Nam Chuan Hainan Kopitiam: Affordable kopitiam with over 15 hawker stalls, selling braised pork rice, wanton mee & more
Kopitiams and hawker centres are familiar favourites among Malaysians and Singaporeans. At Nam Chuan Hainan Kopitiam, you get the best of both worlds! Located in SS6, Petaling Jaya, this unassuming local eatery is super popular for breakfast and lunch.
Trying to find parking was a bit of a hassle as the road surrounding the area was packed with cars. However, the restaurant was easy to find— just follow the crowd! Even at 1pm it was still packed with office workers, small families, and residents around the area looking for a quick lunch fix.
The atmosphere at Nam Chuan is exactly what you’d expect at a regular kopitiam or hawker stall. The chefs are busy cooking up orders, people chatting all around, and the staff moving quickly with trays of food.
Luckily, my friend and I found a spot to sit in the midst of the organised chaos. It’s great that Nam Chuan recently expanded its restaurant to accommodate more people.
What I tried at Nam Chuan Hainan Kopitiam
What a feast! My friend (Caleb) and I were starving, so we decided to order 4 dishes. We both were spoiled for choice, as there were so many different options to choose from.
Starting off, I had the Char Kuey Teow (RM9) with a fried egg (RM2) from one of the hawker stalls. I opted for the small portion as compared to the large (RM10) one, which is the standard price for char kuey teow in KL.
Upon my first bite, I could taste the smoky flavours from the wok-fried noodles. The bits of scrambled egg mixed in added a nice texture. There was also a nice kick from the subtle spiciness. The additional egg was a letdown, but it comes from personal preference. I like my yolk nice and runny, but the yolk here was fully cooked.
I must add that the plate was kind of small, and bits of my char kuey teow kept falling off (sad noises). The char kuey teow itself also lacked some wok hei, but did not hamper the dining experience. Overall, it was enjoyable, especially if you’re looking for pork-free char kuey teow.
Next, my friend had the Char Siew and Siew Yoke Rice (RM10). According to him, the siew yoke was squishy and the skin was crispy, which is an absolute must-have for siew yoke. Seeing how Caleb was enjoying it, looked very tempting to eat.
Despite this, the char siew was a bit of a letdown, being quite tough and chewy. Caleb chalks this up to the fact that we were both there for a meal at 1pm, not in the morning around 10am, as the meats are fresh and delectable the earlier it’s ordered.
The taste was of no concern to Caleb’s monstrous appetite, and he wolfed everything down in a flash. He mentioned that in the future, he would likely order just siew yoke rice, instead of char siew and siew yoke.
We then tried Nam Chuan’s Ham and Cheese Croissant (RM9). It was quite a big portion and there was a decent amount of ham and cheese, which justifies the price. It also came with 2 slices of cucumbers and chilli sauce.
The taste of ham and cheese perfectly complement each other, giving a savoury flavour to this kopitiam store staple. The croissant is not crispy, nor is it very flaky, so it holds its shape and can be easily cut with utensils. Ultimately, the ham and cheese croissant is perfect if you’re looking for a quick bite.
Another kopitiam classic we had to try was the Polo Bun with Pandan Kaya and Butter (RM5). Upon first glance, it didn’t look quite appetising, and if anything it looked quite sad. Caleb’s enthusiasm about the dish spurred my interest, so I took a bite and was instantly transported to a heavenly experience.
The sweetness of the pandan kaya and the slight saltiness of the butter perfectly complemented each other. The polo bun itself had a nice crunchy texture at the crust but was equally soft and fluffy. Another perfect snack to indulge in if you’re still hungry.
Lastly, who doesn’t go to a kopitiam without ordering drinks? As a teh ais lover, I had to try Nam Chuan’s Teh Ais (RM3) while my dining partner had Teh C (RM2.50). If you’re one of the many uninitiated about the differences between teh, teh ais is essentially teh tarik with ice (tea with sweetened and condensed milk) while teh C is tea with sugar and evaporated milk.
I must say, as someone who has consumed a fair number of teh ais, Nam Chuan’s teh ais hit the right spot. It wasn’t too sweet nor too bland— it was just right. My friend said the same thing about the teh C.
Final thoughts
All in all, Nam Chuan Hainan Kopitiam is definitely worth a visit. We both enjoyed our food and the ambience. The service was slightly delayed, which was understandable given the lunchtime rush. I would definitely come again to try the other hawker stalls located in the kopitiam.
Another important thing to note about the hawker stalls is that they accept QR or e-wallets, however, bringing cash is recommended.
I would recommend coming to Nam Chuan Hainan Kopitiam in the morning or before lunch hour, as it was quite hard to find a parking spot. If you’re in search of a quick bite or craving hawker food, I recommend coming here.
Expected damage: RM3 – RM20 per pax
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