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This spot is always crowded whether it is a weekday or a weekend. When we were there last week, we shared a small table with two friendly aunties who are in their forties at least. They told us Toh Soon Cafe has been around for more than 30 years. Both of them live nearby and they saw and knew about this place since they were very young. "Now, it is run by the new generation", they claimed. What they love the most is his black coffee or what the Penangites called it 'Kopi 'O'' ('Kopi' means coffee in Malay Language and 'O' is a coffee shop slang for coffee with sugar and no milk). "The black coffee here is exceptionally good in term of aroma and taste", they continued.
We ordered two cups of 'Kopi 'O'' and I could not agree more. If you do not fancy sweet beverage, please order with less sugar (like what these aunties did) which turn out to be superb! Its flavor is totally different compare to other coffee shops. The black coffee at Toh Soon gives a buttery flavor with a bitter fragrance yet rich and thick satisfying taste. Is this the art of coffee making or bean roasting? Nobody really knows their secret recipe. We only know how to make a way back there whenever we think of an aromatic black coffee.
Besides coffee, they also offers other beverages like tea, Milo, Pat Poh, Barley, soft drinks and even beers as we can see from the menu. They also have half boiled eggs and toasted bread for breakfast. 'Nasi lemak' or coconut milk rice wrapped in brown paper resembling a pyramid shape is also served on tables.
Another interesting corner is the art of bread toasting. Most of us will probably imagine there is somebody helping to insert the plain bread into the oven toaster. When it 'tings', it is time to take out the toasted breads and spread with butter and 'kaya' (a local version of jam made of eggs, thick coconut milk, pandan (screwpines) leaves and sugar which required frequent stirring under low fire). Oh dear, it is totally a different picture here. Below illustrates how the bread toasting is done in a traditional manner over charcoal ambers. Simply amazing!
Having seen that, it also means the bread may take quite some time to be ready as the productivity rate is low.
One last item that surprises me is the owner still trusts us to eat first and pay later. If you are familiar with the hawker/stalls common practice in Penang, we have to pay once the food is served. It does not happen here until you fill up your tummy happily and ready to make a move. Then, just give the boss a yell to calculate the total bill and only then you pay. At this little corner, the element of trust is still very strong, I really salute this practice as part of good customer service!
Somehow, I like this place. When I was a young kid, my late grandfather used to take me on a bicycle to patronize a typical Chinese coffee shop of the same menu like Toh Soon every morning. It brings back the memories of the good old times I had with my loved one, I guess!
Address:
Campbell Street,
Off Penang Road, George Town,
Penang, Malaysia
Business hours: Serving breakfast until afternoon tea time
Recommendation: 4/5 (good black coffee and nice toasted bread with reasonable price)
Location courtesy by Google Map (click to view map & zoom in): Toh Soon Cafe If you are looking to stay at this place you may try find your hotels in Penang
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Campbell Street Toh Soon Cafe in George Town Penang
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