Kafei Dian: Spend under RM20 at 109-year-old post office-turned-kopitiam for juicy Hainanese chicken chop & Penang prawn noodles
If you’ve been to Melaka, you know it’s famous for its charming vintage businesses housed in old, single or double-storey buildings that have stood the test of time. But did you know you can catch a similar vibe right on Petaling Street in KL?
Along Jalan Panggong, you’ll find a row of cosy coffee shops with warm, wooden exteriors — and one of the standouts is Kafei Dian. This old-school kopitiam is tucked inside a 109-year-old former Post Office, blending rich history with a modern twist. While some have called it a “tourist trap,” I was eager to see for myself.
Its entrance is almost hidden by lush greenery draping the signboard from above, but you’ll know you’re there when you spot the server waiting to greet you.
The interior is even more charming — stepping inside feels like a trip back to the retro Malayan food scene. The rustic walls are adorned with red decor, Chinese calligraphy, and jars of nostalgic childhood snacks and toys. Deep brown wooden tones fill up the spaces in between.
Service at Kafei Dian was quick and we snagged a seat right away. Ordering was simple with a QR code system and our food arrived within 15 minutes. However, if you’re craving their dim sum, be prepared to wait an extra 20 minutes.
What I tried at Kafei Dian
Kafei Dian is a classic kopitiam offering a delicious blend of local favourites and Nanyang cuisine, like Butter Kaya Toast and hor fun noodles. Naturally, I had to try their best-selling Hainam Chicken Chop (RM18.90), a staple of timeless Hainanese cuisine.
Hainanese chicken chop varies from place to place, and Kafei Dian’s take has its own twist. The deboned chicken was perfectly battered, deep-fried, and generously coated in sweet and sour sauce.
It came with baked beans, a sunny-side-up egg, and a bun as the carb option. I’m more used to chicken chops with coleslaw, so the baked beans felt like a nod to a breakfast plate — definitely something that piqued my curiosity.
My first impression was that the batter had a distinct eggy flavour, with crispy, fluffy edges that reminded me of the classic Thai dish telur bungkus or bistik — a fluffy omelette filled with minced meat and veggies, topped with gravy. The thick sweet and sour sauce gave it that same nostalgic feel.
The chicken itself was incredibly juicy, so tender that cutting through it was like slicing butter. I savoured every bite, though I would’ve preferred the gravy to be a bit less sweet. It was a standard mix of ketchup, chilli sauce, and maybe a touch of oyster sauce, with bits of red onion. I suspect they added a little dash of sugar to amp up the natural sweetness of the sauces.
The baked beans were larger than usual, though nothing extraordinary. The egg, however, was perfectly cooked and there was something so satisfying about popping the yolk. While it added a nice creaminess to the dish with the baked beans and sweet-and-sour gravy, the overall texture was a bit too soggy for my taste.
The bun was a nice touch for soaking up the sauce, but it was a bit tough, almost like it had gone stale.
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Next, I sampled another Kafei Dian’s classic — the Penang Prawn Noodle Soup (RM13.90). It was a hearty bowl of yellow mee and bee hoon in a rich prawn broth topped with fishcakes, bean sprouts, greens, and prawns. A generous serving of sambal came on the side.
From the first slurp, the umami flavour of the prawns hit me hard — so kaw! The broth had a slight bitterness, a sign of the concentrated prawn heads and shells used to make it. If you’re a prawn lover, you’ll enjoy this (though I’m not a huge fan).
The dish came with 4 prawns but each was a halved whole shrimp. On the bright side, the prawns were fresh and juicy with a nice bounce despite having been simmered in the hot broth.
They cooked the noodles just right — the strands were firm even after sitting for a while. At first glance, the sambal looked like sambal tumis due to its texture and colour, but once I tasted it, the subtle hints of belacan and the extra umami from the shrimp paste came through, along with a touch of bitterness from the lime.
While the sambal added a nice zing to the noodles, it wasn’t spicy at all, even on its own.
Final thoughts
I can confidently say that Kafei Dian is not a tourist trap. However, the food was a bit underwhelming — the dishes were decent but left me feeling like they could’ve been better. Of course, that’s just personal preference.
For a taste of true Malaysian heritage, Kafei Dian is still a must-visit around Pasar Seni. Its unique concept of preserving national history through its architecture and nostalgic trinkets makes it more than just a place to eat.
Expected damage: RM13.90 – RM18.90 per pax
The post Kafei Dian: Spend under RM20 at 109-year-old post office-turned-kopitiam for juicy Hainanese chicken chop & Penang prawn noodles appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
