Toast Box now opened at Zenith

If you enjoy the feel and flavour of freshly brewed coffee and the traditional taste of Kaya Toast sandwich, spread with a generous dollop of Hainanese Kaya and a slab of melting butter, then head over to the Toast Box.

Customers queue to place orders at Toast Box, Zenith

From as early as 7am every day, you can sip your morning cuppa at Toast Box, now opened on the street level of Zenith Lifestyle Centre along Jalan Trus and just one floor up from its Jalan Wong Ah Fook entrance.

And if you are still up and about in the wee hours of the morning before 3am, Toast Box will still be open to serve you a range of hot food and snacks with cool and warm drinks.

Besides Kopi, Teh, Kaya Toast and soft-boiled eggs, there is a menu that includes Peanut Butter Thick Toast and popular Asian delights like Laksa noodles, Curry Chicken with rice or bread, Mee Rebus as well as traditional banana-leaf wrapped Nasi Lemak and Mee Siam.

A traditional cloth strainer is still used in their
coffee brewing process

Now you can savour your warm brew in a modern and comfortable kopitiam with its décor, reminiscent of the charm of the coffee-shop culture in a bygone era.

The design concept in Toast Box reflects a significant era during the 60’s and 70’s where people gradually moved out from living in kampung or villages into public housing areas.

The décor has mosaic tiles, window grilles, colours and repeated patterns that are reminiscent of that era as people embraced modern living and forged new relationships.

And when it was the norm for people of every race to sit down to eat together in the neighbourhood kopitiam.

Watch the Coffee Master pour without wasting a drop!

I like the entire white-washed look and am more than glad that they have left out the ubiquitous spittoon that was typically placed under each table in old coffee-shops!

As I admire the décor, I notice a short queue of customers lined up in front of the order counter.

Then I realise that the quick-service concept in this Toast Box outlet means you should place your order and pay at the Order counter and collect the order from the Pick-Up window.

In some instances, like when there is a crowd, the staff will serve orders to your tables.

Spreading Hainanese Kaya and butter on toast

While waiting in the queue, I watch the Coffee Master brew traditional Nanyang Kopi from their signature blend of coffee powder, using the old-fashioned method where the dark brew is strained through a cloth strainer.

It is then expertly “pulled” from the pot in a wide arc and served in a fragrant, frothy cup.

In the same way, freshly brewed tea with milk is “pulled” in the tradition of teh tarik and served with a delicious frothy head.

When it’s my turn at the Order counter, I also spot a small selection of popular kueh like Seri Muka and Kueh Koleh Kacang along with two choices of curry-puffs – curry chicken and sardine – within the showcase that also has banana-leaf wrapped items like Nasi Lemak and Mee Siam.

A small section of kueh and curry-puffs for snacks

As I’m trying to place my order, I cannot help being distracted by the display on their modern cash register which has a changing screen with poster ads to promote the various set meals available at Toast Box.

While waiting to collect my orders, I watch the kitchen team as they busy themselves with toasting slices of bread over a modern electric grill, which has replaced the traditional charcoal grill.

Another team member is moving with speed and dexterity, spreading toast with Hainanese Kaya and adding a slab of butter, which he skillfully sliced off a pillar of butter, resting on a plate.

I watch how food is being prepared and quickly served to waiting customers as the open-plan design of this modern kopitiam offers customers a clear view of the action in the kitchen.

An open packet of Nasi Lemak and a serving of two soft-boiled eggs to savour with light sauce and pepper

A serving of Laksa noodles topped with ingredients

A freshly brewed cup of Nanyang Kopi at Toast Box

Since the Toast Box started in 2005 as a stall unit at the Food Republic food-court in Wisma Atria, Singapore, it has gained a loyal clientele who enjoy dining in the modern replica of a traditional coffee-shop.

From Singapore, the Toast Box brand has expanded abroad with outlets in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines as well as Malaysia.

While the outlets here are mainly in Subang Jaya and Putrajaya, more outlets will soon be opened in the Klang Valley as well as in Johor Baru.

Toast Box is at Lot 01-11 Zenith Lifestyle Mall, 82-C Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Baru. Open daily from 7am to 3am.