To Penangites, Toh Soon Cafe is probably a hidden gem. Tucked away in an alley of Campbell Street, this spot is crowded everyday. From what I heard, Toh Soon Cafe has been around for more than 30 years ago before the birth of air-conditioned cafes.

Run across a few generations, Kopi 'O' or "coffee without milk" is one of their specialties. Its flavor is totally different compare to other coffee shops. The black coffee here gives a buttery flavor with a bitter fragrance yet rich and thick satisfying taste. Is this the art of coffee making or bean roasting? Nobody really knows their secret recipe. We only know how to make our way back here whenever we think of an aromatic black coffee.  In additional to that , the operator/waitstaff do entertain 'special' request if you wish to create your own style or variation, for instance less sugar, add milk or a mixed with black tea. Besides coffee,  they also offers other beverages like tea, Milo, Pat Poh, Barley, soft drinks and even beers as we can see from the menu.

For some folks like me, breakfast with coffee is not complete without half-boiled egg and toasted bread! At Toh Soon Cafe, this is the least of your worry. In fact, the art of traditional bread toasting is demonstrated here whereby each piece of bread is manually placed on a hand-held mesh and toasted over the charcoal amber. Seeing this also means toasted bread may take quite some time to be readied since the productivity rate is low.

If holding an empty stomach is a tough chore, one has the option to pamper oneself with a quick fix solution, tucking in with one or two packets of 'Nasi Lemak' or 'coconut milk rice' first. They are the pyramid-shaped packets, usually served on each table.




Last but not least, the practice of 'eat first and pay later' at this little corner reminds me of the good old days! Unlike what happen nowadays when one visits the coffee shop or hawker center in Penang, one is expected to pay upon the serving of the beverage or food. At Toh Soon Cafe, this does not happen until you have filled up your tummy happily and ready to make a move. Then, give the boss a yell to calculate the total bill and only then you pay.



The element of trust is one of their strengths and perhaps explains why I love to go back and again!

Direction:
Less than 50 meters from the intersection of Penang Road and Campbell Street, George Town, Penang.

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