Review of Kopi Jiran - One of the best cafes in Kajang, Selangor
I ended up at Kopi Jiran after a weekend hike at Kajang Hill, and as someone who is very much not a morning person and a highly reluctant hiker at that, the only thing that truly excites me about waking up early for a morning hike is the brunch that comes after.
I like to tell myself it’s a “recovery meal” to replenish my energy after a workout, which is surely a valid excuse, right? So anyway I had already browsed Kopi Jiran’s menu the night before, and while dragging my legs up the trail that morning, I was mentally rewarding myself with a hearty plate of nasi lemak and a velvety cup of Kopi C.
Kopi Jiran is located in a quiet residential pocket of Kajang (Lot 13637, Jalan Langat, 7, Jalan TB 1/1, Taman Sri Langat, 43000 Kajang, Selangor). According to some reviews, it can be a little tricky to find, but I had no trouble locating it. Oh, I should mention that I went with someone from the area, even though it was her first time visiting the café as well.
Apparently, Kopi Jiran started out by serving coffee right outside their home (hence the name). This current location seems to be their newer spot, though I’m not entirely sure when the move happened. It’s new enough that much of the surrounding area is still under construction. More shops appear to be coming up.
I noticed that some older reviews mentioned limited parking, but that didn’t seem to be an issue here. Even on a weekend, there was plenty of space to park.
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 8am – 10pm (closed on Mondays)
Ambience
Kopi Jiran is designed to look and feel like a traditional Malay village house. The name “Jiran” (“neighbor”) suits it well, as the setting is laid-back and friendly. With its homey ambience, you feel less like you’re in a trendy urban café and more like you’ve dropped into a neighbor’s house for a good coffee and light bite.
With a wide verandah stretching across the front and wrapping around the sides, there’s plenty of space to sit. It reminds you of those elderly neighbors with endless children and grandchildren, so their house needs to be big enough to host everyone during family gatherings and Hari Raya.
When you arrive, someone — the neighbor’s friendly son — greets you at the front.
If you’ve lived in this type of house before, the nostalgia will really kick in once you step inside. The interior cleverly makes use of old-school furniture from the 50s: dining tables made from vintage sewing machines, complete with the cast-iron foot pedals underneath that move back and forth so you can keep your legs occupied while waiting for food or pretend you’re being productive as you eat.
Around the space, you’ll spot vintage metal teapots, stacked tiffin carriers, and sturdy old wooden cabinets. One cabinet in particular might trigger memories of your grandmother’s kitchen: the one used to store cooked food before refrigerators were a thing. Here, it’s been repurposed to display traditional snacks for sale, like crisps and cookies.
Since we went on a weekend, there was a two-piece band performing in the background. Their repertoire was surprisingly wide, moving from 80s rock to Indonesian dangdut, and even Taylor Swift.
While they were clearly talented and a crowd pleaser, I couldn’t help but wish they’d leaned more into the café’s nostalgic setting with oldies from the 50s to 70s. Still, it added to the relaxed, community feel of the place.
Food & menu highlights
Kopi Jiran’s menu leans heavily into traditional comfort food, starting with their main star: nasi lemak. That’s the foundation here, but they also branch out with a bunch of nasi goreng options, each with quirky names that low-key make you want to try them all.
There’s also a good selection of masakan berkuah (soupy or gravy-based dishes) like lontong kuah lemak, soto ayam, mee kari, and laksa. If you’re not that hungry (or just want to snack while you chat), there are cucur udang, lempeng kelapa, roti bakar, and even satay if you want something a bit more substantial.
When it comes to drinks, coffee is clearly the main event. The focus is on local-style coffee, brewed the traditional way and meant to be enjoyed slowly. But besides that, they do also have non-coffee options like tea, sirap, and chocolate if that’s more your thing.
We ordered strategically, as one should. My friend had the Nasi Lemak Jiran, which comes with all the usual components plus kangkung, a nice touch that adds a bit of freshness and keeps the whole plate from feeling too heavy.
Despite craving for nasi lemak the night before, I went for the lontong, because the unspoken rule is that two people can’t order the same thing, otherwise how are we supposed to optimize value for money and try each other’s food? Also, lontong is harder to come by in restaurants than nasi lemak.
The lontong gravy was creamy but not cloying, and nicely spiced. The rice cakes soaked everything up well, while the fu chuk and bits of vegetables bring beautifully contrasting textures.
For drinks, we got a kopi o and the Jiran kopi latte. The kopi o was strong and bitter in that classic kopi way, and exactly what you want when you need something to properly wake you up. The kopi latte was smoother and more mellow, with the milk rounding things out.
Final thoughts
Kopi Jiran was especially satisfying after a morning hike, but I’d happily come back for the ambience even without the “recovery meal” justification. If they were my actual neighbors, my mom would probably already be asking why I’m spending so much time next door instead of at home.
If you’re in Kajang and looking for a relaxed spot for familiar food and solid coffee, Kopi Jiran is worth the detour. And if you’re planning your next meal, weekend trip, or just looking for ideas around Malaysia, check out the rest of my blog for more food recommendations, destination guides, and travel tips.
