Update: This outlet is permanently closed.
Tucked on the ground floor of Stellar Suites in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Cham Dessert Cafe is a great spot for waffles and other sweet treats. Originally a food truck specialising in Ipoh white coffee and local beverages (hence the name cham), the cafe has been around for a year and recently launched a revamped menu – featuring new and unique waffles served alongside their signature drinks and other whimsical desserts that incorporate local flavours.
The interior is spacious, illuminated by a mix of natural and ambient lighting. I especially like the vintage red tiles and the beige colour scheme paired with warm-toned wood furniture, which gives it a very cosy vibe.
One of the most popular items on Cham’s previous menu is their waffle gridsticks, comprising bite-sized waffle sticks paired with whipped cream and soft serve ice cream. While these are still available, the revamped menu now also carries full-fledged waffle plates in a variety of unconventional yet familiar flavours.
Top on the list is their bestseller, aptly named Tropical Paradise (RM28).
Unlike places where they have a basic waffle batter and spruce it up with ingredients on top, the waffles here are actually infused with flavour; in this case, pandan.
You can tell a lot of thought has been put into presentation, from the chocolate sauce decoration at the bottom, to the accompanying toasted macadamia nuts and fresh berries. Completing the plate is a dollop of salted butter cream, a scoop of French vanilla gelato, and caramelised bananas.
What can I say? Great plate of waffles. They’re made fresh to order, so they’re warm and toasty on the outside with a slight crisp, whilst being soft and fluffy on the inside. The pandan flavour is subtle, which goes really well with the stronger, slightly savoury sangkaya (coconut custard) and the sweetness of the caramelised bananas.
Another new item we tried was the Sun-Kissed Citrus Delight (RM28). Fans of tangy desserts will enjoy this one, as the waffle is infused with orange, then paired with Japanese yuzu cream, plain yoghurt gelato, and a rich orange sauce. While N preferred the Tropical Pandan waffle, I like this one as the flavours are more complex – you have the light sweetness from the waffles, the sourness from the yoghurt gelato, and a zingy, citrusy kick from the orange sauce (similar to candied orange peel).
The waffle plates come in big portions and are good for sharing. If you’re looking for something lighter, they also have playful “Popsicle Waffles” on ice cream sticks, in flavours such as Strawberry Burst, Lychee Dream, Choconana, and Mango Tango. We tried the Peanut Paradise, which had slices of caramelised banana atop a bed of crunchy peanuts.
Cool down from the sweltering weather with Cham’s soft serve series, which come in flavours that are familiar to every Malaysian. There’s Ipoh White Coffee, which is surprisingly ‘kao’; Hainanese Milk Tea, Milo, and Ribena. The latter has a lighter texture more akin to sorbet, which is refreshing, while the other three are rich and creamy, but not too sweet. The soft serves come in these adorable cups with wooden handles for easy eating.
Cham’s new beverage menu offers an elegant selection of tea and coffee mocktails, specially curated by award-winning latte art barista Brady Sak. Each drink comes with a flavour profile and tasting notes, so you can choose whether you prefer a drink that’s fruity or floral, tangy or creamy, etc.
I’ve been drinking more tea rather than coffee these days, so the Petalglow (RM15) was right up my alley. A gentle osmanthus oolong tea is elevated by sweet notes of lychee, with hints of tart hibiscus and elderflower, topped with cherry sour foam for a creamy boost. Again, wonderful presentation – it looked on par with drinks you get served at high-end cocktail bars, but since it’s tea, perfect for teetotalers like me.
N’s Tropicafe (RM15) married coffee with zesty pink grapefruit, tropical pineapple, and a light tea foam. The combination was surprisingly refreshing, with the tartness of the fruits balancing out the coffee’s bitterness.
We thoroughly enjoyed everything that we tried at Cham, and I think it offers flavours and combinations that you will be hard pressed to find elsewhere, at reasonable price points. If you have a sweet tooth, then definitely pay a visit to this cham-ing cafe (hehe, get it?) for your dose of waffles and unique sweets!
CHAM DESSERT CAFE – WAFFLE ARTISTRY
Stellar Suites, 01-02, Jln Puteri 4/7, Bandar Puteri Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor
Opening hours: 2PM – 10PM (closed Tuesdays)
PS: I was invited to try the food at this cafe in exchange for an honest review. Views here are entirely my own.
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