Rumah Kayu 三号厝 is a nostalgic retreat located in the heart of Ayer Itam, offering a unique dining experience within a preserved traditional wooden home. The name literally translates to “Wooden House No. 3,” and the establishment lives up to its title by providing a rustic, kampung-style atmosphere that feels worlds away from the city’s modern concrete structures.
This spot is a local favorite for those seeking affordable Western comfort food with a Malaysian twist. The menu is intentionally simple and focused, featuring crowd-pleasers like crispy chicken chop, grilled fish, and their highly-praised creamy mushroom soup served with garlic bread.
The environment is entirely natural, meaning there is no air-conditioning, but the space is well-ventilated with ceiling fans and water coolers to maintain a comfortable breeze.
It is an ideal venue for families and groups who appreciate a vintage aesthetic, as the house is filled with old-school decorations that serve as perfect backdrops for photography.
While the seating is primarily semi-outdoor, the surrounding greenery provides a cooling effect, especially during the evening hours. Since it is located along Jalan Chor Sin Kheng, it serves as a quiet escape for residents and visitors exploring the nearby Kek Lok Si Temple area.
For the most comfortable experience, plan your visit for dinner time rather than midday to avoid the tropical heat, as the vintage wooden structure relies entirely on natural ventilation and fans.
If you are visiting on a Saturday night, be prepared for a potential wait and try to arrive right when the evening session opens at 6:00 PM to secure a table and ensure faster service.
The signature Mushroom Soup is often cited as a must-order and can sell out, so prioritize adding it to your initial order. For those driving, the cafe offers on-site parking within the house compound, which is much more convenient than searching for street spots in the narrow lanes of Ayer Itam.
We really focus on providing a traditional dining environment for families and friends to disconnect, so we do not have power plugs available for guest use. Our space is best enjoyed for a hearty meal and a trip down memory lane rather than a long work session.
To preserve the heritage feel of our old wooden home, we do not have air-conditioning. However, we have plenty of fans and water coolers positioned throughout the semi-outdoor seating areas to keep things breezy. We definitely recommend visiting in the evening for the coolest experience.
Not at all! We have a dedicated private parking area right on our compound, so you won't have to worry about finding a spot on the main road. It is quite spacious and makes bringing the whole family much easier.
Our customers frequently rave about our crispy chicken chop with oriental sauce and our homemade mushroom soup. Most of our regulars will tell you that the soup is a 10/10 and is the perfect way to start your meal.
April, 2026
Friday
August 26,2019
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