Dong Jin Shin

We went in a group of four to try out this place on a warm summer day. The menu is seasonal and there is a lot of items to choose from. We were very satisfied with the generous use of spices and fish sauce in our dishes. The Hainan chicken rice was very enjoyable too. The cold beverages come in plastic drink pouches and are a lot of fun. Tables are first come first serve and orders are placed at the counter, and the tables are cleaned by the customers before leaving. The service is quite fast and on point. It’s a very fun and casual brunch spot to start a weekend. Highly recommended.

+1

Came here for breakfast and ordered the Nasi Lemak, as well as the Kopitiam Sunshine drink. The nasi lemak was delicious and a dish that was truly new to me. The rice was cooked perfectly, and the anchovies provided a nice smoky, salty flavor and some nice texture to the dish. Paired with the spicy sambal sauce, it was a very nicely balanced bowl. The boiled egg was good as well, although the egg does come cold which I don’t love. Overall though, very tasty dish and very filling. The drink was also pretty outstanding. It was very fresh, and super refreshing. It was the perfect amount of sweet, tangy, and citrusy. The downsides are that they only accepted cash, Venmo, or Zelle which I found inconvenient, and the sinks outside the restroom are in pretty rough shape. You are also expected to clear your own table, which isn’t exactly unheard of, but it’s not like putting your tray back at a fast food joint. I had to place my bowl into a bin with other dirty bowls. Not a huge complaint, just a little odd in my opinion.

It was our first time here, and overall, it was a pretty good experience. We came as a group of five and were lucky to find a table. The place is mostly self-service—you order at the counter, they bring the food out when it’s ready, and you clean up after yourself when you’re done. We tried the Char Kway Teow and Nasi Lemak as part of the “I don’t know what to order” set, and both were tasty. The crispy duck tongue was flavorful and enjoyable if you’re into that sort of dish, though it’s a bit pricey for just a few pieces. The oyster noodles were slightly too fishy for my taste, but still decent overall. All in all, it was a good experience. If you’re in the area, it’s worth stopping by for a bite.

Hugh Far

Very nice place, the food was decently priced for the area and had good flavor. I can't speak for the authenticity but I do think the food was pretty good. Would go again

BY Lim

We're from Malaysia and wanted to try this place. Apparently the owner is from Penang, Nyoya descent. We'd a chat. Great guy. Food is okay and the pork jerky bun is good. Char key teow is not up to mark though. But at least I get to have a sip of our famous Kopi-O 😇 The place is a little mess with stock cartons stacking in the shop.

Josephine Lee

I'm picky about my Malaysia food, having grown up with the good stuff. Kopitiam always seemed to garner mixed reviews at best, so I kind of avoided the spot until recently, when a friend wanted to meet her new long distance beau and he picked Kopitiam to be judged, juried and (potentially) executed. I wish I could say we had a merry time, but it was a weird night. Mostly because HE was weird.....and brand new to Malaysian food, which made it just so much more painful for me (I hate playing tour guide/translator when I haven't offered to do so). But I digress. You didn't come here for my tea. You came for tea on Kopitiam. The good: - Kaya Butter Toast: Properly thick and large, with tons of delicious kaya - Nasi Lemak: Of course I've had better in the motherland, but for NYC, this hit all the right notes of coconut rice, plenty of ikan bilis, and tasty a sambal - Pan Mee with soup: Could've used more noodles, but the friedn anchovies were popping, and the broth was umami-tastic - Sambal Sauteed Water Spinach: What can I say, Asians just do veggies better. Get this when you need to see some green on your plate - Ondeh Ondeh: Hard to find and definitely worth the effort, so make sure to come early to hedge your bets. Then enjoy that sweet, sweet mochi-like texture with glorious palm sugar filling - Honeycomb Cake: Moist and decadent without being too sweet - Penang-Style Hand-Rolled Muah Chee: Made to order, but worth it if you've never experienced the glory of warm ground peanuts and sesame seeds served in chewy pieces. Mmmm, my childhood.... The Okay: - Otak Otak: Spicy grilled fish "quiche", but not quite aromatic enough and a bit dry - Malaysian Style Half Boiled Eggs: I like mine saltier - Oh Chien: Not bad, but needed way more oyster - Pandan Chicken: No pandan flavor + oversalted chicken + dry meat = I regret choosing this as a last-minute add-on All in all, I liked Kopitiam more than I expected. Can't wait to go back without having to entertain a insular white guy who can't use chopsticks just because he's boinking my friend.

+6

Deborah Yoo

We were excited to visit because my Malaysian boyfriend wanted a bit of home. It was definitely bumping when we went for lunch on the weekend, but were lucky enough to grab a table. We were most excited for the kaya toast, and it was pretty good! The food was alright and a bit underwhelming, but the vibes were great.

Christina W.

The nice thing about this spot is they offer up a lot of traditional Malaysian dishes and the menu has a pretty decent selection. Food wise, it’s decent. There aren’t any frills but will say their toast was good. We couldn’t get the Hainese chicken since they sold out. Drinks aren’t bad either. It’s quite an informal spot, you order up front and grab seating after. They do bring the food to you but it’s not your typical waiter service. Maybe because of the more casual nature and the crowd, the place doesn’t feel very cleanly. It can get kind of loud as well if there are larger groups. Some people do take up seating after they’re finished with their meal, so if you’re looking for a sit down spot, it’s just easier with a smaller group.

+1

Judy Wong

This reminds me of a fast food restaurant. Order at the register. You had to order off a Q code, they didn’t have any menus. Seats are first come first serve so if you see a seat throw your jacket, bag or umbrella there to hold the seat. After you order the give you a number and someone brings you the foods. I found the food a little different from the Malaysian I’m use to and it left a little after taste in my mouth afterwards. You can get water if you ask them and take out containers if you have left over. And clean your space for the next person. Take your trash to the assigned area. I did 4 star instead of 3 because even though I found the food only ok, the Staff was nice but mainly because I wasn’t use to the type of restaurant it was an that’s more on me.

+2

Megan Chui

I visited on a Sunday night and it was empty! You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. You clean your table/tray when you are finished. I got the Nasi Lemak and it was really tasty, but the portions are pretty small. Prices are fine for the size of the dish, but I wouldn’t go here if I was super hungry. I really enjoyed the flavors in this dish- Malaysian food is new to me and this was a good introduction to the cuisine.

Sarah Hui

I’ve been hearing so much about this spot, so I needed to check it out. They don’t take reservations so get here early to grab a spot. The inside of the restaurant is busy and functional, it’s meant for you to dine in quickly and get out. Try many menu options, but not really stood out. Nasi Lemak was excellent, probably the best I’ve had in NYC. The cross cross mushrooms and oyster omelette were also good. Unfortunately, other dishes like the chicken fat rice, and the beef rendang were flat and flavorless. The best part is the prices - you can try a lot of plates for a relatively good deal in New York City.

+1

Mariam Naeem

I went there for a second time expecting a Malaysian spot to be halal. Unfortunately much to my dismay, not only was it Not halal but no one spoke enough English to even communicate or effectively understand what I was asking for leaving me in confusion when I tried to ask if anything was halal . I asked around my group of friends and this is not the first time this has happened at this restaurant where people were given answers ranging from yes or no due to a lack of understanding . I personally love supporting Hole in the wall spots At the same time, I think they should be held to some standards of understanding what kind of food they are serving even if they don’t speak English and to cater to the market that they are in. I understand halal meat may be more pricey but it’s part of the inclusivity of the city to have these options especially for a cuisine predominantly known to be such: I hope you can update your staff to be knowledgeable and your restaurant flourishes

Crayollla

HOT AND CROWDED FOR MEH OVERPRICED FOOD… Food was not the best… the place is often crowded and busy and there is no ac so it is HOT in there. I’ve tried this place two times and believe there is better Malaysian food elsewhere.

My original plan was to eat at another Malaysian spot... and I should HAVE stuck with my plans. I was surprised by the amount of people eating here... figured it must ve good... it's a tiny, hole-in-wall vibe, with a few tables and a communal table... some single seaters by window. You scan a QR code, order your food at counter, pay with Cash, Venmo or Zelle (only). No cards. We got the Hainanese Chicken, Curry Chicken, and Kaya Toast, with an ice Milktea. Total about $56. Food: solid 2. -Hainanese Chicken (-10), it was horrible, dried... not what we expected. If the best part of this dish is the cilantro & cucumber, it's a fail. -Curry Chicken (4/10), it's decent... but wouldn't get again. Curry lacks spice... chicken was again dry. It's a recurring theme. -Kaya Toast (8/10), probably the ONLY redeeming item... -Ice Malaysian Milk tea (5/10), was not good. No tea flavor, no condense milk flavor. Just color water. Verdict: wouldn't recommend, listen to the visual cue (mostly gwai-lo), pricey for mediocrity, don't think this is meant for us.

Kristie Ang

I’m always on the lookout for the perfect Malaysian foodie spot, so I was excited to try Kopitiam with my sister (September 2025). We were both hungry and needed a quick bite. Ordering and payment are done at the counter before finding a seat. The space is hot, small with limited, and tightly packed tables. They do not take reservations. It’s very much a no-frills, DIY setup with plastic utensils. I was disappointed with the bland Laksa as it was mostly noodles and veggies with an unexpectedly strong pineapple flavor, which isn’t what I’m used to. Thank goodness for the Sambal Sautéed Water spinach, which was spot-on with just the right amount of pungent shrimp-paste richness, and the Beef Curry delivered all the spicy goodness I hoped for. Depending on what you order, the dishes can definitely be a hit or miss and I left very unsatisfied.