White House
White House in Kota Bharu is an institution; it is so popular among locals and tourists that even before the place opens at 8am, there is already a queue at the door. They say third time is a charm. White House doesn’t have a fixed day off and the previous two visits we made left us disappointed.
Menu
Service wasn’t the friendliest and no photography was allowed, especially of the menu and kitchen. The picture above was taken before the staff informed me about their little rule. Famished, I polished off a set of roti kahwin (RM2.20), telur ½ masak (RM2.20), one packet of nasi dagang and a cup of kopi ais (RM2.50). Ambitious for many, but an easy feat for me. ;)
Roti Kahwin
The toast had a light and crispy exterior, with a fluffy and moist centre. This came with a side of cold butter and kaya. I found the kaya very tasty – it was light in colour and richly eggy with a good balance of sweetness. According to the owner, authentic kaya should be light in colour; I bought a small tub of kaya to enjoy at home. The combination of warm crusty toast, slightly melted butter and rich kaya was simple yet delicious.
Soft-boiled eggs
Drizzled with a bit of soy sauce
The soft-boiled eggs were cooked just right and were evenly wobbly. Good stuff! One of White House’s specialties is the Nasi Dagang (RM3.50). The unpolished rice had a firm yet fluffy texture and came with a side of chicken rendang. I would have liked the chicken thigh, but I got the chicken breast instead. That said, the rendang gravy was thick, spicy and aromatic.
Nasi Dagang with Chicken Rendang
Nasi Ikan Tongkol
I also tried a few bites of the Nasi Ikan Tongkol (RM3), which my mother in-law had. I liked the fish, but didn’t think the white rice did it justice. Even the fried chicken version suffered the same fate. The Nasi Lemak (RM1.50) looked unassuming, but the sambal packed a wallop. Despite that small spoonful, the sambal was quite spicy even for me. Pretty decent stuff.
Nasi with Ayam Goreng
Nasi Lemak
Iced coffee
The iced coffee was smooth and thick with a good roasted aroma. While it’s no Ipoh white coffee, it still makes a pretty good cuppa. The hot version (RM1.50) was better than the former, especially when eaten with the toast.
Hot coffee
Our bill came up to RM40 for the 4 of us (inclusive of 3 additional packets of nasi dagang to go). I would like to come back again when I hit the east coast, but the unpredictable day-offs is quite a turn-off. Imagine driving there only to find the place close. Potong steam!
- Like my Facebook page here.
Ambiance: 6/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 7/10 (halal)
Verdict: One of the must-try places in Kota Bharu. But don’t expect 5-star service here.
Kedai Kopi White House
1329-L,
Jalan Sultanah Zainab,
Kota Bharu,
Kelantan
Business hours: 8am – 1.30pm, 9pm – 1am