In this century (where everyone emphasizes on efficiency and speed), those traditional restaurants which cook by using woods are getting lesser. However, “Shi Wei’ still remains the traditional way and becomes the one and only restaurant in Muar, Johor (Make coffee with hot water boiled with using woods).
This restaurant is located opposite the court. A load of wood is left outside of the restaurant. The inner part indeed looks like the traditional restaurant which tends to simplicity. The white bread shelf simply nailed us with its traditional look.

The hot stove has been heated from day to night, which includes making hot coffee and tasty toast. The coffee aroma will simply stay in your mind.

Gan Ya Lan (Gan), is the owner of the restaurant. She had been working at “Nan Xin” restaurant while she was young. She can make a good coffee as she learnt from her parents. She started “Shi Wei” with her husband in 1973 (The restaurant’s name is exactly same as her husband’s name). Recently, around 70 yo, Gan, is still busy with her business in “Shi Wei”. However, her skill in making coffee never goes down. In order to make a good coffee, not only she immerses the cup into the hot water, she also pours the cup with using hot coffee once.

The loads of wood are basically from Rambutan trees and clove trees. Gan said that they are taken from a Malay friend who is a woodchopper. A cord of wood costs approximately RM20 and they can use for several days. It takes around an hour to heat the stove using the woods, which is super slow compared to the gas stove (take around 10 minutes). However, you can make the difference on the foods cooked by both ways.
The interesting part is the Malay woodchopper has been cooperated with Gan for around 40 years. He will send the wood from outdoor to the stove on early morning. If Gan plans to make kaya on that day, he will assist Gan to break the eggs and prepare the ingredients. They also often have a tea session before he leaves there. A friend in need is a friend indeed. This truly describes their friendship.

What is the best food cooked using the woods? Definitely kaya! Soft fire makes sweet malt. This truly describes how tasty the kaya is. The toast slides with the kaya are a must-try food here! Other traditional foods include nasi lemak and mee siam.