Dearest Readers,

Settle in with us, your loveliest editors, in a minimalist yet warm and earthy cafe established by a mother-and-daughter duo, MAD Coffee. Located in IOI Rio, Puchong, the cafe is a hidden trove of chiffon cakes and unique drinks, perfect for afternoon tea-time with your girls or a whole-day grinding session, as they are equipped with multiple charging ports and WiFi.

As we stepped onto the wooden tile, unfortunately, the welcome wasn’t as warm as the interior, setting a discomforting mood. Trying to be positive still, we walked around the cafe to capture the restaurant’s ambiance through our lenses. The wait for the food stretched to 30 minutes, even though the cakes were not freshly baked. Moreover, we had to remind them of the initial deal regarding the food quantity.

After a while, we finally got our food, a range of bakery dreams consisting of: the famous “Rasa Sayang” chiffon cake, nostalgic citrus madeleines, and Korean-style garlic bread with cream cheese. For the drinks, We got the mysterious “Langkawi,” the classic coconut latte, and the unique mocha with orange.

Our first bite had to be their signature “Rasa Sayang,” a dream of pandan coconut chiffon paired with clouds of sweet potato cream. As the spoonful of “Rasa Sayang” went into my mouth, the cream melted gracefully, triggering endorphin euphoria. The chiffon cake was indeed fluffy and airy, paired perfectly with the sultry cream. Although, if I have to be honest, it wasn’t an “out-of-this-world” dish. It is more of a classic chiffon with a twist of Malaysian pride.

To soothe our throat, we tried the line of drinks. Starting with “Langkawi,” which looks like a mysterious green potion you scoop out of a cauldron. The taste of matcha with a hint of coconut hit our taste buds, a very unpredictable yet pleasant combination. Another coconut-based drink that blew our minds was the coconut latte with a super “kaw” taste of coffee. Last but not least, we had to try the bold orange mocha, which felt like a tropical summer day in the 80s.

Moving on to the adorable citrus madeleines, an epitome of nostalgia. A solid lemon breeze spanned my senses as I bit into the soft and spongy madeleine. However, personally, the Korean garlic bun has to be the star of the show, an emerging dark horse indeed. Who would’ve guessed a cafe specialising in chiffon cakes could make such a soft and umami garlic bun? If you love garlic, you will enjoy this garlicky treat as much as we do!

In conclusion, our stint at MAD Coffee was a rollercoaster of flavours and frustrations. Its affordable offerings and cosy ambiance makes it a haven for indulgence seekers and gossip-mongers. So, the next time you find yourself craving a taste of drama served with a side of chiffon cake, you know where to find us. Until then, bon appétit!

Our ratings: 

• Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Drinks: ⭐⭐⭐.8
• Interior: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Appearance on the outside vs inside: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Service: ⭐⭐

Article by Teresa

Photos by Ezriq