Cafe-hopping in Shah Alam

A waffle fit for a king at the Sips & Bites Cafe! – HungryGoWhere pic, December 21, 2015.​We love Shah Alam as Selangor's state capital, and it's medley of nasi lemak, Western restaurants, curry mee, halal Chinese restaurants, and now, the ever-popular arrival of cafes!

Get on the coffee trail and buzz up at these trendy cafes for a caffeine-fuelled weekend.

Sips & Bites Cafe

Sips & Bites Cafe is a family-run business. The pretty interior awash in shades of blue and silver has rustic and homely touches, from the wall paintings to the wood-grained tables.

There’s all-day breakfast, pastas, sandwiches, and waffles on the menu. Their big breakfast (RM20) is a big serving with turkey ham, chicken sausage, hash browns, sauteed mushrooms, scrambled eggs, and two thick slices of toasted wholemeal bread.

There is only one dessert item on the menu – waffle with berries and nuts (RM17.90). It’s a sizeable piece of waffle with strawberries, blueberries, and chopped nuts scattered all over it. And because of the size, the waffle would have been more memorable if two scoops of vanilla ice cream were served instead of just one.

Start the day (late) with everyone’s favourite meal of the day...brunch! – HungryGoWhere pic, December 21, 2015.Coffees start at RM7 for a double espresso, but we loved their kickass ice-blended wild tribe mocha (RM14.50).

Kotakotak Cafe

A very minimalistic affair with clean, white interior and metal and wood chairs, you wouldn’t think that the draw for Kotakotak cafe would mainly be their funny cakes in the storefront bakery or the traditional Malay food being served to in-store diners.

French toast to dazzle and delight you. – HungryGoWhere pic, December 21, 2015.Give the special passionfruit and apple chia juice (RM14) a try, the gelatinous seeds lend an interesting texture to the mildly tart fruit juice. Besides, chia seeds have also been known to be a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, antioxidants and fiber while being a great dietary supplement and reducing food cravings. Trust us, we’re pretty big into superfoods like this these days.

Also of note is the Kotakotak French toast (RM17), small cubes of warm fluffy bread, toasted and deep-fried with egg batter, perfect for dipping in the decadent chocolate sauce with sprinkled almond. Our only gripe with this dish would be the tiny watermelon bits. While they were refreshing, we wished there were a variety of fruits or just larger pieces of watermelon instead, for a more prominent taste.

The small chunks just interrupted the overall composition of the dish, and not in a good way.

Kopimeo

This cafe is easily the most relaxing, chilled, clean and stylish in the area. The owner brings his own family here often, and it even has a small area under the stairs cleared out as a nice play area for children.

We noticed many families here, but the atmosphere still remains quiet and appropriate for small gatherings and meetings. It is simply well-lit in here, a harmonic blend of modern and natural lighting as well as furniture.

Gulai meets spaghetti...what a fusion! – HungryGoWhere pic, December 21, 2015.Kopimeo’s menu boasts a selection of sweet pastries and desserts such as their decadent Signature French Toast (RM14). An elegant serving that delighted the eyes and taste buds with its crunchy and fluffy combination of a caramelised outer crust, creamy custard ice cream and partially-drenched inner breadstuff.

We also tried the Spaghetti Gulai Lemak Udang (RM15), a savoury dish of hot, spicy coconut cream broth ladled over spaghetti, the side slices of toasted bread here seem to sparkle as you dip them into the hearty sauce. All we can say is, we did not expect such a great menu from this unassuming cafe; it really did blow us away.

Grandeur Gallery Cafe

Functioning as an art gallery and a cafe, Grandeur Gallery Cafe has provided diners with not only tasteful art, but also tasty food! Brunches and cakes are served on their first floor, while art pieces and paintings decorate the walls. If you like something you see, you can even take it home to support the art community!

Grandeur Gallery’s brunch sets (RM14.90) come with buttered peppercorn toast, roasted potatoes, salad with sesame dressing, a shot of yoghurt, and choices of an omelette, scrambled eggs, or a bacon wrap with either coffee or tea (this generous dish is sure to fill you up till lunchtime)! We chose the omelette, which had the most perfect mushy centre, filled with melted cheese and caramelised onions.

You won’t want to miss out on Grandeur Gallery’s signature pork burger (RM16) either! Their toasted sesame seed bun comes with a well-seasoned grilled pork steak, topped with a sunny-side-up egg, on a bed of sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo. This dish even comes with crinkle-cut potato crisps and a salad on the side for a full-blown meal that’s worth its price!

Grandeur Gallery also has a fine selection of cakes; their tiramisu (RM12.90), though only available during weekends, is a crowd favourite and goes perfectly with a cup of coffee. Other cakes available include the mango delight, lemon cheese, nutty cheese and yam cake (RM9.90 each).

Shah Alam is chock-a-block full of glorious cafes ever ready to brew up a good cup of coffee for you.

Extend your cafe-hopping trail and check out where else you ought to stop by when you’re in Shah Alam. – December 21, 2015.

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