Abell's Kopi Tiam — Restaurant in District of Canberra Central

I'm editing my once very warm review to a luke warm one. We've enjoyed the meals here for a while but had taken them home. Well food out of plastic containers isn't as nice so we've gone a couple of times to eat in. The hast we were served with was crazy. It was 5.30 and no one else there. We were asked twice before is read the menu if we wanted drinks, and we'd already agreed on tap water. The water we were brought was room temperature and the room was 23c. I never made it to the end of the menu as he was back to take the order. I didn't hear what the specials were. The food came. It was fine. Ok. Empty plastic containers arrived on our table before my husband had finished eating. I started emptying my dish into one and the lady hovered for the plate. Apparently she was going to stay there until we were done. As my husband took his last mouthful his plate was taken and the table was wiped. By now I've stiffened into my unamused posture. We are abruptly offered dessert. Nothing was bad. The service wasn't bad. The food wasn't bad. But I felt like we were being rushed through and I'd rather eat at home...

if you're looking for a great Malaysian restaurant that provides great dishes that are full of flavour, well balanced and good texture, then Abel's Kopi Tiam is the place for you.

From the moment you arrive, you're warmly greeted and seated promptly. On busy occasions, and you haven't booked, you may be required to wait a while.

Staff keep an eye on your tea and rice levels and promptly ask you if you'd like refills. Lots to try and be tantalised about. The Teowchew braised pork has a wonderful flavour and aromatic scent, with a melt in your mouth tenderness. Double crispy duck is amazing, beef rendang is true to the Malaysian roots, and tofu goreng with satay sauce, and the aubergine and tofu with prawn sambal are delightfully amazing.

There are 3 Malaysian desserts - pulut hitam (black wild rice in coconut cream), sago pudding with gula Melaka (palm sugar) and kueh dadah (Pandan crepe filled with coconut that's hae been sweetened with palm sugar). There is a sticky date pudding also.

Worth repeat dining.

It's great for...

We thought we would give this place a go despite the reviews of average overpriced food. What a mistake! We sat down and wanted to test with one dish, keeping the menu to order more if it was good and worth the price. The waiter took our order and left. A little while later, the lady (appeared to be the owner) came to our table and said since we were three people, we would need to order more. Since we had been debating whether to eat here at all, we asked she cancel the order. She then said she wouldn't cancel the order as it was already being cooked. Lady, we aren't paying for more food when you wouldn't let us quality check or taste the first dish. I finally said we would get the one dish to go. She was extremely rude for a situation she had a part in, offered no solutions and the food was not even worth it. We paid almost $30 for this one small box of fried chicken in soy - greasy and just tasted like unfiltered soy sauce. Do not recommend - visit at...