Sorai Malaysia, Padang Jawa: Old-School Malay Breakfast, RM6 Lontong

The name Sorai comes from combining "sorakan ramai" (the cheer of a crowd), fitting for this breakfast warung's hope of being a place where people gather. Located on Jalan Mat Raji, Kampung Padang Jawa, Shah Alam, Sorai Malaysia serves classic Malay breakfast in a space that instantly transported us to an old kampung. Tourism Selangor also lists it as a breakfast pick in its one-day guide to Shah Alam.

We started with the lontong kuah lodeh (rice cakes in coconut vegetable gravy) priced at RM6. The gravy is thick and rich. The soto is packed with ingredients in a light broth, gentle on a morning stomach, while the pulut kuning (turmeric glutinous rice) comes with a big piece of chicken.

Among the things rarely found elsewhere is punten, a soft-textured rice cake eaten with green anchovy sambal. There's also mee kari with a rich but not cloying curry, ubi kayu rebus (boiled tapioca) with grated coconut and sambal, and lempeng (a simple flatbread) with anchovy sambal for RM3.50.

The must-try drink is kopi Sorai, available hot or iced. The iced version is smooth and creamy once stirred, while the hot version is closer to kopi O with a slight buttery margarine richness. Many visitors also recommend their butter coffee.

According to Sorai's official account, the warung is open Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 12.30pm, and closed on Fridays. It's perfect for anyone who misses a kampung-style breakfast without having to balik kampung.