Iconic Hawker Fare in Malaysia’s 60th Anniversary Year – Unforgettable Kaya Toast with a Nanyang Twist

Text & Photos /Shao Sheng

Next up on our Penang street food journey: authentic Straits Settlements cuisine – Kaya Toast！Right after arriving in Penang and finishing our first round of snacks, our local friend took us for a second helping. This Tao Chun Café is not only a favorite of my friend but also an insanely popular and well-known eatery in Penang.

Tao Chun Café is located on Lebuh Campbell (New Street), though its exact spot is a bit hidden – it’s tucked away in an alley near Jalan Penang. The alley entrance is very close to Jalan Penang, so it’s not hard to find. With over sixty years of aromatic history in Penang, you can get a sense of that just from the café’s signboard.


Tao Chun Café operates right in that little alley – with just a simple awning, foldable tables and chairs, and plastic seating. There’s no fancy decor or spacious, comfy environment, yet it’s always packed no matter when you visit. What keeps it thriving is the owner’s dedication to preserving old-school flavors.

That’s how they brew such richly traditional coffee and make Kaya Toast that’s infused with the aroma of charcoal – it’s this very spirit that has kept them standing strong in Penang for over 60 years.


This old-school charcoal stove is the café’s secret weapon. The stove uses charcoal for heat; on the top, water is boiled for brewing coffee, while clearly visible underneath is the section for toasting the Kaya Toast, giving the bread a smoky flavor that makes it even more delicious. In the middle is the compartment for steaming the bread. One stove, three functions – super efficient and showing the owner’s clever touch.




Let’s start with the hot coffee. Back in 2012 during my first visit to Penang, I was amazed by the locals’ habit – because it was scorching hot, when I was having coffee with a friend in Penang, he actually ordered hot coffee. According to them, drinking hot coffee in the heat is healthier and more refreshing.

Although the people of Penang are ethnically Chinese like us, having lived in Malaysia for so long, they’ve developed their own unique food culture, which really opened my eyes. So the hot coffee in the sweltering heat wasn’t what we ordered – it was what our local friend drank. No matter the time, she always has her hot coffee.

As for us tourists, we naturally went for iced coffee. After brewing, the boss at Tao Chun Café adds sweetened condensed milk. I’ve always loved Penang coffee because it’s especially rich and fragrant – totally different from the coffee I’ve had in Taiwan. With the addition of condensed milk, that uniquely sweet taste makes the iced coffee even better. In Penang, you almost have to have a cup every day to feel satisfied.


At first glance, Kaya Toast might seem like just regular toast with Kaya spread, but there’s a reason why Tao Chun Café’s version is so popular. The toast is soft and fluffy – tasty, sure, but not much different from regular toast. However, the bread that’s been toasted over charcoal gets slightly crispy on the outside.

Plus, once you take a bite, there’s that charcoal aroma, and when you add butter and Kaya spread, it’s so delicious it stays with you long after you’ve eaten it. I’m actually reminiscing about the flavor as I write this – it’s just an incredibly appealing taste. That unique flavor is exactly what attracts both locals and tourists, keeping it a beloved fixture in Penang for 60 years.


Unlike the skimpy serving of Kaya at Singapore’s Ya Kun, Tao Chun Café gives you a generous spread of Kaya, making the toast even more delicious. The Kaya is so good, you can actually buy it by the jar to take home. A friend wanted to bring some back to Taiwan to make their own Kaya Toast, but unfortunately left it at their guesthouse in Penang – total heartbreak.

Penang in Malaysia is a lot like Tainan in Taiwan – the title “Food Capital” doesn’t even begin to cover it. Food is everywhere in Penang, and even though we ate more than we could handle in just three days, we still couldn’t try everything.

It looks like we’ll have to visit several times to fully conquer Penang’s culinary scene, and this Kaya Toast from Tao Chun Café is definitely one of the must-try delights in Penang.

【Tao Chun Café】

Address:140-184 Lebuh Campbell, Georgetown, 10200 Pulau Pinang
Business Hours:08:00~18:00 (Closed on Sundays)
Phone:(04)2613754
Shao Sheng’s Wandering Journeyhttp://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog

Every journey, every trip is a quest – though I’m not entirely sure what I’m searching for, what I end up gaining always exceeds my expectations. And so, my wandering journey will continue, nonstop.