Teh Laris Kafe

Ask me what I love about Malaysia and food is pretty high on the list. Growing up, the word lunchtime used to ring with such golden tones of promise. Nasi lemak one day, chee cheong fun the next, maybe roti canai… endless choice!
Where I work, after about a month, it rings with the dull thud of routine. Within walking distance, the choices basically boil down to nasi campur or chicken rice, and neither one offers genuine comfort during the only hour out of the 9 to 5 grind to take a real break.
Enter Teh Laris Kafe. Its subtle, elegant white-​and silver wallpaper is paired with emerald tablecloths, giving it a reserved, but sincere quality. Unlike most of the larger eateries in the area, this place offers a properly air-​conditioned indoor area, separated from the outdoor area by glass walls and doors. I love the cooling, smoke-​free, fly-​free environment. They could serve plain bread here and I’d still come.
Luckily, they don’t. Though it styles itself a café, about half its food menu are one dish meals suitable for a light lunch, which is just perfect. Their menu is in fact quite varied, with a tendency toward local favourites such as Nasi Tomato, Laksa Johor and Lontong. I think their food is decent, and I was pleased to find some unique drinks on the menu, such as Teh Kayu Manis, or Cinnamon Milk Tea.
The service here is above average, because the servers actually pay attention, unlike other places where the servers barely speak Malay, not to mention English, and have a knack of looking everywhere else but at the customer. Here, they wait patiently and come when signalled, and any Malaysian can appreciate that level of service.
This place makes me question my standards. I’m not altogether comfortable admitting that decent food, air-​conditioning and basic service is what it takes to wow me, but I can’t help but compare this to the other eateries in the area, and Teh Laris Kafe comes up top in all aspects. Commentary on the lamentable average standard of service in Malaysia aside, I’m most definitely a fan of this place, and I heartily recommend it.