT airport branch is served with thicker egg noodle which is a little stodgy I found.
toast with kaya and butter (double) - RM2.70
Lastly, another must try at the Old Town White Coffee Cafe is the Kaya and Butter Toast. A generous layer of kaya spread on two layer of brown toasts, with a thick block of unmelted butter sandwiched in between. Heaven! A sweet prelude of kaya spread on the crispy toast, to a “hello momma!” buttery finale.
Old Town White Coffee cafe is the new trend of the old tradition, the new breed of the old recipe. Not to mention the free WiFi at all outlets, I saw a lot of foreigners including myself taking the advantage of the internet while still able to try some local favorite specialties. What not to love?
3 outlets I've tried: Old Town White Coffee - Gunung Rapat Old Town White Coffee - LCCT airport Old Town White Coffee - Kelana Mall For more outles, please visit website: http://www.oldtownwhitecafe.com/ Business hour : most outlets open from 8am - 12am
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Take something old and make it new again…that seems to be the business motto these days! The dry curry mee looks delish but like you too much and you know the rest…glad to see you’re having fun Billy.
.-= Peter G´s last blog ..Roast Pork =-.
You are making me home sick, Billy!! I have been to their outlet in Jusco, Seremban 2. This is what Shez, Steph and myself said in Twitter, “We need one of these kopitiams in Sydney!”
.-= Ellie@AlmostBourdain´s last blog ..Portuguese Custard Tarts =-.
Nothing is the same as the good old days, traditional methods of making food, filthy decor. Oh well, it still looks like a good place to eat!
I’m reeeeealy craving a trip back to Malaysia now though! damn you
That food looks really delicious – the egg especially! I love really runny yolks, maybe that’s something I should try. Looking forward to seeing how they are made.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..Wedding (Cup)Cakes =-.
Errrrrgh! I’m not a big OTWC fan – much prefer the hot air and dust of the outdoor street vendors (who, coincidentally, also charge 1/3 of the price). It is amazingly convenient though, and that kaya toast is oh-so butter laden.
.-= shez´s last blog ..miss chu (part 1) =-.
mmm…kaya <3 ! it does seem very popular of the food industry in asian countries to take an old favourite transform it into something new. That we can get the best of both worlds tho! yaY!
.-= K´s last blog ..The Smokehouse, Surry Hills =-.
old or new? I prefer old kopi tiam shops. But the ones in Malaysia is much much better than Singapore & especially the one in Melbourne! They serve teh tarik by using the 3-in-1 sachets!
.-= penny´s last blog ..Wild rabbit stew on Cous cous =-.
that boiled egg contraption looks so simple but promises brilliance. and sitting on swings to eat? sounds dangerous if you’re prone to over-eating like, er, nevermind… lol….
.-= Helen (GrabYourFork)´s last blog ..Series launch of My Family Feast with Sean Connolly at Sean’s Kitchen, Pyrmont, Sydney =-.
I shall have to try the dry curry mee at the one here in Kota Damansara!
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Foodie Excursion to Ijok for Beggar’s Delights =-.
@Peter G: It is the one dish that I always order everytime I go. Hope you having a great time in Thailand!
@Ellie@AlmostBourdain: But you just back from Malaysia anyway! Make it yourself I know you are amazing with Malaysian cooking!
@Iron Chef Shellie: Well, I’ve heard aweful stories what they do to leftovers. I think I much prefer eating at new modern house like this now and watch what I am eating.
@Katie: The eggs are to die for! Seriously!
@shez: Yeah I know what you mean, but I do think their food are pretty decent consider a chain. Oh the butter block on the toast!
@K: True and absolutely nothing wrong with it, SO LONG they do it right and keep the authenticity of it.
@penny: 3-in-1 teh tarik served in a restaurant?! Sacrilege!
@Helen (GrabYourFork): I am not kidding! Swinging and eating!! LOL
@Nate: Nice man. Do it!
Been tryin to get the name of the place that supplies there tables and wanna put in my restaurant in australia.. Not havin any luck and i rang old town too but no help.. anybody know? MM i thought the food was average