Toh Soon Cafe

Wishlisted by Michelle

Toh Soon Café maybe stuffed away in an alley but it’s definitely hard to miss with the long queue and the large crowd. Truthfully, the service is slow and messy. You’ll have a hard time grabbing the attention of the servers, you’re lucky if you get your order in less than 50 minutes (some people have waited for 2 hours), especially if you were served everything that you ordered. But despite the trying service and long wait, Toh Soon Café is considered a landmark, a long running favorite in Penang, and never fails to have a crowd. Why? Apparently, it’s all sincerely worth it. Six breads at a time are manually toasted in a small charcoal stove, each of which taking 10 minutes. A man squats by it and painstakingly toasts them to perfection. So much “perfection” that the toast when served with Malaysia’s signature fragrant Kaya spread, or soft boiled egg, is almost comforting. Even tourists will attest how heavenly a bite into their toast is. Match it along with their freshly brewed coffee that’s said to be irresistible, smooth, fragrant, and almost nostalgic. Luckily, if you’re not one for small spaces with big crowds, Toh Soon Café has opened another branch that’s said to have a better running operation. But this original staple is a real experience. There’s a reason why this kopitiam has stood the test of time and earned its reputation.

Taste of Malaysia: Penang