For a little taste of Kuala Lumpur without leaving Perth, head to Siew’s Kopitiam in Northbridge. The word kopitiam combines the Malay word kopi, meaning coffee, with the Hokkien word tiam, meaning shop.
Traditionally, a kopitiam is an informal neighbourhood coffee shop found throughout Malaysia and Singapore, serving coffee and tea alongside affordable local meals.
Siew’s in Northbridge captures some of that relaxed, everyday dining experience while adding plenty of colour and personality. The green-panelled walls, glowing neon sign, vivid orange furniture and cascading autumn leaves create a cheerful space. There is seating inside as well as several tables along the footpath. We visited for lunch and ordered the mee goreng, nasi lemak with curry chicken and, of course, Teh Tarik (more of this in a minute!).
The mee goreng arrived as a very generous mound of stir-fried noodles, tossed through a rich, savoury sauce with chicken, bean sprouts and crispy fried shallots. A squeeze of lemon added a welcome touch of freshness. It was full of flavour and substantial enough to satisfy a hearty appetite.
The nasi lemak was equally impressive. Often considered Malaysia’s national dish, nasi lemak centres around fragrant rice cooked with coconut milk. At Siew’s, it was served with curry chicken, sambal, cucumber, peanuts and anchovies. The curry chicken was tender and immersed in a deeply flavoured sauce, while the sambal provided warmth and richness. Combining a little rice, chicken, sambal, peanut and anchovy in each mouthful produced that wonderful mixture of creamy, spicy, salty and crunchy flavours that makes nasi lemak so satisfying.
No kopitiam meal would be complete without Teh Tarik, Malaysia’s famous “pulled tea”. I first tried Teh Tarik while on a food tour in Singapore’s Kampong Glam neighbourhood. The drink is made using strong black tea and sweetened condensed or evaporated milk. It is then repeatedly poured, or “pulled”, between two containers from increasing heights. This cools the tea slightly, mixes the ingredients and creates its characteristic frothy top.
Our tea was smooth, creamy and sweet. Served in traditional patterned cups and saucers, it completed the kopitiam experience beautifully. Siew’s Kopitiam offers a little bit of Kuala Lumpur in Perth with bold Malaysian flavours in a bright, welcoming atmosphere. We will certainly return, although deciding whether to revisit those excellent lunch dishes or explore the different evening menu may be the hardest part.
Siew’s Kopitiam
- Location: 113 Aberdeen St, Northbridge WA 6003
- Cuisine: Malaysian
- Dining: Indoor and footpath seating
- Good to know: The lunch and evening menus differ, and nasi lemak is available at lunchtime. Current menu availability may change, so it is worth checking before visiting.
