The Flickr Localcafe Image Generatr

Photographed in Chefchaoun, Morocco 2025

Enjoying a rich cup of freshly brewed coffee in a charming cafe setting, ideal for relaxation or conversation with friends.

Here comes breakfast- a traditional Kaya Toast. I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. Kaya toast is a dish consisting of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam), commonly served alongside coffee and soft-boiled eggs. The dish was believed to be created by Hainanese immigrants to the Straits Settlements in the 19th century while serving on British ships. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

So this then is my cup of a hot beverage, the Signature Kopi Riverside. I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. The cafe was just opening, and I was the only customer at the time, so I spent a very interesting few minutes chatting with the owner and reading his menu, of which this is a picture. To go with my kaya toast (notes about that later in this album- see subsequent pictures), I needed a hot beverage. While I'd have normally opted for coffee, the owner suggested I try his house special- the Signature Kopi Riverside- that's the item in bold in the menu here. He explained that this is a blend of coffee, tea and Milo. Curiosity got the better of me, and I order just that- a cup of which you see right here. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023).

Here comes breakfast- a traditional Kaya Toast. I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. Compared to how elegantly the dish was served, this dish admittedly looks a bit weird, the way I did before eating it. Kaya toast is a dish consisting of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam), commonly served alongside coffee and soft-boiled eggs. The dish was believed to be created by Hainanese immigrants to the Straits Settlements in the 19th century while serving on British ships. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. The cafe was just opening, and I was the only customer at the time, so I spent a very interesting few minutes chatting with the owner and reading his menu, of which this is a picture. To go with my kaya toast (notes about that later in this album- see subsequent pictures), I needed a hot beverage. While I'd have normally opted for coffee, the owner suggested I try his house special- the Signature Kopi Riverside- that's the item in bold in the menu here. He explained that this is a blend of coffee, tea and Milo. Curiosity got the better of me, and I order just that. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023).

I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. The cafe was just opening, and I was the only customer at the time, so I spent a very interesting few minutes chatting with the owner and reading his menu, of which this is a picture. Here, the friendly owner fixes my breakfast. Of course, the cafe was just opening, so there was hardly any activity in the kitchen as yet, or else I don't think the owner would have appreciated my photographing the kitchen are so freely! The dish he is preparing for me is the local favourite- kaya toast. Notes about the kaya toast appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

I finally had my breakfast at this kopitiam or traditional coffee shop in the Malacca/ Melaka historic quarter, right opposite my hotel. A kopitiam- is a type of coffee shop mostly found in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Southern Thailand. The term seems to be a vernacularized (if there is such a word!) version of 'coffee time'. People visit kopitiams for light meals and beverages. These cafes are traditionally operated by the Chinese community of these countries. Despite my overly simplified comparison to the term coffee time, the word kopi is an Indonesian and Malay term for coffee and tiam is the Hokkien/Hakka term for shop. Traditional kopitiam menus typically feature simple offerings like a variety of egg based foods and bread, as well as tea and coffee, and of course the celebrated kaya toast (see subsequent pictures later in this album), a local breakfast favourite all over SE Asia. Some modern kopitiams in busy areas may even feature multiple sub- food stalls under the same roof which offer a wider range of foods- not as elaborate as a food court, but just as a restaurant with counters or stations for different types of foods. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

The kopitiam I had my breakfast in was quite empty even at breakfast time. It was nearly 09:00, from my Indian experience, I was expecting a breakfast kopitiam cafe to open much earlier. The cafe was in fact just opening, and only the owner was in, with the staff expected to arrive shortly. This probably explains why the kopitiam is so empty. But with my love for cultural exchanges, I spent a very interesting few minutes chatting with the young owner who explained the concept to me, and explained about kaya toast which I ended up ordering. More about kaya toast later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

The kopitiam (local cafe) in Malacca/ Melaka I had my breakfast in was offering this dish- Roti Jala- lacy pancake- a typically Malaysian dish. The chap running the cafe told me he serves it with a spicy curry. Of course, I did not have it, as it was too early in the day for a spicy curry on an empty stomach. Roti jala, roti kirai or roti renjis is a popular Malay and Indonesian tea time snack served with curry dishes which can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. This is a very traditional Malay dish. The ingredients consist mainly of flour, eggs, milk (dairy or coconut), and a pinch of turmeric. These are combined with water to form a runny batter, which is then drizzled onto a hot pan in a circular motion. A specialized utensil is often used, resembling a cup with multiple outlets beneath, which aids the creation of the net-like effect. Not much is known about the history of roti jala, but it is believed that it first came from India. The recipe was tweaked by locals after arriving in Malaysia. This is why we see similarities between roti jala and ‘putu mayam’ or string hoppers, which are served in India and Sri Lanka. (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

I am in a kopitiam- a local Malay style coffee shop- opposite to my hotel in the Malacca/ Melaka heritage district. The cafe was just opening, and I was the only customer at the time, so I spent a very interesting few minutes chatting with the owner and reading his menu, of which this is a picture. I was truly impressed with the extensive menu of this tiny kopitiam coffee shop I ended up ordering the local favourite- kaya toast- which the owner prepared in just a few minutes. Notes about the kaya toast appear later in this album. (see subsequent pictures). (Malacca/ Melaka, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

After spending all morning checking out a tea estate, a strawberry farm and looking at some modern gabled constructions in the Cameron Highlands, it was way past lunch time and my taxi driver and I were feeling rather peckish. We finally ended up here, at Sri Brichang, a local Malaysian- Indian restaurant in downtown Cameron Highlands. Both this restaurant and Hotel Sentosa that it's attached to are apparently quite popular in the local area. Here is another look at the typical Malaysian- Indian restaurants style display case of sambals and curries on offer- this is standard practice in each and every Malaysian- Indian restaurant all over Malaysia. You take a plate of rice and then pick out the sambals you like, they see that and you are billed accordingly. More notes about the Cameron Highlands appear elsewhere in this album. (see previous and subsequent pictures). (Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

After spending all morning checking out a tea estate, a strawberry farm and looking at some modern gabled constructions in the Cameron Highlands, it was way past lunch time and my taxi driver and I were feeling rather peckish. We did spot a few local Malaysian restaurants during the drive but we were unable to stop at any of them due to traffic and parking problems. My taxi driver finally brought me to Sri Brichang, a local Malaysian- Indian restaurant in downtown Cameron Highlands. Both this restaurant and Hotel Sentosa that it's attached to are apparently quite popular in the local area. More notes about the Cameron Highlands appear elsewhere in this album. (see previous and subsequent pictures). (Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

After spending all morning checking out a tea estate, a strawberry farm and looking at some modern gabled constructions in the Cameron Highlands, it was way past lunch time and my taxi driver and I were feeling rather peckish. We finally ended up here, at Sri Brichang, a local Malaysian- Indian restaurant in downtown Cameron Highlands. Both this restaurant and Hotel Sentosa that it's attached to are apparently quite popular in the local area. This is the typical Malaysian- Indian restaurants style display case of sambals and curries on offer- this is standard practice in each and every Malaysian- Indian restaurant all over Malaysia. You take a plate of rice and then pick out the sambals you like, they see that and you are billed accordingly. More notes about the Cameron Highlands appear elsewhere in this album. (see previous and subsequent pictures). (Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

I had breakfast one day in this Malay- Indian cafeteria in Ipoh, Malaysia. This is the typical Malaysia style display case of sambals and curries on offer- this is standard practice in each and every Malaysian- Indian restaurant all over Malaysia. Although I was very pleased with the size of my room and the quality of accommodation in my hotel, it sadly did not have a restaurant where I could have breakfast before heading out each morning. Apart from a KFC outlet a few metres away, which wouldn't be open that early in the day anyway, the Malaysian- Indian staff at the hotel directed me to a rustic Malaysian- Indian restaurant further down the street, about half a kilometre away from my hotel. This is the interior of that restaurant, where I had my breakfast one day. The food wasn't too bad- the case was rustic and cheap, and served popular local cuisine, so it all worked out in the end. The nearly half a kilometer trek to get here would not have been too pleasant had I visited in summer though. (Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

After spending the major part of the morning checking out the various cave temples in Ipoh, Malaysia, (see previous pictures earlier in this album), my taxi driver dropped me off at an Indian restaurant for an Indian banana leaf thali meal in Ipoh's Little India district. The Little India district in Ipoh Malaysia, is an ethnic Indian enclave. Ipoh's Little India is also famous for its Malay- Indian Indian cuisine. It also serves as main hub for commercial and cultural activities for Indians in Ipoh City. Little India becomes more lively during festive periods like Diwali, Christmas and Thaipusam. (Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, Sept. 2023)

Located in: Pacific Commons Shopping Center
43683 Boscell Rd, Fremont, CA 94538

Canon 35-80 mm
Kodak ColorPlus 200

EB261

I am in a rustic local cafe opposite to the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. After waiting for me to catch the sunrise, my driver guide wanted to stop for a bite. So as he was filling up, I had a coffee, and once that was done, was trying to walk around the area, while waiting for my tuk tuk driver guide to finish. It's about 06:30, it's just past sunrise at the Angkor Wat (see previous pictures earlier in this album), and this seemed to be the only cafe open at that hour. The others are just coming to life and are not open as yet. Most travelers go back to their hotels post surise for their hotel breakfast, which is included in most cases. Independent travels and others eat at these cafes. And although some of them send kids into the crowds just after sunrise trying to solicit for customers, saying breakfast is ready, others have said that these, cafes are highly tourist oriented, and so charge rather inflated 'tourist' prices. The variety of food is limited as well, most serve typical local fare, at least at that time of the day- there is supposed to be an interesting variety much later in the day. BBQ meat (something like satay) and stuffed frog dishes are said to be popular here. I did not try as I ended up eating most of my meals in the hotel, my trips to the Angkor Wat and the Tonle Sap lake were timed that way- leave after breakkie, return for lunch, then rest. Then leave late afternoon and come back by dinner time. Of course, this was my first solo trip, so I was as yet a solo travel luddite, and wasn't at my best as it had been barely a month after a traumatic breakup. Today, in 2020, I might have been more adventures and would have insisted on having lunch or dinner at some local cafes around SIem Reap. (Siem Reap, Cambodia, Oct. 2008)