KOPIHUT: KL Gangster actor’s kopitiam with crispy chicken nasi lemak, superb curry mee & cute ice bear drinks

I’m not usually one to get giddy over public figures dabbling in the food scene. More often than not, the hype far outweighs the actual food. So, what led me to KOPIHUT at their Jalan Sri Permaisuri outlet wasn’t the fact that it’s owned by Adam Corrie — a well-known Malaysian actor best recognised for his role as Dragon in the KL Gangster franchise — but rather the irresistibly adorable drinks topped with ice bears, spotted in photos shared by my sister.

A quick mention to my family and friends unearthed 2 key insights: one, the ice bears are absolutely essential for the ‘gram, and two, the only thing really worth ordering is their curry. Personally, I believe every kopitiam deserves at least one visit — even the slightly overpriced ones — so off I went for breakfast, curiosity in tow.

What I tried at KOPIHUT

Their menu was surprisingly straightforward — just one large sheet, printed on both sides and packed with offerings. Think kopitiam staples: nasi lemak, dry wonton noodles, curry noodle variations, mee siam, toasts, and a rather intriguing list of drinks.

Naturally, I had to try their nasi lemak. I played it safe and opted for the Nasi Lemak with Crispy Chicken Steak (RM15.90), skipping the classic Ayam Goreng Berempah for the day. For the price, the portion was respectable. It even came with a sunny-side-up instead of the usual hard-boiled egg — a nice touch. My only gripe? The amount of sambal was too little to my liking.

From the first scoop, I could tell the rice wasn’t going to win any awards. It felt like digging into a firm, unyielding wall rather than soft, fluffy grains. Its pearly white color already hinted at a lack of flavour, and, sadly, that hunch was spot on.

There was a faint whisper of santan, but based on the dry texture, it felt like they used artificial flavouring rather than actual coconut milk — if that’s even possible. The “lemak” in this nasi lemak? Completely missing in action. Eh, it was okay — just unapologetically average.

But then came the sambal. And oh, what a pleasant surprise it was. From the first taste, I was hit with a glorious punch of spice and shrimp umami — no unnecessary sweetness, just bold, balanced flavour. It had a rich, inviting red hue and was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It immediately redeemed the lacklustre rice. Which made the sting of that stingy portion even worse.

The rest of the components held up well — the peanuts and ikan bilis were nice and crunchy, the cucumber slices fresh. The egg, though, threw me off. The yolk was meant to be runny, but it seemed like it had been sitting out a little too long — the top had formed a weird plasticky layer that clung to my teeth like cling film.

As for the chicken? Crispy, juicy, and… exactly what you’d expect from pre-mixed frying flour. Familiar, comforting, and in all fairness, not bad at all.

Now, the Curry Mee (RM10.90 for plain) was something I had genuinely been looking forward to. The portion was generous enough, featuring yellow mee, tau fu pok, fucuk, green beans, red chillis, a halved hard-boiled egg, and a cheerful piece of lime.

The real star, however, was the curry broth. It was bursting with flavour, leaning towards a tantalising tanginess — likely from lemongrass and an extra splash of lime. The consistency was just right: thick enough to coat the spoon, but not the sort that clings uncomfortably to your throat.

The noodles were pleasantly free of that usual alkaline aftertaste and soaked up the broth beautifully, as did the tau fu pok and fucuk. All in all, a very solid — dare I say, damn good — bowl of curry mee.

We tried the best-rated affordable breakfast spot in KL

To wrap up the savoury part of our morning, we shared the Garlic Loaf with Egg (RM12.90) — essentially a hotdog bun sprinkled with sesame seeds, filled with garlic butter and soft-boiled eggs.

The bread was soft and pillowy at the top, with a delightful crunch at the base. The garlic butter was well-distributed, making each bite satisfyingly savoury, while the eggs added that creamy, luscious touch. That said, the texture did take a turn once it cooled down — the bread hardened to something resembling a dry cracker, which dulled the experience a bit.

Now, onto my favourite part of this tasting adventure: the drinks! I went for the KOPIHUT Cham (RM6.90) as my ice bear delivery vehicle — a blend of coffee and tea, served iced. A word of advice: not every drink comes with an ice bear, so be sure to check the menu before ordering if that’s your main goal.

The cham itself had a smooth, creamy consistency topped with a light froth, but flavour-wise, it leaned more towards milk tea than a true coffee-tea hybrid. As the ice bear slowly melted and sank into the glass — eventually morphing into a blob reminiscent of something from Minecraft — it didn’t take away the sweetness, thanks to the fact that the ice itself was pre-flavoured.

Now, kopitiam coffee can really be a hit or miss, especially for someone like me who prefers a no-sugar latte. More often than not, it’s just a little too heavy and sweet. But ordering the KOPIHUT Kopi (RM6.90) turned out to be my best decision of the day. Sure, its deep, dark colour underneath the foam might’ve looked intimidating, but the flavour was surprisingly well-balanced. 

The first sip did catch me off guard with its saccharine sweetness, but it gradually mellowed into lovely caramel and milky notes, allowing the coffee to shine through. It even came with 2 cream crackers on the side — they soaked up the coffee delightfully and practically melted in the mouth.

Final thoughts

Just like my family and friends predicted — the Curry Mee was the only dish I’d genuinely return to KOPIHUT for. It had all the right notes: flavourful, comforting, and memorable.

As for the drinks? The KOPIHUT Kopi truly stole the show. I wasn’t expecting to be this impressed, but it absolutely blew me away. With such a strong first impression, I’ve got high hopes for the rest of their drink lineup — and I’m already looking forward to trying more on my next visit.

Expected damage: RM10.90 – RM16.90 per pax

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