Hai Peng: 86 years of coffee, community and Merdeka spirit

Kedai Kopi Hai Peng, a coffee shop founded in 1940, has been a beloved gathering place in the coastal town of Chukai, Terengganu for over 86 years. Owned by Richard Wong, the grandson of the original founder Wong Sang Hai, the shop continues to serve its loyal customers who come for the Hainanese coffee and other traditional kopitiam favourites.

The menu remains largely unchanged, with kaya toast, half-boiled eggs, nasi lemak, and traditional kuih as staples. The shop’s signature Hainanese coffee, accompanied by these breakfast staples, has been a constant throughout its long history. During National Month, the shop's sense of togetherness takes on added significance, bringing together people of different backgrounds for meals and conversations.

Richard Wong is pleased to see the friendly and welcoming atmosphere persist, with customers from various races greeting and shaking hands with one another. The shop’s legacy of unity and community has been passed down through generations, providing a familiar home for locals and newcomers alike.