Kopitiam bites, street food prices
IN THE middle of a busy area in Taman Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur, a two-storey food court is packed with customers enjoying a variety of dishes.
Medan Selera Setiawangsa is a popular hangout and breakfast and lunch dining spot for students and those working nearby.
On the second floor, one will find Kopitiam 2BD, a stall offering Ayam Gepuk at a low price.
This is a popular Indonesian dish of smashed chicken coated with sambal, widely consumed by Malaysians.
Stall owner Muhammad Syafiq Muhamed Sa'ad, 37, said he wanted to contribute to the people by offering food at a low price.
He said, 'My friend and I used to work together in a restaurant that sold pricey food.
'We had an idea and dream to offer such restaurant food in a stall setup.'
Abu (left) and Mohammad Shafiq
So Muhammad Syafiq and his friend Abu Ubaidah Mohd Zaki, 30, opened a budget and family-friendly stall at the food court and called it Kopitiam 2BD that stands for 'Kopitiam Dua Budak Dapur'.
Opened since August last year, the stall is managed by Muhammad Syafiq while Abu does the cooking.
'We welcome and celebrate not only students but families too,' Abu said.
'Children, especially toddlers, would prefer seasoned rice rather than plain white rice.
'So we give our Ayam Gepuk rice a slight twist by adding special seasoning.'
The dish comes with boneless chicken, coated in crispy chicken flour and deep fried in high heat for a delightful crunch.
It is served with house-made sambal using Thai red chillis mixed with a nutty sauce consisting of cashew nuts and peanuts.
For coffee lovers, Ayam Gepuk pairs perfectly with a cup of kopi tenggek, inspired by Vietnamese drip coffee and made using Hainanese beans sourced from Ipoh, Perak. It is served with a filter cap and a touch of condensed milk.
'For breakfast, our most popular dish is 'Omputeh big breakfast' (full English breakfast) consisting of two sunny-side-up eggs, baked beans, chicken sausage and beef bacon.
'It's got a good mix of protein and carbs, served with chrysanthemum tea, just right to start the day,' said Abu.
'That is why we opened the stall as early as 7.30am to cater to the breakfast crowd, especially nearby workers.'
Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy western dessert of ice creams served with options of croissant, brownie bread or peanut butter bread. Depending on the order, the price goes up to RM10.
The stall operates on a self-service concept, where customers are given a number after payment and are required to collect their food at the counter once ready.
Kopitiam 2BD opens from Saturday to Thursday, 7.30am to 4pm. It is located at Level 1, Medan Selera Setiawangsa.
For details, call 011-1010 8179.
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