Grab a Bagel at The Mugshot Cafe in Chulia Street, Penang
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BY CK Lam
Bagels are a popular bread product in western countries. Shaped by hand into the form of a ring, the bagel is first boiled and then baked. Sesame seeds and poppy seeds are the most common toppings.
Many enjoy this “O” shaped bread fresh or toasted with a spread of butter or cream cheese and fillings of seafood, meat or egg.
Bagels were not that well known in Penang before the opening of The Mugshot Cafe in Chulia Street. The open kitchen, set aside on the left side of the dining room housed a black wood-fired oven. The fresh baked bagels (sourced from the neighbouring Rainforest Bakery) topped with poppy seeds are heated up in this oven until the exterior is slightly brown and crisp.
The menu is not extensive but only with five types of mouth-watering bagels to choose from. Seafood lovers will want to try the cream cheese and smoked salmon bagel (RM10). Bagel with just cream cheese cost RM5.
If you are looking for meaty options, do try the Turkey ham cranberry sauce bagel, bacon and egg bagel and the corned beef & rocket bagel.
Bacon and egg bagel RM10
The corned beef and rocket bagel is a popular option, with the freshness of the rockets against the salty meat.
Corned beef and rocket bagel RM10
Apart from their signature bagels, the cafe also offers muffins, croissants, cakes and yogurts along with tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices. A cup of freshly brewed black coffee is an excellent choice to go with the bagels.
The homemade thick creamy yogurt comes with four delightful toppings of fruits and nuts. The walnuts and raisins yogurt is satisfying with sweetness of raisins and crunchy walnuts while the jackfruit & gula Melaka yogurt has more local flavor.
Despite its limited menu, the cafe has a surprising number of visitors daily. Customers often have to wait for a table, especially during weekends.
The Mugshot Cafe housed in a narrow heritage shop house (a former budget hotel) has a front seating area with view of the bustling Chulia Street. Click here for its google Map Location.
The Mugshot Cafe
302 Chulia Street
10200 Penang
Tel：012 4056276
Business Hours：8am – 9pm
* This is a reproduction of my article published in New Straits Times