Kemaman Coffee Shop @ Kuala Terengganu

My company organised a trip to Redang Island for our annual team building gig. On the way there, some of us had the opportunity to stop by Kuala Terengganu a day before the whole team arrived. With it came an opportunity to find some good chow/food.

The Kemaman Coffee Shop was just about 5 minutes walking distance from Grand Continental Hotel Kuala Terengganu. It is just on the road side located in a row of double story shop lots.

The shop is run by local Chinese and 90% of their customers are Malays. The shop basically serves drinks, toast and char koay teow(it seems to be the main attraction). And that was what we had, price wise it is a bit costly, I think the total bill for 7 persons came up to RM70 – 80, 7 plates of Koay teow, 2 sets of toast(1 plate butter & kaya and 1plate tuna), and drinks. The toasts were crispy on the surface and slight soft in the centre. The Tuna toasts was filled with cucumber, tomato, chopped onions and generous amount of meaty tuna mayo. The mayo was just sufficient to give it the creamy rich taste and moist and smooth texture. But for the kaya and butter toast, it was not as delicious as those found in the Hainanese style or Nyonya style kopitiams. The Kaya was not rich enough in taste and texture was a bit too smooth.

As for the Char Koay Teow, it is not the same as those found in Penang Hawker centres, but it reminds me of how it was prepared by my mom years ago when she was still arround. The Char Koay Teow at Kamaman Coffees Shop is halal without the used of lard as most of their customers are Malay Muslims. The actual fragrant and taste of the Char Koay Teow there is not from the, usually found in Penang and other West Coast States, prawn and special sauce used, but from natural ingredients like the 'Ku Chai' and egg. The special pungent aroma of fried eggs and refreshing earthy taste of the 'Ku Chai' was the main puller. If theres is an opportunity, do try it! It is a different experience.