Some time back, I tweeted and proclaimed Old Town White Coffee to be the best 3-in-1 instant coffee ever. Despite the rather brazen statement, given that I haven’t tasted most of the instant coffee out there, some of my followers agreed. Even after a year, during which I did try several other brands of coffee, I still feel the same way.
My year-long love affair with Old Town is the reason why when an outlet opened at Playground @ Big Splash in East Coast Park, I immediately added it to my list of must-visit places. Never mind the fact that I already have the instant coffee at home; I still felt an urgent need to check out the place!
Old Town originated from the town of Ipoh in 1958. While they are the biggest kopitiam (coffee shop) chain in Malaysia today with 82 outlets, this East Coast Park outlet marks only their first foray into Singapore.
And I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last.
The layout of the place looks pretty similar to most of the kopitiam chains that have sprung up in Singapore in recent years. There are the usual marble tables and wooden chairs, as well as coffee served in traditional cups printed with the all-too-familiar green designs.
A cosy lounge-like area and a few six-person booth seats separate this from the rest of the kopitiams, creating the slight ambience of a Western café. Having a sofa here may seem rather out of place, but I think most patrons would welcome the option.
An aged image of a busy street scene covers one side of the wall. This is the same photo featured in their logo. For all the hundreds of Old Town coffee sachets I have had, I had never realised that the little logo contains a street scene!
Besides the usual coffee and kaya (creamy coconut jam) toast, some other items you would find on the menu include chicken rendang (a recommended dish which I heard is superb), curry chicken rice, ice cream toast, as well as the rather intriguing “ice fire polo bun” and “coffee lava”.
But with our stomachs still working hard on what we had from our previous meal, we could only manage to down a few cups of coffee. That’s okay – it’s what we were there for anyway!
Update: On a follow-up visit, we ordered the chicken rendang, which at S$7.90++, isn’t exactly cheap for the skimpy portion you get. When we asked for an extra spoonful of chilli sauce, the staff (and their manager) told us it would cost S$0.50 more.
To add salt to the wound, there is that mandatory 10% service charge here even though we had to queue at the counter to make our payment when we patronised the Toa Payoh Hub outlet on two separate occasions. They don’t provide water too. After the subsequent disappointing experiences at Old Town, we have decided to never come back to this place.
S$1.60+
Rating:
The coffee comes with a foamy layer on top, which kind of resembles coffee tarik. It tastes a little different from the classic instant coffee that I’m accustomed to, but it is still as rich and fragrant. Old town fans would love this just the same.
The blend of specially roasted liberica, arabica and robusta coffee beans with small amounts of caramel is what contributes to the distinct taste and flavour of this underrated (in Singapore anyway) brew. More coffee lovers need to sample it!
After savouring the coffee, enamored patrons can also purchase it in-store and make their own Old Town coffee at home. (Hint: The 3-in-1’s can also be found at most supermarkets.)
Photo by Old Town White Coffee
Meanwhile, do excuse me while I go make a hot cup of Old Town white coffee!
– Bukit Timah: 9 Yuk Tong Avenue
– Cineleisure
– Far East Plaza
– Jurong Point
– Playground@Big Splash, East Coast Park
– Square 2
– Suntec City Mall
– Toa Payoh Central
– White Sands
Website
Service: 
Jan 7, 2009
1
Well I am a kind of crazy coffee, I born in Ipoh too, well I still enjoy going to the first Old Town.
Dec 4, 2009
1
Well……the only best places to relaxs.enjoy together……..but sometimes smelly with hardcoffee…inside like big coffin……..dark wall…like coffee beans.
hahaha………but good taste…..
May 1, 2010
1
I just went the other day, trust me, not only their coffee is nice, those who like prawn mee or even curry, you guys should try. even my grandma cant wait to go back again.
May 9, 2010
2
The services in new branch suntec is really lousy. Services oriented country like Singapore with such service level, really pull down overall ratings. Food view still maintain min expectation.
May 20, 2010
2
i have just been to the one at promenade. We ordered the chicken curry. When the food arrived, I am quite surprised with the portion. The amount of curry sauce given was less than 1 cm in depth corresponding to the bowl they used. We requested for more only to be told that it is a standard portion. Although I must stress that it was very kind of the manager to give another portion, however, I will not go back for the curry chicken again. They really need to do something with their portioning. We are not suckers even the curry chicken taste great!
May 21, 2010
2
Darren, you are truely right.
We ordered the curry noodle and the curry soup’s like darn expensive and only give less than a bowl depth.
It’s really not worth to get a bad ratings when good food are provided to customers.
OTW owner(s), please be alerted that we are living in year 2010 and service oriented island.
May 21, 2010
2
Honestly, they do really have a great place to chill out with a cup of nice coffee. But curry sauce isn’t that expensive right? For the kind of price that we are charged, I dun think it hurts to give a half bowl filled with curry sauce.
May 23, 2010
3472
I agree with the above comments on coming here just for the coffee, not the food. On a follow-up visit, we ordered the chicken rendang, which at SGD7.90++, isn’t exactly cheap for the skimpy portion you get. When we asked for an extra spoonful of chilli sauce, the staff (and their manager) told us it would cost SGD0.50 more.
To add salt to the wound, there is that mandatory 10% service charge here even though we had to queue at the counter to make our payment when we patronised the Toa Payoh Hub outlet on two separate occasions.
And oh, they don’t provide water too. After the subsequent disappointing experiences at Old Town, we have decided to never come back to this place.
Jun 14, 2010
1
One time visit is good enough to turn me off from this place. The staff attitudes are really very bad. They are rude and have no customer service at all. Just last Sunday I was there with my family for breakfast. One of the staff there was literally banging things around while clearing table. And when I ask for a cup of hot water for my mother coz she was not feeling well, the waitress was not only not happy to oblige, she even gave us her dirty look. The manager just simply allow his staff to be rude to customer, like allow one his staff to bang and throw things around. This is bad and it really suck big time. I will not go there ever again and will not recomend to any one. PEOPLE DONT EVER GO THERE YOU WILL BE REALLYB PISSED, TRUST ME,
Oct 7, 2010
1
I would like to file in a complaint on the food prepared by the Old Town White Coffee in Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur
We have ordered different food; however the food quality and serving size are really “BELOW” our expectation !
The MH Siam that I have is very bad ! It is cold and the fried chicken is cold and soggy ! After I make a complaint, the waiter has warm up the food for me, but the fried chicken still soggy !! If I prefer the “pre cook” food, why should I spend the money and go to your restaurant ?! Must well I go to a hawker stall ! Furthermore, the serving size is really small ! I I have to buy another food immediate I have the lunch in your restaurant ! It is really upset, the food is nothing compare to Papa Rich !
Besides, my friends also complaint on the Curry Mee and Dry Curry Egg Noodle, it is watery !
The serving size of Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun also very small !
These food just do not deserve a price like this !!
If you have a doubt on this, please stop by and spot check on the above mentioned food. I believe if you were the customer, you will never go back to the same restaurant again !!
Oct 30, 2010
2
I visited their Suntec, White Sands outlet in recent months 2010.
i want to say the service is really bad, the arrogance of the servers, the long queue time (and still as if we owe them to queue up), the mediocre quality food, overpriced food for small pathetic portions and overall, really dont understand why i’m paying so much more than Yah Kun, Wang Cafe etc just for similar food items and such bad service attitude.
after 2 very dissappointing and angry experiences with them, i’ve decided never to patronise them and would warn my friends and family about their service.
Mar 18, 2011
1
The taste of the old town white coffee is different than before, the taste is not as good as few years back… possible increase cost in ingredient?
Jun 19, 2011
1
On 30th of March, I visited your Jurong Point outlet. After eating the tuna toast and teh tarik there, i had a diahrroea and started vomiting. It was so serious that i was unable to walk and an ambulance had to be called. I was immediately admitted into hospital(NUH) and was put on a drip. It was confirmed, with an official letter, by a senior consultant, that it was food poisoning due to the food that i took at Old Town since it was the last meal that i had.
I am apalled that Old Town is so unprofessional in handling this matter. When i was discharged, i informed the manager of the outlet (including proof of my admission into NUH and food poisoning). However it took a few months for Old Town to reply to me, informing me that nothing will be done. I am extremely upset at the reply given to me as it makes it seem that i am the one at fault for eating your tuna toast! I did not pay Old Town to give me a food poisonning and making me suffer! I cannot believe that Old Town, an established cafe is so insincere towards its customers.
Even during the time when i had food poisoning, there was no assistance from your seemingly ignorant staff. Is this how Old Town trains their staff? i have told my family and friends about this matter and they are very disappointed that a trustworthy cafe like Old Town provides their customer with such horrible service.i believe that customers not only patronise for quality food but also for quality service. if Old Town is so insincere in handling such matters, i believe no one will be interested in coming to Old Town cafe anymore.
Especially, there are so many cafes out there who serve cheaper food with better services. Needless to say, my family and i have decided not to patronise Old Town anymore.these are the type of services that causes the company to lose their business! You have caused me emotional and mental trauma as well as inconvenience to me and my family. What strucks me most is that you do not reflect on your mistake given the fact that you did not apologise but instead told me that nothing will be done! What is this? Are you telling me that maintaining low hygeine standard is acceptable? Or are you telling me that every customer is eating at their own risk and whatever happens to them is their problem? This is ridiculous and unacceptable!
To prevent more people from being harmed, i will warn my family and friends not to patronise any of your outlets. I have a very deep and unpleasant impression of your outlet!i hope that you will look into this matter seriously and give me a satisfactory explaination on this matter. i also hope that Old Town will apologise to me personally and it is best that you review your hygiene standards befoe serving food onto the table to innocent customers! They do not pay you to suffer!
Jan 17, 2012
1
I was at Ampang and decided to try the old town coffee as I prefer to support and try local ones rather than Starbucks.The coffee was good but I noticed that fresh milk is not used but canned milk or creamer which was quite surprising as the price is not food court prices.Another thing is I wanted to buy the pure coffee to take back but when I checked the ingredients it contained creamers and sugar. Why not 100 % pure malaysian old town coffee. Why creamers and suger.Very disappointing.Besides that the service was deisappointing as the staff did not seem interested.Not a smile nor a welcome nor a thankyou when I paid the bill No 73845 time 14.52pm 16th jan 2012
Feb 21, 2012
1
Last year,our guests from Singapore gave us your products of old town white coffee.
We really love it.
Where can we get it in Japan?
Or can we order it by Internet?