11 Places to Go Food Hunting When in Kuala Terengganu

11 Places to Go Food Hunting When in Kuala Terengganu

Text by ALIFF ASHRAF & HADY ARMEEN Images by MUHAMMAD HASIF MOHD JELANI

Terengganu is well-known for its gorgeous beaches with turquoise sea and white sand that run along the coast. Throughout the year, this east coast state receives many travellers from both within and beyond the country. Terengganu is a state well-known for its cuisine. The first item that comes to mind while thinking of Terengganu is keropok lekor (fish fritters) and nasi dagang (rice steamed in coconut milk and eaten with fish curry).

But you probably didn’t realise that you could actually go cafe hunting in Terengganu too. Terengganu has numerous fascinating cafes that you won’t find in Kuala Lumpur. The following is a list of 11 places to go foodhunting in Kuala Terengganu.

1. Kopi Payong

Enjoy refreshing iced coffee by Kopi Payong while taking in the view from the beachside.

www.facebook.com/Kopipayong Many of you must be coffee enthusiasts, right? But what if you want to try something different in your coffee? Then be sure to swing by Kopi Payong in Terengganu, which offers addictive fatty butter coffee! Aside from that, Kopi Payong offers colek (snack dish), including toast and waffles, for you to munch on with friends or family while admiring the beauty of Terengganu beach and the sea.

2. Yogulp Cafe

Believe it or not, you can even get llaollao-inspired yoghurt in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, available for dining in or takeaway. There are a variety of toppings available at reasonable prices. Imagine the bliss of melted yoghurt ice cream in your mouth, the sweet and sour taste complemented by the delectable chocolate sauce and fresh fruit toppings, making it perfect for enjoying it in the afternoon or evening in sweltering weather. Yogulp Café is open daily from 12:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

3. Mek Awang Cafe

The interior design of Mek Awang cafe.

Have you ever heard of the Terengganu Mek and Awang? Mek and Awang are members of Terengganu’s Peranakan Chinese community, who had lived in the state for hundreds of years. Although they are Chinese, they adopt parts of the Malay culture in their daily lives. Among them are the traditional dishes using local ingredients, which all travellers can savour at the Mek Awang Cafe. Besides coffee, there are 15 satiating classic dishes served by the cafe, and among them are Nasi Kay Hong, Laksa Terengganu Kuah Merah, Keropok Steam, Rojak Betik, and Roti Paung. This cafe also has a gallery that tells the story of Kampung Cina in Kuala Terengganu.

4. Qawa Cafe

Various types of coffee beans available in this cafe.

Can’t locate a Starbucks nearby when you are in Kuala Terengganu? No problem, because you can always drop by at the popular Qawa Coffee, which is a hipster caffeine joint housed in a red-painted container structure. At night, the place is lit by fairy lights, which adds magic to the atmosphere. In addition to kaw kaw (thick) coffee, this cafe serves satisfying cakes and sandwiches. Don’t pass up the opportunity to eat the New York cheesecake, which is excellent!

5. Rollie Cafe

Stop by Rollie Cafe if you like coffee, especially cold brew, since this is the first café in Terengganu to sell cold brewed coffee. But don’t fret if you’re not a coffee fan because there are also other fascinating options such as Iced Matcha Berry, Coco Berry, and a recent special menu item include Pink soda and Dates Milkshake. The café also serves up desserts such as cakes and croffles.

6. Hidden Café

Hidden Cafe serves delicious pancakes.

This café is ideal for those who want to enjoy a relaxing time. Various types of delicious food and beverages at affordable prices are available, giving you many choices. However, there are four meals that are considered as the customers’ all-time favourites: Pancake Belgian Chocolate, Spaghetti Spicy Buttermilk, Nasi Pad Krapow Ayam, and Artisan Rye Bread Sandwich. These all-time favourite dishes can suitably be paired with a caffeinated or non-caffeinated drink. Besides the amazing food and beverages, the monochromatic design of this café’s interior attracts customers and conjure a relaxing vibe. This café is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

7. Icon Café

If you want to have a good time eating meals while watching performances by buskers, this café is for you. This airy café has a huge space that is divided into indoor and outdoor areas with contemporary and photogenic industrial container-style design. Most of the dishes served are Western-inspired, for instance pasta, chicken chop, and desserts. However, you can also order a combo menu consisting of a combination of Western fare served on a large plate. This café is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until midnight, so you do not have to worry about timing since the operating hours are long.

8. Gong Kapas Kueh Bazaar

Local snacks and tidbits for purchase at Gong Kapas Kue Bazaar.

This family business has been selling kueh (local snacks and sweetmeats) since the 1970’s, and now run by the family’s third generation. Starting from just a small stall, it has now transformed into a well-known eatery serving over 100 types of traditional and modern kueh. Usually, there will be a lot of people here during the evening when people are going home from work. If you come here by car, there are parking spaces in front of this stall to park your car. You are lucky enough if you could still find kueh available here after 4:00 p.m. because they are often sold out by then. The eatery is open daily from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., except Fridays when it opens at 2:30 p.m.

9. Warung Belago Angin Facebook : Kedai Makang Belagoangin

This eatery began three years ago, specialising in traditional Terengganu dishes. It is located next to a paddy field and the structure this eatery uses a roof made from rumbia (sago palm fronds). Warung Belago Angin serves popular local delicacies like budu goreng, gulai kateh, sambal telur kerengga, ayam masak merah, gulai ikan cermin and more, all laid out in buffet style. This eatery is open daily except Fridays from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., or until the food is finished. The view here is enchanting, making the dining experience unique and memorable.

10.Warung Dalam Kenangan

Wide selection of seafood await diners at Warung Dalam Kenangan.

Already operating for 12 years, this eatery is famous for its freshly caught local and imported seafood offerings like the Alaskan Crab and Spider Crab. Diners who come to this eatery are not only feted with scrumptious seafood but also the mesmerising beach view. This eatery is open daily except Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. However, travellers should take note that the eatery closes temporarily from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. to make way for Muslim prayers; it reopens after 8:00 p.m.

11. Maggie Dapur Arang Tanjung

Unique style of cooking using charcoal stove at Maggi Dapur Arang Tanjung.

Opened since September 2021, Maggie Dapur Arang Tanjung offers mouth-watering dishes based on the popular instant noodle Maggi that are cooked inside a claypot using the eatery’s own secret spice recipe and cooked on top of charcoal stove to produce a unique flavour. This unique cooking style is not so strange because the owner of this eatery used to be a chef on a ship. Some of the dishes served are Maggi Ayam, Maggi Udang, Maggi Sotong, and Maggi Ketam Niah; the most popular ones are Maggi Sotong and Maggi Ketam Nipah. The eatery also serves up lokching and sausage, which you can eat along with your choice of Maggi dish. The prices are reasonable and commensurate with the dishes’ portion and taste. Since this eatery is located near a beach, you get to eat your Maggi while taking in the nice scenery. The operating hours are from 3:00 p.m. until midnight daily except Mondays.