It is not difficult to find a “Kluang Rail Coffee” when in Kluang District of Johor — there are around 5 of them, where 4 are modern restaurants while one is a small kopitiam located in the decommissioned Old Kluang Station. The smaller coffee shop is called “The Original Kluang Rail Coffee” and is recorded as “the oldest railway kopitiam” in the Malaysia Book of Records.
Started as a canteen in the railway station in 1938, the little outlet has advanced with time, became the well-known “Kluang Rail Coffee”, and expanded to having 4 new and modern outlets in Kluang. The original outlet has retained its rusticity and “old-time” vibe — it is like travelling back in time when dining here. I will call it “the canteen” for short.
Unlike the newer outlets with wider food options, the canteen has kept its menu to simple food and few selected local delights. It serves a large range of toasts — roti bun bakar (toasted bread), roti bun gandum (whole wheat bread), roti keping bakar (toasted sliced bread) — steamed buns, Malaysian delights and a long list of beverages.
When spoilt for choice, the list of 12 recommended items provides a quick guide to some hot-selling items to try, especially for first-timers.
A Bun Sambal Special, two soft-boiled eggs and traditional kopi-O makes a new combination for traditional breakfast and easily strikes off 3 items from the recommended list.
The Bun Sambal Special has half a hard-boiled egg, fried ikan bilis and shredded cucumber with both sambal chilli and butter on the inside of the grilled bun. It is like eating nasi lemak in the form of a bun rather than rice. It has nice nasi lemak flavours and a new and different experience.
The Bun Bakar (grilled bun) with butter and kaya offers another experience from the usual traditional Hainam kaya-butter toasts (called Roti Keping on the menu). It may be a good idea to order both and enjoy the different textures.
Among the list of local delights, Laksa Johor is probably the most ordered. It looked like a simple noodle dish, with shredded cucumbers, onions and chilli, but there are more in the gravy than meets the eye. Laksa Johor is usually served with spaghetti in a broth made with minced fish (typically wolf herring) and other ingredients to enhance the taste. This is a spicy dish and different from other laksa Johor dishes that I have tried.
The Original Kluang Rail Coffee is always packed and with long queues, especially on weekends and public holidays. Avoid peak periods if you want to dine at this little canteen — I visited it on weekdays. Alternatively, visit its nearest branch at Jalan Duku about 700 metres away.
Address:
Old Kluang Train Station
Kampung Masjid Lama, 86000 Kluang, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours:
7am to 6pm | Closed on Monday
Nearby:
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