At the last count, there are 135 OldTown White Coffee outlets in Malaysia. That's a lot if you ask me!
Is it any wonder that I seem to bump into at least one OldTown outlet a day? And if you are to drive around town, the chances of seeing an OldTown outlet is pretty high!
Photo of an OldTown outlet courtesy of Chowtimes.com
I wonder why is OldTown so popular. For one, I think their food is nothing to shout about. You can actually get similar food at better quality at your normal coffee shops. And for that kind of food quality, OldTown are charging at really high prices!
Now why would anyone want to eat there? Maybe for the ambience? Or maybe for the free wifi?
I must admit I quite like OldTown's garlic bread, though.
OldTown's garlic bread photo courtesy of Aliceteh.com
Recently, I visited another similar kopitiam or coffee shop called PappaRich. Have you eaten there?
At the last count, there are 23 PappaRich outlets in Malaysia, all in the Klang Valley region. At only 23 outlets compared to OldTown's 135, they sure have a lot of catching up to do!
Steaming dimsum at PappaRich
I don't know about you, but I think I prefer PappaRich. Why? They have more variety of food! So much more! Let me tell you what they have that OldTown does not.
OK, they have dimsum like vegetarian bao, avocado buns, pumpkin buns, and egg tarts! Granted, their dimsum are not fantastic, but at least they have them!
Steamed pumpkin buns
And the different kind of breads they have really amaze me. There's roti bakar, roti stim, roti kulit bakar, roti kulit stim, wholemeal steamed, wholemeal toasted, roti bakar susu, naan and even an imitation of the famous Rotiboy coffee flavoured buns!
Photo courtesy of Papparich.com.my
As for drinks, they have lots of nice delicious variety to choose from! I really like their red bean cendol drink, and their soya cendol with gula melaka!
As for desserts, they have ABC special with durian! Yummy! And even soya milk tang yuen!
Pappa ABC Special with ice cream
Now I am not saying the food quality at PappaRich is excellent. In fact, some normal kopitiam shops sell better quality food at cheaper prices! However, the food sold in PappaRich are costlier than OldTown, although the portion of food served in PappaRich is larger.
I am just saying that PappaRich has so many more varieties of food that you can have more choices.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I am fed up with OldTown. Bored, even. I actually can't stand their food! They should seriously improve on their menu or people will most likely flock over to PappaRich!
Well, that's just my opinion. What about you? Do you prefer OldTown or PappaRich?
Or perhaps you think Station One Cafe or Kluang Station is better?
Coming up next : Just when you thought it's over.....Lost In Xingping (Part 5)
FIRST COMMENTER
Old town in Quilin?
Oops I'm equally LOST in Xingping didnt know I have stepped foot back into Malaysia. In terms of coffee I would prefer my regular nescafe tarik in most mamak stall and for food, sorry have not tried PappaRich or Kluan Station. I may have the right to remain silent and anything I blog will be...haha
Tried the food at Old Town and also PappaRich and I think the food is overpriced. But nice place to hang out with friends, good ambience, especially if you just want to have a light snack.
Eh and here I thought I could of caught FC! Blogroll is slow! pfff!
I have never been to PapaRich before. My friend claims it to EXPENSIVE! But she loves Old Town's Nasi Lemak (Expensive nasi lemak with chicken) tsk tsk...
Oh but PapaRich's Special ABC with Durian sure looks appetitizing. Maybe I should tell my friends about it :P. And head there next time.
Oh... must give PappaRich a try.
There are too many kopitiam-type restaurants in Malaysia. Competition must be fierce.
I never try PappaRich before,
I will try it later.
Yalor Old town Coffee, nothing special and i agree with you.
Maybe, it is time to change name to New town coffee shop
I never been to either of those outlets.
Been to Kluang Station though
been to all of them. i like paparich's organic soya :D thick and ...very soya-ish. but its exp! ever since i discovered toast & coffee in uptown, i nv go old town anymore, coz it is so overpriced with average food!
I am not impressed with the food served at Old Town White Coffee. Have not tried the food at Pappa Rich though.
In Sarawak,
They called it Ipoh kopitiam Old Town Coffee. Very popular over here too.
Cannot comment because I have yet to tried both.
oh i have seen papparich but never went into one before...looks like they have better varieties eh..must try the next time i go back =) so far i only like oldtown's currymee...
After several visits to Old Town White Coffee, feel like noting much to order. The food is so so only.
Haven't visit to PappaRich. Can't find it here in Penang.
My vote goes to Paparich... Errrr.... i already stop visiting oldtown. BTW, i visited Paparich yesterday for lunch with my frenz for the first time. The food is good thot :)
i dont really like old town too..
but yet to try the papa rich.. hehehe..
the food at old town is super cosy + not nice for me la..
Not a fan of commercial kopitiams, too much hype.
Interesting comparison. Wow, 135 Old Town outlets?? Incredible. I've only eaten there about twice and yeah, I feel that the food is overpriced. Not much in terms of quality and quantity!
I'm from Penang so I can't try out PappaRich. Why is it called so? One wouldn't associate the name with an eating outlet. :) Perhaps the next time I'm in the Klang Valley, I'll try to make a stop there.
Old town have really lousy drinks! Their food not delicious oso. Agree that many other coffee shop can do better at cheaper prices summore.
Some ppl go old town for wifi only while I really dont get why certain families have their dinner there. O.o
haven't tried either of them. But like you said, can see Old Town Coffee almost everywhere nowadays.
I don't recall seeing a paparich outlet in jb. Btw, reason I go to old town is bcos of the hor fun, cannot find it elsewhere with some standards except Ipoh.
i like dining at old town.. haha..
paparich? never heard of it..
now i know it exists =P
kenwooi.com
Papparich doesn't exist in where I am now... haha.
Been there already. What 135? Serious? Are you sure? I thought they have like 30 only. Wow! Now that's really a lot huh!
I will pass by the old town white coffee near my house every single day. So I'm not gonna miss it. LOL :D
They are popular because we...create the buzz and hype for them. A lot of people like to hang out there because to them, Old Town is a "high class" place. LOL :D So even if they are there sipping a drink...they'll be so happy especially when passers-by glance at them. LOL :D
But not all their foods are lousy to be fair. The last time I went there I ate their rendang nasi lemak which was really delicious. But the price tag was a bit exorbitant. :(
I don't think we have PappaRich in Malacca. Yeah all in Klang Valley only huh! Discrimination.
They have Avocado buns? Pumpkin buns? Now this is interesting.
Wow they really have a lot of variety of foods and drinks to offer huh! Of course it is expensive because the name already suggest what...Pappa RICH! :D
Thanks for sharing bro. Perhaps I will stop by at one of these Papparich one day in KL. Have a nice day Foong. ;D
I hear their franchise is expensive which accounts for the higher food prices there at Pappa Rich.
These days, I frequent Island Red Cafe, now changed to Pg Red Cafe. The food is nothing to shout about but may taste different at different outlets - inconsistency in quality. But for coffee lovers, their coffee is really excellent, esp their ice-blended coffee. It's their own brand of coffee.
Whatever it is, our roadside stalls that still use the authentic recipe and authentic local cooks still serve the best food, and at more reasonable prices.
I have nothing against foreign labor but let's face it, they really mess up the food taste. Sigh..
Hi Foong!!!
I tried all edi, pappa, kluang, and station one all tried edi lol!
My fave is def old town!!
I got angry with Pappa cause the first time we went there, we ordered the so-called famous pappa roti... then it never came after checking few times... of coz angry la so wanted to leave edi and then it arrived! So by that time no moo dedi to eat there... and the food is very biasa to me... nothing great..
ooops that's no mood edi...
I like the japanese squid at Station one! :)
And I love the chic hor fun at old town! :)
Given the choice... i prefer papa rich.. s
simply love the kopitiams in malaysia... haha.
btw foong, have u tried pak li? also quite nice lah :)
nice write up! :)
If you ask me, I'd settle for a good roadside mamak stall anytime :D
wow...abc with ice cream and cendul?? wanna eat lah... lucky i have gelato here =p hihihi
ai..no papparich in ipoh..
i really can't decide foong, i usually go for my cravings. since you mentioned nice garlic bread, i would love that but for other treats I'll go somewhere else. I am quite meticulous with food =P
i like the milo dinosaur and oso prawn mee @ Pappa Rich! :-D
and I like Old Town's garlic bread also!
one thing I like about Station 1 Cafe is they've a lounge area :-D
HOw bout The Big Apple??
Seriously Old Town should improve their menu and quality of food. Dull
I've not tried PappaRich. Pak Li is not bad. Still I prefer going to tai pai tong. Hehe
Wow I actually don't really like Old Town too, frankly. And Saucer almost boycotted it! But then a lot of my friends enjoy going there... Maybe because of the environment? Air-conditioned? But I very much agree with you that we can get better food at cheaper prices elsewhere!
As for Pappa Rich, my only gripe is their pricing! Almost all the main courses are close to or above RM10. Costly. But they do have more variety... I think their best food yet is the roti bakar! I love them! It's so good! And a far cry compared to Old town's skinny roti ok. Pappa Rich's version is thicker and fresher... Have you tried it before?
As for the Pappa Rich ABC with an ice-cream on top? Guess what? Last week when I was there for lunch, I actually witnessed the incident whereby the waiter was going to serve that bowl of ABC but the ice-cream fell off in the midst of him walking!!! SERIOUS! We were all laughing, not at the waiter, but at the funny incident! I guess it's not very practical to place something round on top of a peak eh? :P Wow, what a long comment!
wait.. i wanna close my face in shame as I've never been to both! {or all four if include the Kluan and station one cafe... so how to comment? close my face enuf.. boo hoo
cheahs@n, yes you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in my blog! LOL!
becklee, I guess that's why these overpriced kopitiams are so popular. People just love to hang out there! : )
ladyviral, haha! Missed again? Next time you must come here before it's updated at the blogroll! Hehe
Yes, PappaRich is indeed expensive. Every time I go there, my bill comes close to RM20, sometimes more if I order more things! So cannot go there often, if not bankrupt! : )
Yeah, I quite like OldTown's nasi lemak - but it's getting boring already for me. Can't be eating nasi lemak there everytime right? They should seriously expand the menu!
Go and try Papparich and let me know what you think yes? : )
khengsiong, yes go try Papparich, but don't expect too much! Be prepared to pay however, as the price is high!
Exactly so many competition from kopitiam-style restaurants yet OldTown still sticking to their lousy menu!
CH Voon, change OldTown to NewTown? Haha!
borneo falcon, I guess there's no OldTown in Sibu? I know Papparich only have outlets in Klang Valley so you got to fly over here to try it! : )
xin,I'm sure you've been to all since you are flogger! Haha!
Oh! I have never tried Toast & Coffee even though I passed there a lot of times! Their toast must be good then? Must try it next time! : )
mei teng, I'm not impressed either. I guess the best food in OldTown is the nasi lemak and the chicken hor fun. Others are plain lousy! I'm not complaining about their lack of quality food - I think most OldTown's style of kopitiams do not have very good quality food - but their limited menu!
willie, oh so there's OldTown in Sarawak? Look how much they have expanded! : )
jam, you should give them a try next time you come to KL! Especially Papparich, not OldTown. Btw, you can try OldTown at LCCT but it's even more overpriced there!
manglish, you like OldTown's curry mee? So so only lah for me. Haha! Yes, do try PappaRich next time you are back in Malaysia : )
little inbox, yes OldTown's menu is so limited it's boring! Do try PappaRich if you ever come down to KL : )
TZ, I know you've been boycotting OldTown since the very beginning cos you are such a Starbie fan! So PappaRich is better right? Yeah, gimme five! : )
dolly, the food at OldTown is super cosy? You mean super costly, is it? Haha!
Wait till you try Papparich - it'll burn a hole in your wallet! But at least the food there is in bigger portion : )
gallivanter, yeah too much hype, and that's why so many people flock over to these kopitiams even though the food are blow average and the prices sky high!
josette, yes 135 OldTown outlets! Incredible right? I think they will soon take over McD as the franchise with the most outlets in Malaysia! Haha!
Why is PappaRich called like that? No idea!
You are from Penang? Btw, thanks fro dropping by here! : )
bravebear, yeah, why some people bring their whole families to eat at OldTown is beyond me!
Thanks for dropping by, yes? : )
lina, haven't tried before?! Oh, yeah you everyday go eat at Japanese restaurants. I forgot! LOL! Like that cannot eat at OldTown - you will surely complain about the food! Haha!
chrisau, Papparich outlets currently all in Klang valley only. Maybe you want to start a PappaRich outlet in JB? Sure untung one! : )
You mean the Old Town hor fun is good? OK lah, not too bad but still cannot match with Ipoh's standard right?
kenwooi, you like OldTown? Excuse me, I think you are the only one here that says that! Wait till you try Papparich! Haha
day-dreamer, too bad! Do give Papparich a try when you are in KL! : )
tekkaus, 30 outlets? haha! No, they have 135!!! Incredible right? Can almost take over McD as the franchise with the most outlets in Malaysia!
Oh, so OldTown near your house! Then you can go makan there everyday lah.
Somehow I don't associate OldTown with high class cos their food are so low class! haha!
I do admit their nasi lemak is delicious, but is that all? I'm complaining about the lack of variety there cos I don't expect too much on the quality from all this type of kopitiams.
Maybe you can open a PappaRich outlet in Melaka? Sure make money for you! : )
If you come to KL, don't forget to invite me to go along with you to Papparich, yes? : )
happysurfer, really? Maybe the franchise for OldTown is cheap so they have more outlets sprouting!
The coffee at Pg Red Cafe is good? Not much of a coffee drinker, but I don't mind giving it a try! Thanks!
So you think the foreign labor messed up the food? I think you are right. Local food need to be cooked by local people! : )
mariuca, wow! Tried all already! But your favourite is OldTown? What!!! I am shocked!
Aiya! Cannot judge PappaRich by your first visit. Some more service not good when you visited that time. Give it another chance - I'm sure you'll find something that you'll like there! Honestly, the food there is better than OldTown!
Haven't tried Japanese squid at Station One. Don't really fancy squid! Haha.
Oh yes the chicken hor fun in OldTown is not too bad, but cannot match the real deal from Ipoh! : )
pikey, yes Papparich is better! Gimme a five! : )
quachee, thanks! Oh, I passed by Pak Li many times but never eaten there before! Will try it one of these days! : )
nick phillips, haha! Roadside mamak stall can be nicer and cheaper too! : )
fufu, so eating gelato in Frankfurt everyday is it? Malaysia also have gelato what! Talking about gelato, maybe Papparich should introduce that. Or maybe they already have? Will check it out! : )
wenn, never mind lah, so many good food in Ipoh no need PappaRich there! Haha
ayie, wow so meticulous with food? Is that same as being fussy? In that case, I don't think you can stand OldTown! LOL!
monica, oh yes the milo dinosaur and prawn mee not too bad!
You like OldTown's garlic bread? Yes! Gimme a five! : )
Yes, Station 1 Cafe is a bit different from OldTown and others. They have a lounge area and also singers to entertain you : )
zamspotte, I haven't been to the Big Apple before. Is that a kopitiam or a restaurant?
che-cheh, yes totally agree OldTown should improve on their menu and quality of food. Better go tai pai tong right?
Pak Li is not bad? QuaChee recommended it too! OK, will give it a try! : )
iamthewitch, yes I agree with you. And I think I will be joining Saucer to boycott OldTown! Haha!
I love Papparich's roti bakar too! Thicker and fresher so unlike the horrible skinny roti from OldTown.
The waiter dropped the ice cream from the bowl of ABC? Haha! That's funny! I will laugh too!
Pretty long comment here? Well, you can always break them up like what you did in my last post aka spamming. LOL!
merryn, what! Never been to both? Never mind lah, I think the Neighbourhood Cafe in Dataran Sunway is enough to satisfy you and Ethan! Haha!
Aiya.... I went there few more times after the first incident Foong, service still same, food oso still biasa... but I still go la if got nowhere else to makan lol!
Yeah my fave la Old town!!! I oso like the potato curry toast, last time it was chic curry toast now potatoes only but still YUM! :)
i have noticed west malaysians have a festish with such types of places, coffeebean, oldtown, etc.. i wonder why,, seriously i fail to understand beyond the hype :) and the high prices
i have only been to OldTown twice!! both are when i'm in LCCT and there's nothing much else to eat..
my colleague ordered Lam Mee and to our fright, it doesn't look and taste like it at all, but like a mutated version of Mee Rebus only.. not nice!!
and that Lam Mee cost RM9.80, nothing much besides 2 prawns and three pieces of fish cake!! so overly priced..
luckily i ordered their signature nasi lemak ayam rendang.. RM11.90 compared to her Lam Mee is a lot more worth for the money..
anyway, i don't think the nasi lemak is very very nice that type lor.. just very normal to me..
i think it's more popular, because they are the pioneer of its kind.. when ppl think of this kind of modernised kopitiam, they will think of OldTown..
i actually hate all these kind of business.. the food are actually cheap things, but just a twist on the environment, they are charging so expensive.. this is snatching consumer's money..
well, if you let me choose between OldTown and PappaRich, i think i will prefer the latter one.. more choices and things are more creative..
and i think the food from PappaRich is actually more delicious than OldTown.. what say you??
yaya~~ hehehe,,
costly!! mahal!! expensive~~
wahh,, then i go mamak better
Station 1 and Kluang Cafe can close shop la. Old Town WHite Coffee has terrible service but te one at Bangsar South is their BEST comfy outlet!! Wanna go?
Papa Rich has better choice of food esp their Omega Eggs is world class ayam hatched punya leh!
I thought you lost in Xinping until dunno how to blog other topic! You scared so many bloggers over your series of 1 trip! Tell me what was the ending of the story now!!! Anyone died? The guy dumped the gal? The Grandma's ghost came back? You were found lost in the Lion's den? LOL Just kidding! Ha ha ha ha!
personally, i dont like Old Town much. but being the Ipoh boy that I am, I gotta support them somewhat.
see ... if Old Town did NOT come up with such novel concept, you'd think there would be imitators?
I don't really like to eat at these types of kopitiam but it is a convenient place for meeting people and friends. The food serve are very monotonous, not interesting at all!
Haven't try Papparich before. But me and my wife love the coffee of OldTown. Did Papparich have nice coffee as well?
mariuca, really? Which Papparich outlet you went to? I will avoid that outlet for sure! Maybe you try other outlets? : )
bengbeng, I also don't understand this strange phenomenon. Expensive eateries with low quality food, but lots of people go!
SK, yes there's nothing much to eat in OldTown - very limited menu! The LCCT outlet is damn expensive!
The Lam Mee is really below average to me. And so pricey too. Won't want to touch it!
The nasi lemak is quite good in my opinion, but still expensive!
Yeah, the food is actually cheap, they are charging for the ambience. But the thing is people like to go there so what can I say?
Yeah, Papparich is definitely better! More choices and also better quality and bigger portion too! : )
dolly, sometimes I think mamak food also not very cheap, but still cheaper than all these modern kopitiams! : )
twilight zone, haven't been to Bangsar's outlet! But I don't like the food there - prefer Papparich!
Really? Papparich's omega eggs is good quality? You mean OldTown's omega egg is inferior?
Hey, my Xingping post where got so dramatic? You think this is a drama serial? Haha!
pete, yes I agree the food is not interesting, especially to floggers like you : )
superman, you like OldTown coffee? I guess it is quite famous, but not everyone likes it. Since I am not a big coffee drinker, I will not comment on their coffee.
Papparich has many other drinks that are nice that's why I prefer Papparich compared to OldTown : )
I like OldTown's garlic bread too. A must order every time I'm there.
I would have to go to KL to try Papparich. Good excuse. :)
thanks for the review. I must go try papparich!
eastcoastlife, you like the garlic bread too? Gimme 5! : )
Yeah, come over to KL and try PappaRich! : )
eiling lim, yes go and try! : )
Why do my white coffee mugs get gray inside after being washed in the dishwasher?