Beverages
Kedai Kopi Kong Thai Lai – Late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew’s Favorite Coffeeshop
May 7, 2009 by email2me · 17 Comments | [1,040 views]
Last trip back to Penang was pretty a fruitful trip for food hunting. I was craving for old school gourmet coffee. Hokkien lang call it KOPI O! In KL all the mamak coffee are very diluted and more milk taste than the coffee. No matter how bad Penang’s kopi O, it still pawns the KL ones.
See how much coffee powder people put and those coffee drips from the filter? Penang folks said if the coffee drip doesn’t stick on the cup/glass it is consider diluted. Must TEOW AU (stick on the cup). I go and pick up the coffee filter and i think that easily come close to 500 grams in weight.
I was having a chit chat with Uncle Liew from Hong Yap Trading where Big Boys Oven held their class. Truly a Penang person I really respect him. Both of us can really talk when coming to food. I ask him about those famous kopitiam (coffeeshop) my grandfather’s time. They are so good where they roast their coffee beans at the back and in front where you can order a cup of fresh brewed kopi O. But most of them were closed due to the booming modernize cafe like Old Town White Coffee and mamak stalls.
Uncle reminds me of a place where I intended to visit in my hit list. This place is very run down and located in a pre war building.
Located a stone throw away from the Campbell Street and Penang Road T Junction, the kopitiam is called Kong Thai Lai Coffeeshop. Uncle Liew told me after all those kopitiam closed, only left this shop serve the best Kopi O and also there are a history behind this kopitiam.
Myself, Sidney and CK Lam pay them a visit for a sip of the coffee. They are about to close shop when we reach there around 3.45pm. There are no nice deco, no music and just plain furnitures in the shop. From the picture above you may notice why all the wooden tables and all of sudden a round table in the center. This is of the collectible which this owner refuse to sell to the late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew (The Founder of Honda Malaysia).
Late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew’s Regular Seat and Table according to the kopitiam owner
Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew was a regular here and his favorite table were the first table when you enter the shop. He has his personalized own cup there from the story told by Uncle Liew but we didn’t request for it when we were there since people about to close shop.
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Maybe we need to sit and drink there everyday like what our late Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew did inorder to get ideals on how to be a millionaire. We spend one day only, tak cukup la…haha
email2me Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ya lo …. people sit there for so many year ….
very classic. but kinda eerie to be sitting on the chair associated with the late Tan Sri.
J2Kfms last blog post..Yee Fatt Dry Curry Noodles @ Jln Kampar, Ipoh
email2me Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hahaha ….. you scare ghost ka ….. if he really was there, must ask him how to dream a car brand out. Don’t know know Honda’s motto is “THE POWER OF DREAM”
I love drinking coffee but always drink it with creamer
Whoaaa… can play mahjong there? How fun!!!
Selbas last blog post..Keripik Ubi (Sweet Potato Chips)
email2me Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
We are not to the standard to play with all these folks. They are so PRO! When you dump your first card out, they already know what card you are holding. =.=||
should rent this place for bloggers gathering!!
New Kid On The Blogs last blog post..Long Xiang (Seafood) Restaurant ????
email2me Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Later all don’t dare to come. Scare see late Tan Sri sitting with them. Like the picture above illustrate it. lol
wow never thought this kopitiam has a history like that!!!
email2me Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Only the strong stands in Penang ….. Just sell coffee and toast bread can survive till today.
wah even the seat of Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew also got? Do you try to ask “him” for 4 digits? Some more the coffee is so kao, sure very tasty.
StevenGoh.coms last blog post..Special Penang Food, Fried Porridge @ 113 Cafe, Fettes Park
email2me Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:49 am
If see him straight ask for lottery already! 4 digits big investment. XD
I prefer coffee with creamer. Can’t get used to Kopi O taste
allies last blog post..Penang Hawker Food | “Raw” Noodle?? aka Che Mee
email2me Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:50 am
You should try it first then you will know ….. hehehe
only kopi and bread?? wow..
email2me Reply:
May 8th, 2009 at 8:50 am
This is what we call Keng!
i can’t take local kopi O…cos will get headache and become very ‘blur’. think the coffee too strong! lol
but this one…must try!!