The One Kopitiam

08.03.2008
We were looking for a makan place in Bandar Sri Damansara but we were not able to locate one which is in line with our taste. Next stop was Damansara Perdana. We went to this particular "cute and cozy" pizza outlet but the Malay staff could not guarantee us on the halal-ness (is there such a word?) of food being served there.

With our tummy making lot of 'noises', we warped speed to TTDI. Located at Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, we "explored" The One Kopitiam for the first time. We arrived at the location around 2.30pm and to our surprise, the place was still packed. We managed to get a table (the only one left) and realised that we were surrounded by patrons mostly from the warga emas age-group. The menu is rather limited - typical kopitiam menu, I guess.

Naz ordered Mee Bandung while I opted for something heavy. However the 'heavy meals' are only limited to Chicken Chop and Fish & Chips. So I ordered the Chicken Chop, Fried Wantan & Otak Otak. The Otak Otak came first. The Otak Otak is not your typical looking Otak Otak - it looks like a fried popiah and the taste is rather 'odd'. Then came the Chicken Chop. The portion is small, it has more (crispy) skin than the actual meat (look at the photo below) and the chips - a mere 12 short stick of fries! Macam makan Kid's Meal pulak :p The brown sauce is totally tasteless... Naz' Mee Bandung fared much better. It has the correct taste. However, the Fried Wantan is a disappointment.

Chicken Chop - look at the portion...please count the number of fries on the plate :p Mee Bandung...Otak Otak...or Popiah?

**********Extract From The Star**********

They say that the family that eats together stays together. It is especially true for a group of friends who come from different backgrounds, race and profession. Despite their differences, they share one common ground – the love for food. “All of us love food and every time we meet it will be at a kopitiam. It is a passion that all of us have been sharing. That is why we decided to open this kopitiam together,” said Fauziah Jayos, managing director for The One Kopitiam in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. The group of friends whose profession ranges from a florist, photo lab owner, pharmacist and a lawyer opened the eatery in October last year. Fauziah, a florist, said the group used to d meet for breakfast at a kopitiam. She said they had taken pains coming up with the menu and even sourced for the best coffee beans. ‘‘We are using our own selected blend of coffee and grind them ourselves here at the shop. Unlike other local coffee shops, we brew our coffee in the expresso machines and use steamed milk,” she said.

For starters: The eatery also serves fried wanton, otak-otak and popcorn chicken.
“We also try to offer a variety of food to ensure that there is something for everyone but we do not want to overdo it. So, some of the dishes are our personal favourites made using family recipes while some are recommended by friends and regular customers. So, the menu is still evolving,” she said. The outlet also offers a variety of local dishes like Mee Rebus and Mee Bandung Muar, special noodle dishes from Johor.

The Mee Rebus, which comes in a thick, sweet potato based gravy, is served along with a variety of condiments including fried taufu, hardboiled egg and bean sprouts. The mashed, boiled sweet potato or keledek does not only serve as a thickening agent for the gravy but also gives a tinge of sweetness to the dish. Thinly sliced red chilli is added for a zing to the dish.

At a recent food review, Fauziah also served steamed nasi lemak with rendang ayam. The dish came with regular condiments like fried peanuts, sliced cucumber and hard boiled egg. For dessert, the outlet has a variety of local favourites but the highlight is bubur cha-cha that combines cubed yam, sweet potato and sago in coconut milk. Unlike most bubur cha cha, the one served at this eatery is not too sweet, making it a pleasant way to end a meal. There is also a special menu for children at The One Kopitiam.

Spacious: The One Kopitiam at Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
The One Kopitiam can accommodate about 60 people.

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The One Kopitiam
72, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-77283913
Business Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 8.30am to 9.30pm
Sunday: 8.00am to 5.30pm

Cuisine: Kopitiam
Rating: Food = C- (I want to give it a D but Mee Bandung saves the day)

Rating System:
A = Recommended
B = Worth A Visit
C = Average
D = Below Average
E = Waste Of "Hard-Earned" Money. Seriously, I'm Not Kidding!