Kopitiams’ are considered a second, home kitchen for many. It’s where you’d tag along with your parents on Sunday morning to get a taste of that fiery Hokkien Mee and for many, there’s that one OG Kopitiam you’d never cheat on with other spots scattered around the island. Tagging along with her dad to grab something quick before heading back to the restaurant in Penang is a memory that drove Chef Kyo Pang to open up a coffee shop named ‘Kopitiam’ at Lower East Side, New York City and currently rocking palates and winning awards through her Baba Nonya inspired menu at a city that never sleeps. She is also an Eater Readers’ choice winner – Chef Of The Year.
New Yorkers Favorite Restaurant, Kopitiam Owned By A Proud Penangite
If there’s a Malaysian who’s cooking and making it abroad, it’s Kyo Pang! Starting it off in a small space back in 2015 establishing bonds with regular customers, many of whom come from Chinese families in the neighborhood to closing down the Kopitiam due to rental hike then collaborating with a restaurateur to accommodate 35 pax at a time, this Kopitiam has garnered both the fans and newbies looking for a kick, Malaysian style.
And Chef Kyo Pang does not fail to serve. Dishing out Nyonya cuisine and surprising Western palates with strong flavours is our proud Malaysian embracing her culture through flavours, significantly whipping out her style of Pan Mee churning heads and grumbling bellies. This beautiful bowl of goodness is made to order with the broth made from anchovies and mushroom stems is then topped off with ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, crispy fried anchovies, and shallots. Who wouldn’t go nuts for that?
That’s not just it. Serving our favorites from Kaya Toast with soft boiled eggs, Nasi lemak (coconut rice dish), Hot Bek-Kopi (Malaysian white coffee), Teh Tarik (hand-pulled tea), Cold Spicy Sesame Noodles to Pulut Panggang (grilled glutinous rice with dried shrimp) and so many more to die for options, we can officially say that Malaysia is gaining just the recognition it deserves. Thanks to our Penangite homegirl showing it how it’s done.
“A lot of it is about feeling” has brought this crazy talented woman to surprising eaters with their new daily specials board from Assam Laksa to Beef Rendang and even Keropok Lekor making its way to the table on a good day. Keropok Lekor in New York City? Malaysian folks living in New York feeling homesick? Not anymore!
Kopitiam, New York
Address: 151 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002, USA
Hours: 9 AM to 10 PM. Closed On Wednesday
Phone: +1 646-609-3785
Big shoutout to Serena Dai and Stefanie Tuder for the amazing cover.
