Capyba Cafe

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)

Address: 28, Jalan Nakhoda 2, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/purXZv9TvUKmSCSW8
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

     


Capybara Pudding = RM16.00

Service Charge 10% = RM1.60

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

An Introduction: What is a Capybara?

The Capybara (Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris) is the Largest Living Rodent in the World, native to South America. Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas are some of its Close Relatives. (Source: Wikipedia) 

Recently this Adorable Creature has been trending all over Social Media and I'm very pleased to see this Cafe which claims to be the First of its Kind in Malaysia where Customers can get up close to them to even pet them. ❤️ They not only have Capybaras, but there are also Alpacas and a Llama too. 🦙 I understand that Alpacas and Llama are not even in our Singapore Zoo, and it can be a Very Challenging Experience to be able to see a Capybara in Singapore because its Always Fully Booked. 🤔

A Brief History of this Cafe

This Capybara Cafe is located right next to a Alpaca Cafe called "As Clouds" and these 2 Cafes share the Same Petting Zoo. I reckon they're both managed by the Same Boss? 🤔

So they used to allow the Animals to Roam Freely at the Dining Area, but due to some Complaints about Hygiene, the Animals are relocated to the 2nd Level in their Dedicated Space while the 1st Levels are strictly for Dining only. 🍽️

Some people on Google Maps complain about this though, and feel there is a "Disconnect" when the Animals are housed separately. 🤔 Personally, I have no issues as I feel that its good that the Animals have more Free Space to roam about. 👍 Some of them, especially the Alpacas can be quite 热情 and they will rush to anyone with Food! 😅 Just imagine the Utter Chaos that would have happened if they allowed the Animals to roam freely at the Dining Area.

The Cafe and the Dining Area at 1st Level

The Cafe opens at 11.00am on the Dot. Before its Opening Time, there was already a Line of Customers queueing outside as of 10.55am when I reached as you can see. 😳 I reckon its about 10+ People Deep. I was lucky to be able to still get a Seat. By 11.20am, the Place is already Full-House.

Protip: Although I was lucky to get a Seat at 10.55am, I would recommend to come abit earlier, preferably at 10.45am before they open to ensure that you get a Seat especially if its on a Weekend to avoid Disappointments. 🤔

The Interior of the Cafe

The Dining Area of the Cafe is Cleanly Maintained, Very Simply Renovated and is Air-Conditioned. I reckon there are about 15 or so Table Seatings. If you have Little Kids around, there are Baby Seats available for them. 👶


The Only Place that is Decorated is the Cashier Counter where they have Many Adorable Capybara Plushies although they're not for sale. The Staffs are Very Friendly and Polite with a Smile. ☺️ These are not Bored Teenagers on a Part-Time Job. They know their Main Clientele are Young Children and from what I observed are Patient with Kids. 👦👧 I love the Adorable Capybara-Themed Shirts that they wear! ❤️

The Cafe's Minimum Order Rule

Its required to have a Minimum Order of Either 1 Food or 1 Drink PER PERSON. 🤔 That means that if there are 4 People, you need to order a Minimum of 4 Drinks or 4 Food Items or a Mix of Both.

The Cheapest Item on their Menu is a Hot Espresso Coffee at RM9.00 (S$2.80). ☕ So if you're a Family of 4, theoretically the Cheapest you can pay is RM9.00 x 4 = RM36.00 (S$11.00).

But C'mon lah, bring your Kids along need to Ngiao until like that ma? 😅 (Hahaha! Can Kids even drink Espressos?) But yea, this is the Absolute Lowest Fee you can go if you really want though.

The 1 Cup of Carrot Sticks per Table Rule 🥕

Jokes aside, what you do need to note is that no matter how many items you ordered or how many people are in your Group, 1 Table is only given 1 Cup of Carrot Sticks. 🥕 This Carrot Sticks is meant to feed the Animals at the 2nd Level Petting Zoo. The Reasoning is that they don't want to Overfeed the Animals too much. 🤔

Again, I see alot of People complaining about this rule on Google Reviews and they say its not fair and feel they should get more than 1 Cup of Carrot Sticks if they spent more. 🤔 I get their point, but I also feel that if more Cups of Carrot sticks are given like this, there will be a Real Issue of Overfeeding the Animals which is not good for their Health in the Long Run. 🤔 Not an Easy Solution to this honestly as Both Sides are not Wrong. I'll leave it to you to decide about this.

Don't try to game the system by smuggling in your own Carrot Sticks though. 😅 Be Responsible and Don't Overfeed them like this. Such Actions may seriously harm the Animals in the Long Run. 🙅‍♂️



A Summary of the General Food Ordering Process

1) Choose what you want from the Menu, then queue up at the Cashier to place your order.

2) After you've paid, you will be given 1 Cup of Carrot Sticks and a Paper Receipt. (Remember only 1 Cup of Carrot Sticks per Table) 🥕 Also remember to keep the Paper Receipt as this will be your Ticket to visit the 2nd Level Petting Zoo. After payment, go back to your Seat and your Food will be served to you.

3) No Food is allowed at the Petting Zoo, you need to finish up your Food before you can head up. 🍽️

4) The Petting Zoo at 2nd Level only opens at 11.30am. So if you're here at 11.00am, you might as well take the time and slowly enjoy the food you ordered while waiting for the Petting Zoo to open. There's no need to Rush. 👍

Capybara Pudding = RM16.00

I didn't bother with the Rest of the Food / Drink Items in the Menu because they're just the Standard Foods that you'd normally find in a Typical Cafe. I do notice that they tend to lean towards a More Japanese-Styled of Foods. 🤔

I ordered this Pudding because it is really the Most Unique Item on the Menu. 😄 Hahaha, I mean why come to a Capybara Cafe if you're not going to eat a Capybara Themed Food right? 😅 It was served up quickly in 2 Mins which was impressive considering the Amount of Customers.

Its basically a Chocolate Pudding sitting on a Pool of Chocolate Syrup with a Few Pieces of Mango. 🍫🍮 The Chocolate Syrup has a Slightly Rich Dark Chocolately Sweet Taste and I think is Hersheys Dark Chocolate? Its Nice Tasting but of course Very Sweet. The Mango Pieces were not Super Sweet, not Sour. They were Average and Acceptable.

The Capybara Pudding itself is Stupidly Adorable! ❤️ As you can see in the Video, its so Jiggly! I Absolutely LOVED taking the Back of my Spoon and Piak it. 🥄 So Jiggly! 🍮 This Dish got Alot of Attention and Looks from the Little Kids. Some of them even curiously went over to my Table to get a Closer Look. I even overhead a Little Boy who asked his Mom: "Mummy, why is this guy hitting the Capybara like that?" OMG Hahaha! 😅

The Pudding is not the Super Soft Type and has a Slightly Tender Soft Bite. 🍮 Tastes like a Light Chocolate Milk actually, surprisingly not Overly Sweet. Its only Really Sweet if you Drizzle the Choco Syrup all over it. 🍫 Despite how it looks like in the Photo, its actually Quite a Chonky Sized Pudding and even I have to take some time to finish it. I reckon this would be Perfect for 2 Little Kids to Share. 👍

The Whole Dish is not Difficult to make and assemble. I reckon its made with Chocolate Milk and using Agar Agar as a Coagulation Agent poured into a Capybara Shaped Mold. But its how its presented that really appealed to me. ❤️ Its made to look like a Diorama of a Capybara wading in Mud and trying to eat a Pile of Mango Pieces. 🥭 So Cute! I really didn't have the heart to eat it and just want to use my Spoon to Piak Piak Piak and let it Jiggle Forever! 😅

Review of the Actual Petting Zoo at 2nd Level
FINALLY we come to the Section that Everyone is Waiting for! 😄

The Petting Zoo is actually located OUTSIDE of the Cafe, and is accessible only via a Flight of Staircase up to 2nd Level. 🧗 There are no Elevators available. So if you have Mobility Issues, you might want to take note of this. 🤔 

There is 1 Dedicated Staff Member manning this Location. A Young and Friendly Soft-Spoken Chap, he seems to be quite Knowledgeable about the Animals. 👍 I reckon he's hired specially as their Caretaker. He'll ask for your Receipt and will do some explaining about some Ground Rules for the Petting Zoo. I liked that he will take the effort to use a "Very Friendly Kindergarten / Nursery Teacher" sort of Soft Voice Tone to explain if there are Kids around. 👦👧

The Petting Zoo Ground Rules and Advices

1) You are only allowed 30 Minutes in the Petting Zoo. 🕜 (Although I feel this rule is not strictly enforced as I didn't see the Staff chase people out when time was up. I guess you can stay abit longer if you want within reason.) 🤔

2) While you are allowed to pet or feed the Capybaras, you are Not Allowed to Carry Them Up. 🙅‍♂️

3) Do not pull the Alpacas or Llama's Tail or Pet their Bums or they may kick you in Self-Defence. 🦙

4) If you are the one holding the Cup of Carrot Sticks, don't panic if you see the Alpacas or Llama head directly towards you. 😅 (This is Very Adorable as you can actually see this happen to a Little Girl in one of the Video that I posted)

Interior of The Petting Zoo

The Whole Place is Very Spacious, Air-Conditioned and Very Cooling. Completely Not Decorated at all and Looks Very Empty and Spartan. 🤔 There is a Restroom at the Back available if you need. Very Cleanly Well-Maintained and there are No Unpleasant Smells. 👍 There is a Row of Concrete Block by the Wall for you to sit down if you want.

Personally, I felt the Petting Zoo Area really looked Too Plain and Empty. 🤔 Because Children are the Main Clientele of this Place, I thought it would be nice if they could decorate the Area to a More Colourful Children-Friendly Theme? Or put up Small Little Educational Information Posters about the Animals for Visitors to Read? The Current Set Up for the Petting Zoo can certainly be improved. 🤔

The Whole Place has only 2 Capybaras, 2 Alpacas and 1 Llama. Hahaha, I have no idea what are their Official Given Names (if they have any), so I just gave them my own names. 😅

The 2 Capybaras: Chocolate and Mocha

The 2 of them are kept in a Small Open Fence Enclosure. Capybaras aren't Active Animals and don't run around. Whole Day just lie at the Same Grass Pile. 😴 They're really Docile and Tame and will eat the Carrot Sticks if you feed them. Good Life sia, really is 吃饱睡, 睡饱吃 (Jiak Ba Koon, Koon Ba Jiak) 😅


Both of them have the Same Sleepy, Nua Nua Lazy Attitude and I really couldn't tell any differences between them. I loved the Little Twitchy Flappy Action they do with their Ears sometimes. ❤️ Their Fur are Rough to the Touch and it feels like Touching a Hairbrush. 😄 I also noticed they like to Very Adorably rest their Heads on top of one another. ❤️

Black Alpaca: 小黑 (Xiao Hei)

Alpacas have a Very Soft Fur that feels like a Soft Carpet. 🦙 They have a Very Round Puffy Face. Also Very Docile Animals, you don't have to worry about your Kids feeding them. 👍 They are really Very Friendly and Gentle. I find their action of using their Hindlegs to scratch themselves Very Adorable. ❤️

Xiao Hei has an Especially Puffier Face and has a Very 热情 Attitude. 🌞 He has a Muscular Body which makes me think that he's probably a Male. ♂️ He seems especially more Comfortable and Very Playful with Humans and even sometimes like to sneak up on someone's back to surprise them. 😄

White Alpaca: 小白 (Xiao Bai)

Xiao Bai is a Tad More Shy but still Very Friendly and Docile with Humans. She has Less Puffier Fur and an Overall Slightly More Slender Look so I'm guessing she's probably a Female. ♀️ Although I say she's a little more shy than Xiao Hei, she can also be quite Playful especially when it comes to Food as you can see her playfully chasing a Little Girl in one of the Videos I posted. 😄

White Llama: 毛毛 (Mao Mao)

I reckon a Llama is probably a Close Relative of the Alpaca because they have a similar Build Structure although a Llama's Fur is Longer and Shaggy instead of Puffy. 🤔 Mao Mao has a More Chill Chill type of Attitude, Friendly but Not as Overly Friendly as the Alpacas. 🦙

I dunno if its a Llama thing, but Mao Mao gave me the feeling that he may be Older in Age as his actions felt Slower and More Relaxed. 👴 He wasn't around most of the time and was led to their Special Toilet to drink water and never came out again. Maybe he needs to rest more? 🤔

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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

I'll be honest, this is the 1st Time I'm visiting an Animal Themed Cafe. I've never even visited a Dog or Cat Cafe before. 😅 My 1st Worry is for the Animals if they're being treated well as there has been cases of Animal Abuses even in such Pet Cafes in Singapore. What I saw here though impressed me. 👍

Now I'm no Veterinarian, but the Animals all look Healthy and Well-Fed. 👍 The Petting Zoo Area was Well Kept and Cleanly Maintained and their Furs were Clean and did not smell bad, which is probably an Indicator that they have been well taken care of. 👍

I especially liked the fact that the Animals, especially the Alpacas are so 热情 and Friendly towards Humans which is probably another indication that there are No Signs of Abuse. 👍 Had they been Abused, I'm pretty sure they would have shy away or even become Aggressive towards Humans.

Despite being a Capybara Cafe, I feel the Alpacas are the ones that Stole the Show. 🦙 They're much more Active and Friendly compared to the Capybaras who are most of the time just lying on their Grass Patch, really just 吃饱睡, 睡饱吃. 😴 Because you aren't allowed to carry the Capybaras, there is also less incentive to play with them. I could tell that Everyone had alot more Fun with the Alpacas and Llama. 🦙

I am Impressed with the Staffs who are Genuinely Friendly and Especially Patient and All Smiles with the Kids. 👍  Like I said, these are Not Bored Teenagers on a Part-Time Job. The Male Staff in charge of their Petting Zoo Area had a Nice Soft-Spoken Attitude and he seemed quite Knowledgeable with the Animals, and that gave me the reassurance that he really cares about their Well-Being. ❤️ The Staffs are a Big Part of why I can recommend this place. They really are Friendly and you can see them trying their best. 😄

At the Total Combined Price of RM17.60 (S$5.50) for the Capybara Pudding, this is not Cheap. 🤔 I can even describe to you how its probably made, but I didn't mind paying for this because its also not that Expensive lah. Its really Adorable and fits in the Theme of this Place well. 👍 Personally, I think this one would especially appeal to Young Kids and I feel its big enough to let 2 Kids Share it.

The Rest of the Food Items in the Menu also aren't Cheap obviously, but thats to be expected for a Themed Cafe like this. What I am surprised is that they don't have a Retail Gift Shop to sell Capybara-Themed Souvenirs like the Adorable Plushies they have at their Cashier Counter. 🤔 I wished they sold the Capybara T-Shirts that their Staffs were wearing because its really cute! ❤️ If they sell the Souvenirs at a Reasonable Price, I can totally see them being another Alternate Source of Revenue. If I remember correctly, Ninso sells Adorable RM5.00 or RM10.00 Capybara Plushies? I reckon a Collaboration to sell them here would be Fantastic! 😄

The 30 Minutes Time Limit with the Animals doesn't seem a long time but I feel its good enough, and you can probably stay just a wee bit longer since it didn't look like they are very strict about the Time Limit and Chasing People Out. 🕜🤔

There aren't alot of Animals but I feel they're enough for the Available Space they have. 👍 Too many Animals and it might get too Crowded especially when the Crowds at the Petting Zoo gets Larger. 🤔 I do wish they at least decorated the Petting Zoo Area as it really looked Too Plain. Even though there are certainly things that can be improved, Overall I am Satisfied and I feel that Kids will have a Great Time here. 👦👧 Just look at my Video and you can see how happy they were playing with the Animals. 😄

Take a look at the Videos and Photos I've posted to get a Feel of the Place. If you are ok with their Ground Rules, their Menu Prices and the Various other Things I've described in this Review, I can recommend to bring your Kids here to let them have some Fun. 👍

Its really Heart Warming to see the Pure Innocent Love of a Child interacting with an Animal like this. ❤️
I'm sure they enjoyed this place very much. Heck I can see even the Adults enjoying themselves here too! ❤️