Kheng Pin Cafe — Restaurant in George Town

Update 10.11.24:

Visited Kheng Pin Cafe for its Lor Bak. Also had Hokkien Mee.

Ordered Kopi-o (Local Black Coffee) and it was atrocious. I had commented earlier about the strange taste of Nescafe. This time the Kopi-O tasted like it had the strongest taste of chlorine. Yucks! No wonder I saw the attendants cleared 2 almost full glasses of iced Milo from a table occupied by previous patrons. So, I will no longer order any hot drinks from this cafe.

It was my most disappointing brunch at Kafe Kheng Pin today. I had ordered the Chicken Rice but it was not delivered after about an hour of waiting. When I told my frustration to the guy who was helping with the packing of take-out orders, he was unapologetic about the delay and merely said that he was packing for take-out orders. What he should have done is to prioritise the cafe patrons instead. I left the cafe without taking the rice.

My honest advice to future patrons: DON’T ORDER THE CHICKEN RICE at Kafe Kheng Pin. THEY ARE DISGUSTING, IRRESPONSIBLE AND HAVE ZERO CUSTOMER-FRIENDLINESS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HIGHLY REVIEWED BY CUSTOMERS.

Luckily, while waiting for my order, I had ordered Lor Bak (Pork Roll), Taukua (Deep-fried Bean Curd) and Prawn Fritters.

As for Kafe Kheng Pin, except for boxed or bottled drinks, their other drinks are really not up to my liking. I had ordered a large, hot Nescafe but they didn’t use Nescafe. Instead they had served me some kind of coffee with a strange taste. Yucks!

Location: No comment as I’m not patronising it again.

Parking: No comment as I’m not patronising it again.

Ambience: No comment as I’m not patronising it again.

Food Quality: No comment.

Price: No comment.

Lavatory: No comment.

Overall Experience: Disgusting experience.

Personal Opinion: There are way better chicken rice and cafe in Georgetown that you...

Timeless Gem: A Nostalgic Review of Penang’s Old-School Coffee Shop

Stepping into this classic coffee shop feels like entering a time capsule—where the clatter of porcelain cups, the hum of ceiling fans, and the aroma of decades-old recipes transport you back to old Penang. The decor is untouched by modernity: vintage mosaic tiles, weathered wooden tables, and walls lined with faded advertisements from a bygone era. Even the beverage operator is a seasoned uncle in his 70s, moving with practiced ease as he pulls thick, aromatic kopi the traditional way.

Food & Drinks: Hokkien Mee: The bowl I tried was excellent—a robust prawn broth, springy noodles, and just the right balance of spice and savoriness. Coffee: Dark, strong, and unapologetically old-school—brewed the way it’s been for generations, with a smoky, almost caramelized depth. Other stalls offer wanton mee, char kuay teow, and nasi lemak, each looking like they’ve been perfected over decades.

Atmosphere: The pace here is unhurried, as if time itself refuses to rush. Patrons—a mix of elderly regulars and curious newcomers—sit under slow-turning fans, chatting or reading newspapers. There’s no WiFi, no hipster aesthetics—just pure, unfiltered heritage.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) If you crave authentic flavors and old-world charm, this coffee shop is a must-visit. It’s not just a meal; it’s a living museum of Penang’s culinary history.

Pro tip: Go early, soak in the nostalgia, and strike up a conversation with the uncle—he’s got...

Revisited 26jun2024

I reached this non-airconditional coffee shop on weekdays at about 10am. Most of the tables were occupied. The ambience was cool but a bit too overcrowded.

Prawn mee was delicious. RM6 per small serving. Broth was tasty. Ingredients such as vegetables, egg, and small shrimps were generous. I topup RM3 for an extra 3 pieces of pork ribs, and it was good. 4 stars

Wantan mee dry version was fantastic. The sauce was so delicious, and noodles were bouncy. Wonton was flavourful and well done. Ingredients were generous, and each serving at RM7. 4 stars

Chicken rice was mediocre. The rice lacked fragrance, and chicken was too dry. The chilli was also not fancy. RM7.50 per serving. 2 stars

Fried koay teow with duck egg was outstanding. The koay teow was a masterpiece, sricky, and the duck egg was undeniable. RM10 per serving with 2 large prawns, 5 chinese sausages, and 6 cockles. 5 stars Fried rice with salted fish was also from this fried koay teow stall. Taste wise, it was too oily to my liking, although it has he wok hei. RM10 per serving. I requested an extra dunny egg at RM1.50. 3 stars

The loh bak was too dry to my liking. The beancurb was mediocre. The sauce and chilli didn't impress at...