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If it weren’t for the necessary addition of greens in our cuisine, most Malaysians would probably lean full-on carnivore — thanks to our undeniable obsession with butter. It may not be obvious at first glance, but look closer at our local staples: butter coffee, kaya toast with a generous slab of butter, and anything drenched in buttermilk or salted egg. If that sounds like your dream menu, Butter Kaya Kopitiam might just be your next stop.
You might have seen their MyTown outlet beside the iconic Uncle Roger’s restaurant, but this sunshine-yellow kopitiam’s flagship store is tucked away at Petaling Street, also known as Chinatown. Like many eateries in the area, it’s concealed behind rows of trinket stalls — so keep your eyes peeled.
What I tried at Butter Kaya Kopitiam
I’d seen the reviews claiming that the menu would leave you spoiled for choice, but honestly, I thought it was just another overstatement — until I actually sat down and opened it. Sure, the mains were tempting (Nasi Lemak Noodles? Roti John Satay? Interesting), but what really stole my attention were the drinks and desserts. With vibrant Gula Melaka Cendol and indulgent Dirty Chocolate Cake on the lineup, skipping dessert simply wasn’t an option.
In fact, I started with one. And what an introduction it was — the soft, thick, and gloriously golden Pandan Kaya Lava Bun (RM12.90). Imagine a loaf of French toast, hollowed out to cradle a luscious pandan whipped cream filling, layered with kaya, sprinkled with desiccated coconut, crowned with a slab of butter, and finished with a dainty pandan leaf on top.
Cutting into it was slightly nerve-wracking — the loaf was so soft it felt like I might ruin it with the knife. But then came the reward: the filling oozed out beautifully. The first bite was pure heaven. The bread was unapologetically buttery, with crisp edges that offered just a hint of eggy richness from the French toast soak.
What truly surprised me was the balance — the filling wasn’t cloyingly sweet and had just the right texture to avoid feeling jelak after a few bites. As someone who’s never been head-over-heels for pandan, I found myself reaching for more. The coconut added a warm, toasty finish, while the extra cold butter was almost unnecessary, because the toast was already a buttery bliss on its own.
As heavenly as the pandan toast was, it definitely wasn’t enough to satisfy my appetite. So, naturally, I moved on to something heartier — one of their Buttermilk series, which felt only fitting at a place named Butter Kaya. I opted for the Buttermilk Clam Noodles (RM24.90): ramen-style noodles served in a thin but flavourful buttermilk broth, topped with clams, fucuk, and lettuce leaves.
The moment the Claytan bowl landed on my table, I was instantly drawn in by the aroma of curry leaves and creamy buttermilk. But the real surprise came with the first slurp. Despite the strong fragrance, the curry leaf flavour was nowhere to be seen (or tasted).
Instead, what shone through was everything else that makes buttermilk broth such a Malaysian classic: a gentle heat from chilli padi, the richness of butter, the smoothness of milk, and the unmistakable hint of garlic. It was thinner than usual, yes — but oddly, even better. I couldn’t stop sipping it.
The ramen noodles were fairly standard, but I appreciated how well the broth clung to each strand, despite its lighter consistency. The clams were fresh for the most part, though a couple leaned a bit too far into the sea. Still a surprisingly delightful bowl.
For a light snack (savoury, this time — the toast didn’t count!), my dining partner and I shared the Rojak Jumbo Rolls (RM14.90). The portion was way bigger than expected, and it arrived on an adorably retro yellow Claytan plate that I would steal in a heartbeat…under different circumstances.
Each fried roll was cut into generous bite-sized chunks (read: you’ll need to open wide), topped with classic sweet rojak sauce, crushed peanuts, and thinly sliced cucumbers. The texture was a joy — the beancurd skin wrapping was crisp at the edges, with soft, springy layers inside. The sauce wasn’t too sweet, the peanuts added a nice crunch, and the cucumber brought a refreshing finish.
To wrap things up, we cleansed our palates with a glass of iced Coconut Kopi (RM9.90). From the first sip, the creamy, slightly salty taste of coconut hit first — followed by the deep, roasted notes of the coffee. And no, they didn’t just throw in a splash of coconut milk. The coconut flavour was bolder, subtly drawn from actual shredded coconut flesh.
Final thoughts
Okay, truth be told — I usually don’t expect much from spots that are often packed with tourists rather than locals. So to say that Butter Kaya Kopitiam exceeded my expectations? That would be putting it mildly.
Every dish had its charm, but what truly left a mark was their tea-time selection — the desserts, the drinks, the savoury little bites. It’s the kind of menu you don’t just stumble upon elsewhere, and for that alone, I’d happily come back for seconds (and thirds).
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