Woo! Cafe Coffee

Post by Chiefeater VK

It was the mention of tuhau that persuaded me to order something to eat when I stopped by Woo! Cafe on Jalan Dewan in Kota Kinabalu.

I had originally come for coffee, but the brAVO ko TUHAU (RM26.90), an egg and avocado toast incorporating the distinctive Sabahan ingredient, caught my attention.

Tuhau is a traditional Sabahan ingredient made from a type of wild ginger, known for its distinctive aroma and flavour. I was curious to see how it would work with avocado and eggs on toast.

The dish certainly looked interesting. It came with eggs layered over avocado and toast, finished with several toppings.

Unfortunately, the tuhau flavour was more muted than I had expected. The avocado was cold, while the eggs were no longer hot by the time the dish reached me.

Taste-wise, it was alright, although I would have preferred the ingredients to have been served at a more complementary temperature, with the tuhau playing a stronger role.

The coffee, on the other hand, was good. I had a Hot Flat White (RM12), while Jen had an Iced Woolamansi Ping (RM15).

What I particularly enjoyed about Woo! was its setting.

The cafe has an interesting interior with exposed structural elements, wooden furnishings and a relaxed, contemporary feel. At the rear, large windows overlook the greenery and steps leading up towards Signal Hill.

It is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a coffee, particularly if you appreciate a setting that feels connected to its surroundings. In fact, I would consider Woo! a destination café in Kota Kinabalu, somewhere worth visiting for its atmosphere as much as its food and drinks.

The air-conditioning was comfortably cold, and the toilet was clean.

Parking around Jalan Dewan can be limited, although there are additional parking bays further down the road.

I’d happily return for another coffee and to spend more time enjoying the setting.

Pricing

brAVO ko TUHAU – RM26.90
Hot Flat White – RM12.00
Iced Woolamansi Ping – RM15.00

Subtotal: RM53.90
SST (6%): RM3.23
Service Charge (10%): RM5.39
Rounding: -RM0.02
Total: RM62.50
Average per pax: RM31.25 (2 diners)

MVX Summary

MVX Score: 7.5/10

M – Meal Value
At RM26.90, the brAVO ko TUHAU was an interesting concept, but the muted tuhau flavour and serving temperatures prevented it from being particularly memorable. The coffee was good, although the meal itself offered only fair value.
Score: 7.0/10

V – Vibe & Venue
Woo! stands out as a destination café in Kota Kinabalu. Its distinctive interior, wooden furnishings and large windows overlooking the greenery towards Signal Hill create a lovely environment for coffee and conversation. The air-conditioning was comfortably cold, and the toilet was clean. Parking is limited immediately nearby, although more bays are available further down Jalan Dewan.
Score: 8.0/10

X – X-Factor
The setting is the most distinctive aspect of Woo!, particularly the rear seating area overlooking the Signal Hill surroundings. The use of tuhau in an avocado toast was also an interesting idea, even though its flavour was less pronounced than expected.
Score: 7.5/10

Business Hours

Open Daily
09:00 am to 05:00 pm