FIND THE AUTHENTIC 80 YEARS (4-GENERATIONS) TRADITIONAL HAINANESE KOPITIAM “CHAM CHUAN KEE” @ SEMPORNA, SABAH
“Kopitiam” is a kind of chinese cuisine coffee shop which began & practised mostly by the Hainan chinese migrants since early 19th century in Malaysia initially serving their homemade toast breads & coffees traditionally, still frequently going-on today on respective recipes. Here in Semporna, Sabah we found and being successfully recognised among the best Hainanese Kopitiam “Cham Chuan Kee” since 1940s, running into their family’s 4th generation in manner.
The Hainan, China originated late Mr. Cham Chuan Kee (Founder), who reached Semporna, Sabah in early 19th century initially began his very simple chinese coffee house named “Cham Chuan Kee” right in the Semporna township in 1940s. Later-on being continue by son-in-law late Mr. Lee Tong Bun (2nd generation), who also originated from Hainan, China introducing their family’s homemade fresh & toast bread, coffee & teh tarik to the locals reached year 1983.
While Tong Bun’s son Mr. Lee Sui San (Semporna born, 1959), who was an overseas graduate in Accountancy, returned to hometown Semporna at his 24th of age helping mother, then taken up the responsibility to continue family’s career in year 1983 as the 3rd generation still on the same ground until today. Also being assisted by his younger brother Mr. Lee Sui Kong (born 1965), niece Lee Eng Hua (born 1977) and nephew Lee Hian Yi (born 1997) as the 4th generation. In year 2018 exposed into 2nd kopitiam outlet & 3rd cafeteria at Semporna Seafront Township providing better & more signature menus to the visitors under a roof. Finally “Cham Chuan Kee” being recognised among the best coffee house in town by the F&B E-Media for the year 2019.
In this 80 years Cham Chuan Kee kopitiam, the owners’ very first top recommended among menus surely will be their family’s generations recipes on “Homemade Hainanese Breads” which produced on daily basis, most wanted by the locals & visitors since the beginning. In-house homemade breads from mixtures of quality flour & chicken egg with no preservative and artificial colouring added, served in thick slices either in fresh or toasted mixed in-between with butter, homemade kaya (coconut paste), cheese or mix (called “kahwin”) will be on customer’s request that you must try when reached Semporna, Sabah. Especially the crunchy & soft bites texture and tasty into mouth will be the cannot missed breakfast option taken in Semporna by the tourists.
Secondly will be their famous “Red Bean Buns”, also known Roti Manis by the locals which among the coffee shop’s daily top seller recently. Daily home-prepared fresh red bean paste insided/wrapped into their handmade rubbed-flour in shape, followed by about 10-15 minutes baked in-house will brings excellent bites texture and bun’s & red bean’s natural sweet freshness into mouth that favourite by the locals all the while. Also their “Red Bean Biscuits” or locally known Tau Sa Pia, also from daily home-baked that you will neither found better elsewhere in town other than this generations kopitiam “Cham Chuan Kee” in town.
Another will be their “Signature French Toast”, which introduced by Sui San that prepared in Hainanese traditional authentic recipe like by the visitors. Homemade fresh bread in thick slices, coated with the mixtures of butter & chicken egg, followed by few minutes pan-fried then finally served with no sided sauce or jam, will be a very authentic Hainanese traditional recipe of egg-toast bread that you will never regret after tasted here.
In order to complete your breakfast or tea time in Cham Chuan Kee, their home-brewed “Hainanese Teh Tarik”, “Kopi Nai Tarik” & “Kopi O Kosong” (Expresso Coffee) will cannot aside taken matching with either their fresh kahwin bread, toasted bread or french toast which to be served in hot or cold on customer’s preference to perfect your meal/eatery in this 4-generations kopitiam/coffee shop. Also, sided with a set in double “Half Boiled Kampung Chicken Egg”, or taken tipping with their fresh homemade breads will also commonly practised in the kopitiam since their 1st generation that you will like it.
While in year 2018, their 2nd & 3rd outlets at Semporna Seafront Township began operated to satisfy the market demand and to convenient the tourists with more signature menus such like fresh healthy fruits juice, chinese cuisine fried noodles selection, western burgers etc made available under a roof that you really cannot missed when stepped into this best recognised 80 years (4-generations) chinese coffee house/kopitiam “Cham Chuan Kee” at Semporna, Sabah.
CHAM CHUAN KEE
Address: (Main)
Lot 1,
Block 4,
Jalan Lean Chap It,
Pekan Semporna,
91307 Semporna,
Sabah.
(6:45am to 4:00pm, Monday to Saturday)
(6:45am to 11:30am, Sunday)
(Seafront Outlet)
Lot C1,
Semporna Seafront Township,
91307 Semporna,
Sabah.
(7:00am to 10:00pm, Daily)