KUALA LUMPUR: Amidst the usual bustle of Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) is a stall that stands out.
At Oi! Kopi & Roti, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with vinyl music. It is certainly not the sort of spot one expects to stumble upon in a wet market.
Yet that contrast is precisely what gives the cosy stall its charm.
For founder Luqman Hakim Dawam, Oi! Kopi & Roti marks a quieter, simpler chapter in his life – one that feels like a reset.
Before starting the stall, he and his wife, Nurul Izzati Manan, had run a café called Cakies, serving pizzas, burgers, cakes, croissants, cookies and more.
Over time, however, rising rental costs and the demands of running a larger operation prompted Luqman to rethink things.
After closing Cakies last August, he embraced a fresh start by opening Oi! Kopi & Roti the following month.
“Here, I keep things simple. When the basics are done right, people will come regularly,” said Luqman, 41.
Instead of offering an oversized menu, Luqman focuses on a smaller selection of croissants, sourdough bread, toast and pain au chocolate, alongside comforting sandwiches such as grilled cheese, egg mayonnaise and tuna.
Coffee remains at the heart of the space. Familiar favourites such as Americano, cappuccino, latte, mocha and flat white are all available here.
For something a little more playful, customers can also try drinks like the gula Melaka latte or the “Fat Americano” – espresso mixed with Coca-Cola.
The hot latte is done right here – smooth, creamy and the kind of pick-me-up one craves after a long day. Using Brazilian coffee beans, the brew has chocolatey and nutty notes that linger pleasantly with every sip.
From time to time, customers can also tuck into Izzati’s pecan pie, cempedak butter cake and chocolate banana bread.
The pecan pie strikes a lovely balance between buttery and nutty, pairing beautifully with coffee. Meanwhile, the cempedak butter cake and chocolate banana bread are decadent without being too sweet.
For Luqman, Oi! Kopi & Roti is more than coffee and food – he also hopes the stall can play a role in bringing fresh energy to Pasar Besar TTDI.
“I want the market to feel alive. When more people come, especially younger ones, the whole place becomes livelier,” he shared, adding that he also enjoys the sense of community among the traders here.
His goal, Luqman noted, is not to chase viral food trends.
This slower, more grounded philosophy shapes the atmosphere of the stall. Everything from indie tunes to jazz drifts from the turntable while scooters, a slide and a swing keep children entertained as parents unwind over coffee.
Even the stall’s unusual name reflects its personality. After all, “oi” is a way to get someone’s attention – and fittingly, Oi! Kopi & Roti does exactly that.
In the middle of a wet market filled with vegetable stalls and fishmongers, this little spot draws you in and offers something increasingly rare – a reason to slow down.
Oi! Kopi & Roti
TD-096A, Pasar Besar Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
Jalan Wan Kadir, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 7am-2pm (closed on Mondays)
Learn more about Oi! Kopi & Roti on Instagram.
For location, click here. Prefer not to drive? The TTDI MRT station is only about a nine-minute walk away.
