Are you a culinary explorer, always on the hunt for the next tantalising taste sensation? Then let us be your gastronomic compass and guide you towards the newest and most delectable restaurants in KL and Selangor in 2024.
If you’re always grappling with the delicious dilemma of deciding where to dine next, cast your worries aside! We’ve cooked up a smorgasbord of the freshest and most enticing eateries for you to sink your teeth into this coming year.
The cherry on top? We whisk this guide into a new blend each month, keeping the flavours fresh and exciting. So bookmark this page and let it be your secret ingredient to impress your loved ones with the best new dining destinations in the city.
Feature and hero image credits: Instagram/ @kedaitanaair
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – November edition
Up KL
Turkish tapas have arrived on The Row with the opening of Up KL, a new restaurant and wine bar bringing Istanbul’s flavours to life through a selection of small plates paired with an impressive lineup of organic wines. Highlights of the menu include Beef Manti, offered either boiled or crispy-fried and served with a dollop of yogurt; Cheese Köfte and the flavourful Ottoman Kebab, perfect for wine pairing. The minimalist decor, accented by a neon ‘Look Up’ sign, adds a stylish touch, creating a laid-back yet unforgettable ambiance. Ideal for a relaxed night out, this spot combines casual elegance with a unique culinary experience, making it an essential destination for wine and food lovers alike.
Address: 40-1, 40-1, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 5pm – 11.30pm, Tuesdays to Thursday (closed on Mondays)
- 1pm – 12am, Fridays to Sundays
Contact: +6014 636 0401
Vagabond KL
Vagabond KL is an exciting new addition to Desa Sri Hartamas, brought to life by Malaysian chefs who crossed paths in Melbourne’s vibrant dining scene, including the well-known Tian38 on Flinders Lane. Drawing inspiration from their backpacking adventures across Southeast Asia, the menu offers fresh, modern twists on classic dishes, with a special nod to Burmese flavours. Notable dishes on the menu include the Hat Yai Ji, a Thai-inspired fried spring chicken served with fermented chili, and the Umai Pie Tee, a unique creation featuring Sarawakian-style ceviche with scallops and squid, nestled in a Pai Tee shell with umai gel and topped with tobiko.
Address: 4, Jalan 28/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm, Wednesdays to Sundays (except Thursdays)
- 12pm – 5pm, 6pm – 11pm, Thursdays only
- 11am – 3pm, Tuesdays only (closed on Mondays)
Contact: +603 2389 2020
Tanaair
Welcoming the latest addition to Taman Paramount, Tanaair brings a heartfelt homage to Malaysian heritage in a cosy, kampung-inspired setting, complete with warm wooden decor and a striking mangrove fan palm as its centerpiece. The menu features beloved Malaysian classics, including Nasi Lemak, Nasi Minyak, Pulut Kuning, Ayam Rendang, and a variety of sambals. A standout is the Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah, served with two succulent pieces of spiced fried chicken—perfectly portioned for sharing. Another highlight is the Muar-style marinated otak-otak, paired with vibrant green sambal. Tanaair offers a true taste of home with every dish.
Address: 35, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours:
- 11am – 10pm
- Closed on Thursdays
Contact: +6010 656 9889
NADODI presents 7-course pairing menu with Brown Forman whiskies
Available from 14 November until the end of December 2024, renowned Indian restaurant NADODI is offering a limited time only pairing menu featuring single malt expressions from Brown Forman. The seven-course menu, curated by Chef Yahvin Siri and his culinary team, will be paired with Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old, Benriach 25 Years Old and Glendronach 21 Years Old. The limited time only menu comprises dishes such as ‘Jewel Of The Ocean’ (Gallagher’s Oyster, Calamansi Pearls, Saffron Aioli, Seaweed Gun Powder), ‘Shell-Shocked’ (Aomori Scallops, Pickled Shallots, White Corn, Sothi), ‘Grass Fed’ (Grilled Beef Loin, Truffle Mappas, Celeriac, Tempered Tapioca) and ‘Nomad’s Globe’ (Short Grain Rice Biryani, Country Chicken, Yoghurt Salad).
Address: Level 7A, Four Seasons Hotel, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Price: RM990+ per person
Contact: +6017 296 9520
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – October edition
Yakiniku Botan+
Time and time again, we have often extolled the virtues that come from a meal prepared over an open flame. The experience is an elemental one, inherently tied to the age-old, Promethean culinary practice of cooking food as opposed to consuming it raw outright. Much of that primordial thrill can still be found in contemporary grill concepts like the ones championed by yakiniku proprietors Yakiniku Botan.
Making headway into the heart of Kuala Lumpur with their latest outlet in The Exchange TRX’s Seibu food hall, this time denoted with a ‘+’ for its more upmarket ambitions, the Subang staple will join the highly competitive grill space by bringing their signature all-you-can-eat A5 wagyu dining experience to city diners. Exclusive by nature, this condensed space seats only 40, so we’d recommend booking ahead.
Address: C.AT.01, SEIBU Department Store, Lot C13, Lower Ground, Persiaran TRX, Tun Razak Exchange, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11am – 10pm
- Opens daily
Contact: +60149008434
Hoifan Company
Most diners tend not to expect innovation where heritage recipes are concerned. After all, they tend to be prepared from home kitchens by weathered hands that can seemingly guesstimate taste and discern the best produce from a lesser crop through the virtues of generational gastronomy. Change is very rarely factored into the equation. Unless you’re the kitchen team behind Hoifan Company, that is.
A fresh new face along Jalan Sin Chew Lee, this eatery pays homage to familiarity without leaning too far into stodgy tradition with its deft hand for innovation. Take for example the beloved chicken siew bow, a longstanding Seremban favourite. In place of its turnip-shaped pastry shell, Hoifan substitutes this with a buttery flaked crust that is more reminiscent of those found on servings of Beef Wellington.
Address: 12, Jln Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 10am – 8pm
- Closed on Wednesdays
Contact: +60197724749
Nounou Noodle Bar
Who came first, the pasta or the noodle? That’s an arbitrary debate if we have ever known one, when both staples that find their origins in flour are equally beloved all the same. Which is why it should come as little surprise that intrepid chefs from the realm of fusion dining have since devoted a myriad of experimental forays to join both Eastern and Western interpretations into a single culinary vein.
Nounou Noodle Bar hails from that very same ethos, despite its initially Asian inflexions by name. Their much-liked Tomato Soup Pasta is indicative of this, where hybrid strands of la mian-spaghetti are dressed in a voluptuous bath of creamy tomato soup, served with a side of crisp, deep-fried omelette and bok choy. Or have a go at their Classic NOUNOU Pasta, a dry noodle dish tossed in dark sauce and plated with fiery morsels of deep-fried Szechuan peppercorn chicken.
Address: 18a, Jalan Bangsar, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 8pm
- Closed on Sunday
Contact: +60164075607
Bistro Léa
It isn’t unusual to see reservations at Atelier Binchotan to extend with a lead time of up to a month in advance, which drives home our point that open-flame cooking has well and truly tightened its chokehold on KL diners. But if you want to step away from a smoky miasma for clean French pastures, we consider dropping by chef-founder Lau Ka Hong’s sister venture, Bistro Léa in Hartamas. The set dressing is appropriately chic, with an al fresco dining patio and fountain completing the bistrot experience.
This is to say that you will come to anticipate longstanding French comfort classics here, which span the spectrum of familiar servings of salade niçoise and boeuf bourguignon, to more provincial recipes such as ris de veau (that’s sweetbreads, for the uninitiated). If thematic dining ticks off your weekend boxes, start here first before the rest of the city makes their way over in due time.
Address: 1, Jalan Sri Hartamas 7, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
- Closed on Monday
Contact: +60128103638
Tsuru Tsuru
In Japanese, the term tsuru tsuru is a mimetic phrase that is used to describe a texture that is either smooth or slippery, such as in the case of ice, or a well-prepared bowl of noodles. The latter is where Damansara Uptown’s new noodle joint takes its name after, where you’ll discover the sheer range of flavours that Japan’s most beloved noodle can assume.
Curious varieties include the tangy spice of their tom yam udon noodles with minced mushroom chicken and richly redolent buttermilk mentai sibling topped with a bundle of torched tamago egg. Order a coffee alongside your entree and take in the cheerful quirks of their space, in the company of Tsuru Tsuru brand ambassadors that take the guise of adorable capybara plushies.
Address: 67-M, Jalan SS 21/1a, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours:
- 11am – 9pm
- Opens daily
Contact: +60106561368
Nobu Kuala Lumpur’s 30-Year Omakase menu
Nobu Kuala Lumpur recently introduced a special omakase menu in conjunction with Nobu’s 30th anniversary. Priced at RM680++ per person, the menu — available from 7 October to 13 October 2024 — comprises dishes such as the ‘Toro Tartare with Caviar’, ‘Yellowtail Jalapeño’, ‘Salmon Tataki Karashi Sumiso’, ‘Black Cod Butter Lettuce’ and ‘King Crab with Amazu Ponzu’. End your meal on sweet note with desserts such as ‘Mochido’ and ‘Strawberry Cheesecake’. The Omakase menu will be offered at all Nobu restaurants throughout the world.
On the new menu, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa said: “We are very excited to celebrate this incredible milestone at our Nobu Restaurants and Hotels around the world. When designing these menus, we wanted to honour our journey, the dedication of our team members, and the incredible support we’ve received from our guests over the past 30 years. Many of these dishes are based on some of my earliest creations, so they are very close to my heart”.
Address: Level 4A, Shoppes at Four Seasons Place, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03 2380 0028
Kuala Lumpur Restaurant Week
A New York City tradition that found its roots in 1992, Restaurant Week establishes a precedent for allowing local diners to grab a table and a bite at some of the hottest dining addresses in town at unbeatable prices through their assortment of speciality prix fixe menus. With regional editions across Asia being hosted. in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Greater China, the annual event attracts a turnout of anywhere between 150,000 to 200,000 reservations.
After two successful editions, Kuala Lumpur will also be joining the fray once again this year with as many as 37 participating restaurants across the Klang Valley offering individually curated culinary experiences priced from RM58 for lunch, and RM78 for dinner. The lineup includes highly coveted Michelin Select awardees such as Sushi Masa and Kayra, as well as fashionably fresh entrants ranging from The Exchange’s modern Latin entrant Amazonas, and Chinatown’s ode to Lisbon, Bartolo Bakehouse. To check out the full list of restaurants or to make your booking, access the Kuala Lumpur Restaurant Week website or visit their socials at @diningcitymalaysia.
For more information or to make a reservation, tap here.
Date: 11th to 24th October, 2024
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – September edition
Base Pasta Bistro
Let’s get one thing straight: preparing a decent serving of pasta is more involved than what the average home-cook is willing to readily admit to. While plastic-wrapped bags of dehydrated, ready-to-consume shapes are fine for a quick weekday fix after work, true connoisseurs recognise the pleasures of kneading fresh dough into fusilli, spaghetti, or linguine.
This isn’t to say that handmade pasta always requires such an undertaking, of course. As if you know where to look, there are more than a handful of restaurants in the Klang Valley ready to cater to your fresh pasta whims, including the newly opened Base Pasta Bistro. Handmade pasta is the name of the game, with seafood-forward flavours courtesy of freshly sourced coastal bounties that are dry-aged in-house.
Address: B-1-13A, Aurora Place Bukit Jalil, No.1, Persiaran Jalil 1, Bandar Bukit Jalil, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 5.30pm – 11pm
- Closed on Tuesdays
Contact: +60103507022
Meat Attic
Malaysia has always had an appetite for premium cuts of meat, as evidenced by the proliferation of steakhouses that have taken up prominent reputations within the city’s dining scene. Of course, that comes as little surprise when considering how beef features heavily in the local diet, especially in much-beloved dishes such as rendang.
If you happen to find yourself hankering to dig into a fabulously succulent cut of prime beef and have exhausted all the many prime meat-centric establishments across the Klang Valley, we’ve got good news: Meat Attic is now open at Taman Desa. Setting up shop in a sunny corner of Faber Tower, expect thick-cut steaks, delightfully full-bodied slices of salt beef, and potently seasoned sausage links.
Address: Ground Floor, Podium, Faber Towers, G-OS-03, Jalan Desa Bahagia, Taman Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
- Opens daily
Contact: +6037972 3661
BOU Claypot Rice and Such
You’ll hear plenty of plaudits about how REXKL has successfully revitalised Chinatown with its eclectic array of new businesses operated by the city’s young movers and shakers. But in Bangsar, that title goes to APW, whose similarly varied mix of dining and retail experiences have made it a must-visit over the weekend.
A fresh face by way of BOU Claypot Rice and Such is set to introduce diners to the storied Chinese tradition of claypot cooking, but appropriately spruced-up with a fresh coat of Gen Z-friendly paint. A bright, zany interior dominated by bright orange and aqua draws the eye, while punny menu items holds your attention. The Three Heavenly Kings is especially worth trying, where Chinese waxed sausages are combined with Italian salami for a contemporary reinvention of claypot lap mei fan (waxed meat rice).
Address: APW Bangsar, 29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 5pm – 10.30pm (Tuesday to Friday)
- 12pm – 3pm , 5pm – 10.30pm (Saturday and Sunday)
- Closed on Monday
Contact: +012280 2964
Thai Spot
Tart and spicy flavours are part and parcel of Thai cuisine, as any true fan would be able to readily discern when enjoying dishes that can trace their provenance back to the Land of Smiles. It is by that merit which Thai food is so thoroughly enjoyed in Malaysia, well-received for its easy integration with the local palate.
While it may seem like we have had the distinct pleasure of exploring most of what our Northern neighbours have to offer, you would be remiss not giving the newly opened Thai Spot restaurant a try. Distinctively unpretentious in its setup, you can expect Bangkok’s most beloved street eats to be served here at wallet-friendly price points. The slow-braised pork leg on rice is a star standout for its tender texture that blooms with flavours courtesy of generous aromatics.
Address: 25, Jalan SS 2/30, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours:
- 11am – 9pm
- Opens daily
Contact: +6037863 0666
House of Taipei
While there are plenty of similarities to be drawn between Taiwanese cuisine and pockets of Chinese culinary heritage, much of the island country’s gastronomy stands unique in its own right. Drawing influences from migratory communities that have all played a hand in shaping its penchant for food, Taiwan has made a point in establishing itself as a hotspot for intrepid gourmands.
Those of us who are restricted to within the Klang Valley will be glad to know that House of Taipei in SS2, run by a team of Taiwanese founders, is set to bring some of the Taiwanese capital’s most memorable recipes to a more local vicinity. Rice bowls are the heart of their menu here, available in your choice of protein ranging from pork chops to braised pork, while hot slurps of beef noodle soup will keep tummies warm during the rainy season.
Address: 47300, 70G, Jalan SS 2/67, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours:
- 11am – 10pm
- Opens daily
Contact: +6037865 1330
FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger’s Restaurant
No, this isn’t an elaborate prank, but a very real eventuality: famed Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng, whose no-holds-barred caricature Uncle Roger, is set to officially debut his very first restaurant in none other than Kuala Lumpur’s Pavilion shopping centre. Fans will recall his jibes of poorly prepared Asian dishes at the hands of Western cooks, ranging from a lack of wok hei to the sparing use of MSG.
No such fears here, one would hope, with Ng looking to offer local diners food that they can be proud of. While there has been plenty of media buzz surrounding its launch on 11th September, finer details concerning its menu items remain under wraps. But if the prominent interior fixtures that proudly claim ‘The Best Fried Rice in Town!’ are any indication, fried rice will be a core dish.
Address: Pavilion Elite, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Sculpted by Fire menu @ Yellow Fin Horse
Any restauranteur worth his or her salt will tell you that starting a restaurant and keeping it afloat, especially in its first year, is no easy feat. The phrase ‘trial by fire’ is especially relevant here, where the fickle penchant of diners can easily make or break a new venture in less than twelve months of its debut. Yellow Fin Horse, perched atop Else Retreat in Chinatown, has successfully braved that crucible.
In celebration of its first anniversary, the kitchen team led by inimitable Chef-Founder Jun Wong has assembled what she has dubbed as a menu ‘Sculpted by Fire’, which comprises a degustation in nine chapters. Raw, elemental flavours are key here, developed to best showcase their excellence in technique and quality of ingredients. A star dish was exemplified in the Whole Roasted Local Poulet aka chicken, which is served feet-up with a side of chicken jus and pesto sauce. Carve into it, and you are richly rewarded with succulent meat perfected with an infusion of salt brine.
Address: Else Retreats, 145, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 6pm – 12am
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact: +6018 211 0313
ATAS x Roots collaboration menu @ The RuMa Hotel & Residences
On 20 and 21 September 2024, look forward to a one-of-a-kind four-hands dinner at ATAS featuring Chef Suhalmi Tasir of The RuMa Hotel & Residences and Chef John Lim of Roots. Expect a dinner menu infused with East-meets-West as both chefs combine the rich flavours of Sarawak with European bistro classics.
The four-course menu (priced at RM328 nett per person) comprises dishes such as ‘Kaci Fish Tartare with Apple Gel, Coffee Cress, Citrus Pearl and Buttermilk Basil’, ‘Pan Seared Golden Pomfret with Mussel Escabeche, Roselle Kosho and Squid Ink Sauce’ and ‘Artisan Stracciatella Parfait with Mulberry Brown Butter Ice Cream, Charcoal Crumble and Vanilla Meringue’. There’s also the option for wine or tuak pairing if you’re looking to up the ante on your experience at ATAS. Dishes are created using local ingredients like Latok, Cendawan Kukur, Buah Salak and Bario Rice.
On the collaboration, Chef John Lim said: “Collaborating with Chef Suhalmi at ATAS has been an inspiring journey. We’ve taken classic European bistro dishes and infused them with flavours and ingredients that are unique to Sarawak. This dinner is more than just a meal; it’s an experience that showcases the depth and complexity of Sarawak’s culinary heritage in a modern and accessible way”. Don’t forget to make your reservations if you don’t want to miss this!
Address: Mezzanine Level, The RuMa Hotel & Residences, 7 Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +603 2778 0763
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – August edition
Tanba Japanese BBQ
The premise of cooking on a naked flame is often synonymous with outback inclinations or humble American fare over a chilled cooler of beers. By no means is that a wholly universal experience, but the appeal of charred meats and greens definitely is. A new crop of Japanese izakaya and yakiniku restaurants informed by this marked popularity among Malaysian diners is evidence enough of that fact, especially in prime retail locations such as The Exchange TRX.
Tanba Japanese BBQ is a prime example of this truth, occupying a brand-new space splashed with a hypermodern monochromatic vermillion interior interspersed with choice floral arrangements ala Tarsem Singh. Beyond its exceedingly sleek decor, it is the quality of its selection of premium meats that will ensure its longevity, available to order through its Premium Wagyu A5 Course meal that includes A5 wagyu zabuton, chuck short ribs, and kurobuta abanico, among others.
Address: Unit L1.45.C, Level 1, Plaza The Exchange TRX, Persiaran TRX, Imbi, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 10am – 12am
- Opens daily
Upper Palace Teochew
Characterised by clean flavours, Teochew fare is notable for its insistence on exceedingly fresh ingredients, much of which is comprised of seafood and greens. This is to say that if you’re looking for food that genuinely doesn’t skimp on quality in every dish, this Eastern Chinese cuisine will prove to be a solid bet. However, as far as authenticity goes, one typically doesn’t expect to find it in a commercial setting.
Unless you venture into Upper Palce Teochew in The Exchange TRX, that is. Part of the Upper Palace Dining Group with outposts across the Klang Valley, the restaurant is led by a Hong Kong executive chef in partnership with former Michelin-awardee, Hung’s Delicacies. Marinated dishes, which are a Teochew hallmark, serve as the star of the show here but don’t miss out on dimsum brunches too.
Address: Lot L1.50.0, The Exchange TRX, Persiaran TRX, Tun Razak Exchange, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11am – 10pm
- Opens daily
Kantin @ Food Fiction
REXKL is known for many things; its vibrance, its zest, and of course, its variety. A historical feature in the former heart of Kuala Lumpur, it continues to live on as one of its most prominent cultural custodians, drawing in a coming-together of the city’s creative forces from across a multitude of disciplines. Which, as one would assume, includes culinary pursuits as well, as indicated by the Food Fiction food hall.
Sarawak’s Kantin is one of the newer entrants in the mix, hailing from the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. Serving dishes that are less commonly enjoyed in the Peninsula that incorporate the bounties of the Borneoan rainforest into their preparation, be prepared to have your tastebuds tantalised by recipes such as their signature Rainforest Fried Rice, which combines the warm balm of heat from torch ginger slices with tapioca leaves, a choice selection of native herbs, and cauliflower florets.
Address: Food Fiction, REXKL, 80, Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 12pm – 10pm
- Closed on Monday
Cleaver Shed
Steak and affordability rarely go hand-in-hand, owing to the fact that most steakhouses in Kuala Lumpur with decent merit tend to charge north of the RM90 mark for a fair serving of quality beef. But new upstarts are looking to upend this cliche by offering value propositions that tap into consumer interest for fairly priced steaks, among which includes TTDI’s latest name, Cleaver Shed. Judging by looks alone, it’s set to become a comfortable favourite among local diners sooner than later, what with its mid-century modern design inclinations replete with wood, slate, and emerald.
The food is par for the course too, unpretentious but prepared with great care and consideration for consistent quality. Order your choice of premium beef, with a generous serving of Argentinian Angus rib-eye weighing in at 250 grams now priced at a very fair introductory price of RM78 being a star highlight for fresh faces here. Not a fan of beef? Stay for the pasta dishes, in that case.
Address: B-01-05, Plaza TTDI, Jalan Wan Kadir 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 3.30pm
- 5.30pm – 10pm
- Closed on Tuesdays
Emilio Cibo e Vino
Authentic Italian food is deceptively simple at first glance; fresh cuts of ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and leaves of basil, comprise one of their best-loved salads after all. But mastering the art of a properly prepared Italian meal from start to finish without missing a beat takes legitimate skill and finesse. In that case, who better to excel at the art than Sicilian-born chef Emilio Broso, who has recently taken up space in Glo Damansara for his debut restaurant in Malaysia, Emilio Cibo e Vino.
Modern without pretensions, this new Italian abode hosts a menu of venerated classics that are sure to delight die-hard Italophiles. Start with a classic Sicilian eggplant caponata, replete with bell peppers, celery, onions, and olives, before delving into hearty mains that include a selection of wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes, including an octopus ragu and the restaurant’s signature Tartufo Pasta.
Address: LG-10 Ground floor, Glo Damansara, 699, Jln Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours:
- 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
- Opens daily
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – July edition
Kanbe Sushi
If you’re a frequent visitor around the Mont Kiara vicinity, then you’re likely to be familiar with the Kanbe clutch of Japanese restaurants that have turned into firm fixtures in the area. But regardless of whether you’re a repeat customer or a fresh face, there’s plenty to enjoy when it comes down to a relatively authentic Nihon experience served between their outlets, of which Kanbe Sushi is the newest. Found along the new wing of Mont Kiara’s Shoplex on Jalan Kiara, the ambiance is convivial from the moment you enter, reminiscent of old-school no-frills Japanese eateries, with bamboo latticed ceilings and banners affixed to the wall.
Specialising in nigri sushi and sashimi, which complements their longstanding yakiniku and ramen counterparts, Kanbe Sushi’s selection of fresh seafood is commendable. This naturally includes fish options that span a considerable gamut, whether it be run-of-the-mill tuna and salmon, to golden eye snapper and monkfish. Other delectations, such as delectable uni and ikari filled hard boiled eggs as well as crab paste prepared with a savoury hit of seaweed, further add delight to the menu.
Address: Lot 1A, Lower Ground Floor, New Wing @ Mont Kiara Shoplex, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 50480
Operating hours: 5pm – 12am (opens daily)
Raijin Ramen Bar
Establishing a new epicentre of youth culture doesn’t come easy, but REXKL has admirably achieved just that by resuscitating one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest cultural hubs with the support of the city’s youngest and most promising brands. This is especially true of food, which constitutes as the most prominent facet of the country’s heritage. While the surrounding periphery of Chinatown plays host to mom-and-pop establishments that have been around for decades, REXKL’s food hall sports a considerably fresher scene.
Among the newest entrants include Raijin Ramen Bar, which occupies a small slice of the lower ground floor’s property. Founded by Sekinchan native Larry, who has toiled in some of KL’s best omakase kitchens, bowls of ramen served here excel in two core regards: a milky rich pork bone broth stewed for hours on end, and fresh seafood bounties that are brought in from the proprietor’s coastal hometown. We prefer sticking to a classic serving of creamy tonkatsu, alongside an order of grilled chicken skin and thigh skewers.
Address: Raijin Ramen Bar, REXKL, 13, Ground Floor, 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (closed on Monday)
Lad and Fry with Alright Provisions
The ageing Wisma Cosway across from Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is not often thought of when one brings up the mention of food haven, what with being surrounded by some of Kuala Lumpur’s most emminent addresses. But you will be surprised to learn that come lunch and dinner, even on weekdays, teeming crowds keeps this corporate complex, which first opened in 1978, busier than you may have initially anticipated. Local food stalls serving all manner of Malaysian cheap and cheerful staples pepper each floor, but enterprising new faces have noted Wisma Cosway’s potential too.
Such is the case of Lad and Fry with Alright Provisions, an extension of Singapore’s Lad and Dad gastropub. Taking a considerably more pared-down approach that isn’t dissimilar to traditional chippies in the UK, the menu here is properly concise, consisting of a single dish perfected: fish and chips, made with thick cuts of sea perch and potatoes. Battered to a crisp that gives way with the right crunch, the sea perch is assuredly clean on the palate owing to its exceptional freshness. Dip it with the obligatory tartare sauce for a simply sublime mesh of tangy flavour and textural delights.
Address: Lad and Fry with Alright Provisions, Ground Floor, 88, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 9pm (closed on Sunday and Monday)
Fubu Haus
Japanese dining often occupies two ends of the culinary spectrum; traditonalists by way of shokunin in their perfection of heritage recipes, and the modernists who seek to introduce some of the region’s most storied ingredients and techniques, but reintepreted to suit a modern palete. Fubu Haus leans with a preference for the latter, as informed by its delightfully welcoming space that eschews from themed cliches, but employs choice Japanese accents in an otherwise clean decor.
The food is similarly forward leaning, with marvels such as their salmon caparccio with dollops of avocado and pickled radish and the Ahirudon rice bowl topped with layers of aged duck breast and slivers of finely julienned fried burdock serving as a prime introduction of their East-meets-West approach. Be sure to stay for dessert while you’re at it, as the delicate flakes of thinly shaved hojicha bingsu melt with generous dollops of strawberry cream and crushed pistachios.
Address: Fubu Haus, 52, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (closed on Monday)
Ordinery
Taman Melawati is perhaps one of the Klang Valley’s best kept cafe secrets, given its general lack of publicity within F&B circles. But make a point of dropping by this serene part of town, and you’ll find yourself enjoying the generally slower pace of life here, where community-driven enterprises, green spaces, and cozy cafes make the bulk of its appeal for residents who have been living for decades. With that said, we suspect that it may just be on the cusp of a new boom in popularity, given new commercial interest in the vicinity.
One such venture is Ordinery, which has settled into an enviable corner lot space along an unassuming row of shops lining Jalan H3. Specialising in humble comfort dishes and fresh bakes, a meal here invites you to leave the weight of life by the door as you tuck into a plate of smoked duck carbonara, or share a thing of chicken karage served with deep-fried kale slivers between friends, all served with a majestic backdrop of the Melawati Quartz Ridge in the background. As for pastries and sweet treats, we found a new favourite in their sea salt chocolate chip cookie, which doesn’t skimp on ooey-gooey goodness.
Address: Ordinery, Jalan H 3, Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 8am – 10pm (opens daily)
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – June edition
La Pané Pizza
Pizza joints are a dime and a dozen across the Klang Valley, but they are substantially harder to come by in some pockets, such as in Taman Melawati. But a new contender is ready to take the stage, nestled on the second floor along a modest row of older, more established cafes in the neighbourhood. Meet La Pané Pizza, the brainchild of Chef Justin from Miss Ellie Tea House fame. While his debut cafe continues to run a brisk business as usual, curious regulars have already started making themselves at home in the freshly renovated space just upstairs.
Sourdough pizzas are the foundation of their menu here, prepared from an open-concept kitchen that features three dedicated pizza ovens operating at full blast. Where options are concerned, the menu has been deliberately kept to a minimum, featuring a rotating selection of eight different pizza varieties that alternate every other week to keep things fresh. Our favourite to date can be found in the Anchovy, a splendidly savoury choice that doesn’t hold back with briney goodness.
Address: La Pané Pizza, 8A, Jalan H 3, Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 5pm – 10pm (closed on Monday and Tuesday)
Contact: +6010-872 7851
Barra
Among all manner of virtues that good food ushers, from sight to taste, it is a sense of community that is perhaps the one thing that truly completes a meal, taking it from mere sustenance to experience. Spanish cuisine understands this well at its core, with the practice of serving tapas, or small plates that can be combined and shared to become a full meal. Its origins are manyfold, but have most commonly been ascribed to a 19th-century custom derived from Andalusian taverns.
In its modern guise, tapas restaurants have evolved into a chic affair, often synonymous with elegant presentations, more sophisticated flavours, and great wines for social lubricant. Chinatown’s latest entrant, Barra, ticks all of these boxes with ease. Headed by Chef Ignasi Prat of Barcelona, prop yourself up by an island counter adorned with aqua scale tiles and spectate as the kitchen doles out a bevy of morsels. Our favourite thus far? A rich seafood-forward Spanish rice cooked in a heady lobster broth, served with Carabinero prawns.
Address: Barra, 158, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 10.30pm
Contact: +6016-588 3966
Betawi
In many instances, how well foreign flavours will fare on Malaysian shores generally comes down to its proximity to local penchants. By that merit, it’s no surprise that Indonesian food has become a familiar staple across both ends of local shores, what with Nusantara influences sharing so much in common from a bedrock of fresh ingredients and spices, to cooking styles.
A fresh contender to the scene takes the guise of a contemporary casual dining spot in the popular dining enclave of TTDI, where Betawi Indonesian Cuisine has taken residence. The menu here offers a concise and curated look into the region’s most beloved recipes spanning the breadth Southeast Asia’s most populous country, with their Ikan Terbang Betawi fried fish especially noteworthy for its presentation and flavour when coupled with a tangy kicap tomat tempered with sweet caramel warmth.
Address: Betawi Indonesian Cuisine, 31, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Contact: +6017-419 1210
Hora Feliz
If there is one genre of food that appears to be gaining up-and-coming eminence among local gourmands, we’d have to point a finger at Latin cuisine. In the short span of around two years, new dining concepts grounded by South American hospitality have begun taking root in the Klang Valley’s most renowned dining addresses, with booked and busy tables proving a point where local appetites for everything from run-of-the-mill tacos to decadent Mole poblano.
Found in Damansara Perdana, the Latin-Asian intermingling of Hora Feliz seeks to infuse a dash of creative note to this burgeoning collective, informed by unexpectedly delightful wells of inspiration. Start on a sprightly and savoury note with crisp corn tortillas filled with fresh Thai mango slaw and beef cooked in Japanese shoyu, or a spicy fervor by way of tuna tartare dialed up with wasabi. Hora Feliz also happens to allude to a bevy of excellent cocktails, given how it translates from Spanish as ‘Happy Hour’.
Address: Hora Feliz, G-13, Heritage Retail At Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8A, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 5pm – 10.30pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6011-2618 7796
Yum Yum Seng Seng
Casual, undressed, and laid back, the point of Yum Yum Seng Seng isn’t to impress with grandoise airs or an elevation of cuisine beyond the familiar. Rather, it is through a mingling of familiar gastronomic comforts that makes this spot a highly recommended addition to any inquisitive weekend epicurean’s itinerary, should they find themselves in the Petaling Jaya vicinity. Suitably fun in its presentation, corrugated aluminium walls and a quirky caricature of a cheongsam-clad dame sets up expectations for a good time within.
The theme continues across a spread of casual fare served in generous portions, whether if you drop by for a brunch of ramen prepared with an unctuous broth lined with a citrusy zing from an addition of yuzu, or a sumptious dinner dish of their fresh seawater prawn noodles that offer a textural play between springy crustaceans and crisp fried mushrooms drenched in a luscious, velveteen egg sauce. Diners by dusk should also consider an extended stay after meals, if only to sip from a selection of Japanese-inspired cocktails such as a quenching kiwi highball.
Address: Yum Yum Seng Seng, B.Land Bunch, 2, 51A, Jalan 51a/225, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 11.30am – 10pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6017-928 8924
10th Anniversary Menu @ Marble 8
It’s difficult to imagine what the local Italian dining scene would be like without The Marini’s Group. For over ten years, each brand under their illustrious umbrella has matured from strength-to-strength, often representing the pinnacle of Italy’s finest across the Klang Valley, if not across the country as a whole. This is especially true of Marini’s on 57 and Marble 8, whose most recent Michelin nods pay testament to their continued commitment to gastronomic innovation and excellence.
As Marble 8 passes its ten-year mark, a limited-run celebratory menu of their most memorable culinary hits will be available on offer. Pick your choice of a smoky charred bone marrow appetiser served alongside thoroughly spiced wagyu tartare, or broad ribbons of pappadrelle with slices of truffle and aged parmegianno reggiano, and complete your dinner sojourn with the steakhouse’s signaure dry-aged beef cuts.
Address: Marble 8, Level 56, Menara 3 Petronas, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 6.30pm – 11.30pm (Monday to Thursday), 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11.30pm (Friday to Sunday)
Contact: +603-2386 6030
Eight Hands Dinner: Modernising Heritage @ Nadodi for Gastromonth 2024
Nadodi has rightfully earned pride of place as one of Kuala lumpur’s most coveted dining destinations, and they have a Michelin-nod to back that up with. Beloved among gastronomes for their uncanny ability to consistently push the proverbial envelope ever further in the realm of Indian cuisine, it’s no wonder how they have continued to go from strength to strength, especially after taking up residence in The Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur.
If you’ve yet to experience the restaurant’s mastery in person, don’t miss out on making plans to stop by for an exclusive eight-hand collaboration between Chef Lee Zhe Xi and Soh Yong Zhi of Eat and Cook, Chef Lucas Lim of Ling Long, and Nadodi’s very own Chef Yavhin Siriwardhana as they present a curated eight-course wine pairing menu that seeks to do what they’ve always done best; ‘Modernising Heritage’ through flavours.
Address: Nadodi, Level 7A, Four Seasons Hotel, Jln Ampang, City Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Date: 8th June and 9th June 2024, 6pm onwards
Book here
Six Hands Dinner: Sharing Grills @ JWALA for Gastromonth 2024
Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘fire’, JWALA is intimately acquainted with the primal and theatrical drama that an open flame inspires, especially when featured in a gastronomic setting. This is evidenced by their custom-made tandoor ovens, which are used in all manner of recipes here as a means of luring out a wealth of intense, radiant flavours that have made them an increasingly prominent name in the local dining scene.
Sample a six-part degustation menu paired with wine when you visit between the 15th and 16th June, where Chef Brendon Chen of Playte will be working in unison with Chef Sean Khaw of Neighbourwood and Chef Ramesh Thangaraj of Jwala in an exploratory journey into the stripped-down pleasures of food prepared over a naked flame.
Address: JWALA, E-2-02, LEVEL 2, BLOCK E, THE FIVE, Kompleks Pejabat Damansara, 49, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Date: 15th June to 16th June 2024, 6pm onwards
Book here
Six Hands Dinner: Refined Elegance @ The Brasserie for Gastromonth 2024
Combining local bounties with European techniques, The Brasserie has managed to impress in many dimensions, whether one chooses to enjoy their creations ala carte, or through a prix fixe setting that extends into a thoughtfully considered range of vegetarian offerings as well. That’s no surprise given its multidisciplinary kitchen team led by Executive Chef Norazizi Taslim, sporting talents accrued through stints in some of Europe’s most venerated restaurants.
Joining him for a six-hand collaboration is Chef Eric Lee of Skillet KL and Chef Joshua Ho of Seed by Whitegrass, who will be presenting a menu in six parts that seek to evoke ‘Redefined Elegance’, through a showcase of culinary verve that tethers centuries-old cooking traditions with modern novelties.
Address: The Brasserie, Level 2, The St. Regis, 6, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Date: 22nd June to 23rd June 2024, 6pm onwards
Book here
Six Hands Dinner: Meating Hanwoo @ Entier French Dining for Gastromonth 2024
Klang Valley’s most cherished tribute to French fare is an institution in itself. Since opening its doors in 2018, its reputation has grown rapidly under the stewardship of its founding genius, Chef Masashi Horiuchi, whose head-to-tail culinary philosophy and insistence on honouring Indigenous harvests from across Malaysia’s terroir has resulted in some of the most exceptional expressions of flavour and finesse in recent memory.
On the 29th and 30th of June, be prepared to partake in tour de force of gastronomy as Chef Masashi shares the stage with Chef Satoshi Uehara of USHI and Chef Takeshi Kimura of Cilantro. With prized Korean Hanwoo beef, renowned for its delicate texture, as a star ingredient, enjoy six distinct courses that traverse all possibilities in incorporating this prized cut of cattle.
Address: Entier, Level 41 at, Alila Bangsar, 58, Jalan Ang Seng, Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Date: 29th June to 30th June, 2024
Book here
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – May edition
Asador V
If there are two elements to premium dining that Malaysians are sure to enjoy, they can be found in steaks and seafood. While a good many contenders have been long established across the Klang Valley, few have managed to set the scene in grand style quite like Menara Hap Seng 3’s latest establishment, Asador V. Built upon the same finesse that has earned its sister restaurant, Vantador, a formidable reputation that includes Michelin nods in both 2023 and 2024, this new venture easily raises the bar for first impressions, welcoming diners underneath the opulent cascade of towering glass shelves that extend from the ceiling and down two floors. Roman columns and shimmering chandeliers further add to the melodrama.
Sharing in that same ethos of sophistication is its menu, Chef Daric Liu, who previously earned his stripes with Vantador, expands upon the foundational blocks of barbecue cooking with the use of an elaborate asado fire grill, a slow-roast process made popular in Argentina. As expected, the food is familiar but elevated, as indicated by its formidable wealth of dry-aged prime beef cuts and duck, paired with a more comprehensive selection of seafood and vegetables.
Address: Asador V, Unit 3A-1 & 3A-2, 4th Floor, Menara Hap Seng 3, Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am (opens daily)
Contact: +6012-260 6882
Flat18
A good brunch spot in the Klang Valley ticks off a few core prerequisites: an Instagram-worthy interior, solid brews, and a concise selection of breakfast staples preferably served in generous portions. The most enduring spots tend to know how to strike that elusive balance best, but Flat18 is already well on its way to doing so in just a few scant weeks of being in business. Located in the deep suburbs of Mutiara Damansara, this latest weekend haven can take some looking if you’re not familiar with the area.
Housed in a newly extended corner by Bangunan Sterling Group, the setup is tasteful but otherwise unpretentious, taking cues from mid-century modernism. As for the food, a surprisingly refined spectrum of flavours is preferred here, where such dishes as Turkish eggs and a breaded shrimp cake served with a side salad and pickled radish make ideal options for those with a more delicate palate.
Address: G-01, Bangunan Sterling Group, 21, Jalan PJU 7/7, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 8am – 5pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: +6 012-497 5626
The Charcoal Grill
Success requires a combination of hard work, ambition, and a sprinkling of luck. Just ask the founders of The Charcoal Grill, who understand well enough how much grit and determination went into turning their humble food stall into a bona fide brick-and-mortar restaurant. Their newest outpost in Damansara Uptown brings their signature menu of grilled meats closer to Klang Valley denizens, as compared to their previous location in Shah Alam’s Kota Kemuning.
The ambiance here mirrors that of the food: contemporary, comforting, and familiar, despite its freshness. Which is to say that instead of flashy novelty, their menu is furnished with reliable staples such as their grilled pork collar and chicken chops, with a sprinkling of more inventive recipes that include a savoury blue cheese pork burger and salmon steaks crusted with crushed Pecan and Parmesan.
Address: 62G, Jalan SS 21/58, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Contact: +6011-2631 3135
Arigato
There is very little in common between Japanese and Latin cuisine, that much is certain. After all, given the geographical disparity between both regions, it comes as little surprise that they neither share ingredients, nor flavours. However, that does not suggest that they could not be complementary when paired together, as fresh-faced Latin-Japanese fusion restaurant Arigato would go on to prove.
House in a playfully modern space flush with neon, steel, and hints of tropical suggestion, this restaurant champions a yakiniku-forward menu that comprises quality cuts of beef. While there isn’t much room for imagination in that regard, the meshing of culinary cultures can best be relished from their assortment of small plates, yielding such creations as tacos with yakiniku beef and sushi rolls served with a fiery wasabi salsa.
Address: Unit G6, Ground Floor, Nexus, Bangsarsouth, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar, 59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Sunday to Thursday), 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 12am (Friday and Saturday)
Contact: +012-502 0849
Nice Bistronome
You won’t mistake Nice Bistronome for any number of other businesses along the Jalan 17/38 stretch in Section 17; its bright, coral exterior will make sure of that. A new chip off an old block from the people at Bukit Damansara’s Chateau Dionne, the ground rules here are relatively straightforward, if not aspirational — to serve a Continental culinary journey spanning from Nice to Naples.
As one can imagine, with a distance of 672.9 km separating both cities in France and Italy, there’s plenty of gastronomic ground to cover. But by keeping to the classics, Chef Andy Choy and his team has been able to prove their merit at each turn. Whether it’s in the passionate richness of fresh burratta cheese served on a bed of caramalised onions and split figs, or a more delicate serving of braised beef cheeks with red wine jus, you are promised nothing short of excellence, as indicated by their glowing reviews.
Address: 939, Jalan 17/38, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 11am – 11pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6011-5110 7309
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – April edition
Belly & Mel
What do you get when you fuse two well-loved restaurants from the city under one roof? You achieve one of those rare instances of a perfect storm for success, as the team behind Belly & Mel will readily attest to. Diners in Kuala Lumpur will likely recognise both names separately; Belly & The Chef for its string of outlets across the Klang Valley that have readily dished up a wealth of fusion bistro recipes, and CC by Mel for its health-inclined dishes with a Nikkei-twist.
The combination of both restaurants makes for a sensible fit given their similar repertoires, as indicated by their debut menu that comprises many of the same culinary stylings that have made their brands so successful in their own right. One standout wonder by way of seabass grilled to a smoky finish on an open flame paired with a novel century egg chili ragu that lingers with a spicy, savoury minerality on the palate.
Address: GF-05, 163 Retail Park, 8, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11am – 10pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6 012-895 3966
Tina’s Taqueria
Humble beginnings from a roadside food truck burgeoning with potential have since paid off twofold for the founders of Curbside Cantina, as evidenced by the scale of their expansion. Earning a name for themselves as one of the only places in the city to approach Mexican cuisine without pretense, their no-frills dining has made them an easy recommendation for those interested in testing the waters with Latin fare.
Their Damansara Kim outlet has since been spruced up and rebranded to Tina’s Taqueria, reflecting their core menu staples. But while it may look different, rest assured that the food remains commendable in its no-frills simplicity. For an easy recommendation, order the Perak Duck Taco and have it served in the Baja style for a sprightly hit of flavour.
Address: 71, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: +6 019-613 7970
Pad Boy
As is the case with any internationally renowned genre of cuisine, Thai food is often synonymous with a few easily recognisable staples that have come to define its profile for mainstream diners. This typically refers to succulent circles of pan-fried tod mun pla Thsi fish cakes, the spiced acidity of tom yam kung broth, or the herbacious delectation of pad kra pow. The latter is especially beloved among Malaysians for its accessibility and remains a staple on almost all Thai food menus locally.
But as opposed to serving as a mere facet of their offerings, Taman Paramount’s coyly (and suitably) named Pad Boy makes the basil-forward dish its main staple. Taking on a build-your-plate concept, diners may pick from their choice of protein to be cooked in the signature Siamese style with a spice preference of your choosing.
Address: 53, Jalan 20/7, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 11am – 10pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6 03-7865 3530
New menu at Brasa
Since making its debut in the latter part of 2023, Brasa in Bukit Damansara is already quick on its way to becoming one of the neighbourhood’s most prominent dining destinations. Much of that is owed to Chef Diego Reali, who spearheads the kitchen team with the same remarkable finesse he has cemented a reputation on while leading Cinnamon Group’s sister restaurant, Natalina’s.
Boasting a prominent wood-fire grill concept that embraces open-flame cooking, Brasa’s updated menu offerings aren’t looking to reinvent old favourites, but rather improve upon them in modest increments. With that said, there are some riveting new additions to the fray, including bite-sized hors d’oeuvres-appropriate prawn tacos, which are chock-full of succulently crisp Tiger prawn chunks paired with the mild spice of sriracha mayo and buttery guacamole made in-house.
Address: No.50-G, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 5pm – 10.30pm (opens daily)
Contact: +6 011-5110 2857
New menu at Nadodi
From Mediterranean coasts come the balmy heat of Tamil Nadu, as another Cinnamon Group jewel, Nadodi, is set to usher forth a melody of new flavours as part of their quarterly refresh. Renowned for being one of the city’s most avant garde innovators of South Asian fare, their latest efforts have culiminated in an exhaustive ten-part degustation itinerary, where diners are whisked upon a journey across the landscape of South Indian cuisine as interpreted by Chef Yavhin Siriwardhana.
Components of various Southern Indian gastronomy have been artfully reintepreted and recontextualised to suit a contemporary palate, without taking away from the heritage of techniques and ingredients that have transcended generations. Dubbed the ‘Coconut Chronicles’, many of the dishes here incorporate the humdrum fruit that is found from Kerala to Sri Lanka, whether by way of flavour or texture.
Address: Level 7A, Four Seasons Hotel, Jln Ampang, City Centre, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 6pm – 10pm (closed on Sundays)
Contact: +6 017-296 9520
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – March edition
Feliz
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By default, Peruvian cuisine is informed by an intersection of cultures, with indigenous Inca recipes melding with migrant influences from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Given that fact, the spread offered by Avenue K’s latest dining entrant, Feliz, will do due justice to those seeking an authentic, yet far from stale culinary journey through Peru. Tapping into the high mastery of Japanese technique, the menu here masterfully combines it with the scintillating warmth of Latin ingredients to introduce some fresh new flavour into the city’s restaurant landscape.
Take for example, the gunkan anticucho, a Peruvian staple made with finely sliced beef heart that has been reinterpreted and expressed in the form of Japanese gunkan sushi for bite-sized decadence.
Address: L4-05, LEVEL 4, Avenue K, 156, Jln Ampang, Kampung Baru, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 12pm – 10pm (opens daily)
Contact: +60 11-1771 7742
Saj Bistronomy at Leen’s
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Taking after the same vein that Feliz has with updating legacy recipes is Saj Bistronomy. While the name may be new to many, its founders are decidedly more familiar, being the brainchild of the same people behind TTDI’s wildly successful Leen’s Middle Eastern cuisine. With Chef Ameer Alzalek spearheading this newest venture all the same, Saj aims to infuse the region’s most longstanding dishes with a fresh new approach, without taking away from the core qualities of Middle Eastern food that have made it so exceedingly popular among Malaysian diners.
One increasingly popular classic can be found in the Charred Chili Hummus, which while evocative of the earthiness beloved in sister restaurant Leen’s original Smoked Hummus, kicks things up by a few notches with the addition of mellow spice and herbaceous greens.
Address: 130, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Contact: +60 11-1139 1503
Kai Nusantara Eatery
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RexKL has established a fine pedigree as an eminent bastion of youth culture in Kuala Lumpur since taking on a second lease of life after a thorough restoration. The former cineplex that continues to remain as one of the more recognisable stalwart landmarks in the city’s famed Chinatown district now plays host to a clutch of grassroots enterprises, each founded by the city’s many multifaceted talents.
Kai Nusantara is the newest of those to set up shop in the revitalised cultural hub, boasting a wealth of domestic delights on its menu. Drawing from the richness of Malay archipelago and its culinary tapestry, dishes such as fall-off-the-bone tender duck leg served with chili paste ala Bebek Goreng, as well as the sweet spice of braised jackfruit slivers stewed in rendang will leave diners with full bellies and hearts.
Address: 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 8.30am – 10pm (Mondays to Thursdays), 8.30am – 12am (Fridays to Sundays)
Indian Empire
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It needs no reminding that the Indian continent possesses one of the world’s most varied spectrums of gastronomy, with an influence that extends beyond its own shores across the globe through an extensive historical spice trade. Given that fact, it’s often a challenge in itself to attempt condensing the scale of Indian food, both from the Northern and Southern region, within the pages of a single menu.
But the appropriately named Indian Empire restaurant in the thriving downtown stretch of Bukit Bintang does just that with surprising aplomb. By bringing together cooks hailing from all across India under one kitchen, coupled with a strict insistence on staying true to generational recipes and authentic ingredients, a spellbinding spread on every plate is guaranteed. South Indian Crab Roasts and North Indian Shah Jahani Murgh Chicken curries are a must-try for initiates.
Address: 18, Jln Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 12pm – 12am (opens daily)
Contact: +60 3-2110 0505
Torigen Chicken Ramen
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The appeal of a good bowl of ramen stems from a combination of varying factors. But above all else, two areas should excel by default: the consistency of the noodles used, and the richness of the broth. True connoisseurs of traditional tonkatsu recipes understand that to achieve the latter, long hours are required to bring pork bones to a rolling boil, often exceeding 12 hours, before reaching its signature lip-smacking, milky consistency.
But of course, the inclusion of pork bones in most conventional recipes makes this delicacy a challenging one to navigate for those who prefer pork-free options. In this case, Torigen Chicken Ramen is quick to offer a suitable alternative. Substituting pork with chicken bones, the restaurant uses the very same painstaking cooking process to bring out punchy flavour in their broths, ensuring that each bowl of ramen retains all of the signature umami sweetness that is to be expected from a robust serving. Other Japanese staples, such as curry rice, are also available here.
Address: 4th floor, Lot 10, J’s Gate Dinning, Lot10 Shopping Centre, 50, Jln Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Operating hours: 11.30am – 10.30pm (opens daily)
Contact: +60 12-319 2306
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – February edition
Niku29
Japanese dining has become an inherent part of Kuala Lumpur’s dining tapestry for decades, owing to the long-established business relations shared by both nations since the 1960s. That is to say that the average Malaysian palette is rather well accustomed to offerings from the Far East. Of the burgeoning number of Japanese restaurants housed in the Klang Valley, Niku29 is one of the newest and most exciting.
The brainchild of Curate Group, which already sports a considerably well-padded portfolio of Japanese restaurants including Sushi Ryu and Wagyu Koppo Yoshida, Niku29 is positioned to represent a new standard in yakiniku dining. Prized cuts of Halal-certified, Japanese wagyu beef are served in a medley of styles, whether sandwiched between squares of cloud-like Japanese bread for a sando delight, or served atop rice beads topped with a poached egg ala donburi style.
Address: Unit 1-02, Level 1, Menara Hap Seng, 3, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (closed on Sundays)
Contact: 019-257 2033
Tipsy Flamingo
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The highly lauded Tipsy Collective dining group based out of Singapore has carved out a vibrant niche for itself with exceedingly innovative and most importantly, fun hospitality concepts underscored by a fabulously curated drinks menu. Their first Kuala Lumpur outpost, located in The Exchange Mall, promises to bring all the flair in spades. Dubbed the Tipsy Flamingo, this neon-washed 1980s pool party fantasy serves a tasteful blend of Asian fusion dishes, complemented by cocktails galore and of course, live music come evening.
Address: 06.0-06E.0, The Exchange TRX, Dining Terrace, Tun Razak Exchange Unit L2T, 55188 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 1am (opens daily)
Contact: 012-808 0965
The Oriental Park
Japanese luxury department store ISETAN has been renowned for offering a considered and curated retail experience across all of its outlets. This is most prominently expressed in their Lot10 Japan Store outpost, spanning multiple floors that have been meticulously crafted with mindful intent to best translate their approach to Japanese good living across to Malaysia. That extends to their culinary establishments as well, with The Table commanding great acclaim for its selection of Japanese eateries spanning the spectrum of omakase dining to casual Japanese-European fusion fare.
Now, that very same formula has been transported to KLCC under the guise of The Oriental Park, occupying an idyllic slice of the landmark mall’s park-facing lots. Described as a Pan-Asian restaurant, expect reworked Japanese recipes that feature Southeast Asian influences. Well-placed in a contemporary setting that draws in the spectacular vistas that its location is privy to, the menu here yields such wonders as the Wagyu Kelapa Curry, where prized morsels of Japanese beef are cooked in a velveteen curry infused with fragrant coconut milk, or the umami sweet Tohoku Miso Hummus dip served with crisp heads of white cauliflower flourets.
Address: GF, Isetan KLCC, 241, Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm (opens daily)
Contact: 03- 23823281
Yim Yam Kway Chap
A Teochew noodle dish that is packed with punchy flavour, every hearty bowl is beloved for its generosity in ingredients, oftentimes burgeoning to the point of excess. Broad, flat rice sheets soaked in a broth made with dark soy sauce, served with layers of offal, pork intestines, pigs ears, pork belly cuts, braised duck meat, before being topped by an assortment of beancurd, preserved vegetables, and a braised hard-boiled egg quartered for easy consumption.
If that sounds like your idea of a comfort meal, then head on over to Yim Yam Kway Chap‘s in Petaling Jaya’s SS4 for your next fix. Boasting a kway chap recipe that has been tweaked to feature Thai inclinations, expect a soulfully herbaceous pork broth stewed laboriously overnight using herbs from the Land of Smiles that add a refreshingly complex dimension to the typical savoury-sweetness expected from this age-old Chinese recipe.
Address: 8, Jalan SS 4d/14, SS 4, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Operating hours: 10am – 3pm (closed on Mondays)
Contact: 016-323 1927
BARKAR
Food simply tastes better when cooked on an open flame; that’s a common axiom that can be easily attested to by anyone who has ever enjoyed the fruits of a well-executed barbecue. In that vein, G Tower’s BARKAR looks to elevate that simple, almost primordial approach to gastronomy with contemporary finesse. Born from the ambitions of Eat and Cook’s Lee Zhe Xi and Soh Yong Zhi, this fresh-faced dining addition in Kuala Lumpur is suitably helmed by Head Chef Kevin Ng of Communal Table by Gen 根 fame.
Given the illustrious alumni present, one can expect nothing short of a well-considered menu that broadens the scope of conventional recipes from the grill. Infused with nods to local culinary heritage, must-tries include the excellently smoky Char Siew Wagyu Beef Cheek Claypot Rice with sinfully buttery beef crusted with dark, resinous caramel, as well as the suculently tender Ember Grill Dry Aged Australia Denver Lamb Ribs.
Address: SUITES G-06, GROUND FLOOR, G Tower, 199, Jln Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (opens daily)
Contact: 011-2277 3131
Pickle Dining
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Prior to the advent of at-home refrigeration to preserve foodstuff, mankind has developed an array of other means to keep perishables consumable for as long as possible, with methods such as smoking, drying, fermenting, and pickling, being the chief go-to choices. This inevitably led to the creation of specific delicacies and dishes that are reliant on these preservation methods, each bringing a distinct dimension of flavour in their own right.
Petaling Street’s latest addition, Pickle Dining, brings that to the fore with recipes grounded in historical preservation techniques. Helmed by Malay-English chef Danial Thorlby, expect contemporary gastronomic innovation par excellence. One star dish to try is their delectably grilled sirloin steak, decadently cut into pink, supple slices and served with black garlic aioli for a boost of resonant flavour.
Address: 23, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 5pm – 11pm (Mondays and Thursdays), 12pm – 11pm (Fridays to Sundays, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Contact: 019-780 2935
Sera by Aposto
Where dining enclaves are concerned, TTDI emerges as one of the city’s prime destinations, where middle-class suburban heaven belies a bustling gastronomic scene that spans everything from roadside hidden gems to MICHELIN-approved prix fixe eight-course degustations. Sera by Aposto falls in the latter part of this collective, serving as the high-brow counterpart to its exceedingly popular Italian casual dining restaurant downstairs.
Led by the innovations of Chef Patron Chu Wei Sin, dishes here take the utmost pride in keeping well aligned with Italian tradition, while subtle tweaks add new flair to keep tastebuds intrigued. A key highlight is their Mortlach whisky pairing menu, which doles out specialties ranging from a fresh dish of burrata cheese with dry-aged slices of tuna prosciutto served alongside Mortlach 12 Year Old, and delectably grilled Japanese amberjack fish plated with bagna càuda sauce, heady with its briney umami hit.
Address: 38A (First Floor, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 3pm – 12am (closed on Mondays)
Contact: 010-282 2690
Feature and hero image credits: Niku29/Instagram
New restaurants and menus in KL 2024 – January edition
Sichuan Kitchen
Sichuan Kitchen, the city’s latest gastronomic gem, presents the finest expressions of Sichuan cuisine. Immerse yourself in the intoxicating allure of Eastern tastes, with the iconic hot pot dish and diverse Sichuan specialties taking center stage. The ambiance marries a warm, family-centric dining experience with chic, modern touches.
With an organically flavour-packed menu and an ingeniously curated bar scene featuring distinct beverage choices, the culinary journey at Sichuan Kitchen is truly unparalleled. Capable of welcoming up to 150 epicureans, this new dining destination promises an unrivaled sensory feast for its guests.
Address: Level 1, Four Points By Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, City Centre Corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11.30 AM – 10.30 PM (weekdays), 11 AM – 11 PM (weekends)
Contact: +603-2706 9099
Liang’s Dining
The newly opened Liang’s Dining in Mont Kiara introduces a modern twist to traditional Chinese cuisine, infusing it with an air of sophistication and a vibrant, floral aesthetic. The menu offers a variety of shared appetizers, featuring unique delicacies like fresh crab served in its shell and paired with a rich crab sauce, crispy fried mantou perfect for dipping, and grilled dumplings filled with a blend of chicken meat and liver.
They also serve pork fritters layered with cubed yam and a mix of vegetables on a ‘bird’s nest’, along with a savory garum rice infused with the depth of chicken bones and kombu oil. Their main dishes are equally as exciting, offering a range of options from dry-aged duck breast served with taucu paste to a delicious combination of beer-caramelised pork belly served with lard and a fresh raw papaya salad.
Address: 163 Retail Park, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 11 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +6016-520 9026
Meriah
Meriah, a novel culinary jewel in The Exchange TRX, is a beacon of delight for patrons eager to explore innovative gastronomic adventures. This homebred Malaysian haunt takes your taste buds on an epicurean journey from the exotic flavours of Southern Thailand to the rich tapestry of the Indonesian Archipelago.
Duck aficionados will find themselves in a flavourful paradise with the Nasi Bebek dish, a symphony of delicately spiced fried duck paired with gulai telur itik. Not to forget the Roasted Duck Massaman Curry, a masterful medley of luscious meat, earthy potatoes, crunchy cashews, and aromatic shallots.
Meriah claims its spot as an oasis of tranquility amidst the mall’s bustle, extending a warm invitation with its exceptional service and soothing ambiance.
Address: Level 1, The Exchange TRX, Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +603-3051 3589
Warung Eropa
Introducing Warung Eropa, hailing originally from Kuta Utara in Bali. This culinary sensation has now made its first foray into Malaysia, nestling within the chic and charming confines of The Exchange TRX – a perfect backdrop for the enjoyment of their signature bebek.
Their pièce de résistance is the Bebek Goreng Set. This culinary masterpiece features a half duck that’s been expertly cooked to achieve a tantalisingly crispy exterior and a succulently juicy interior, delivering a symphony of flavours with every mouthful. The dish is beautifully complemented with sides of steamed rice, urap-urap, sambal merah, and sambal matah.
Not to be overshadowed, their Rawon Malam is an iconic offering. This rich, beef soup draws its intense flavour profile from the unique addition of buah keluak. Served with steamed rice, sambal, and a crunchy prawn cracker, it’s a hearty and savoury bowl of comfort.
To enhance the dining experience, Warung Eropa offers a selection of cocktails. Try the Nusa Dua, a tropical fusion of rum, coconut liqueur, triple sec, and jackfruit, or the Ubud, a refreshing blend of gin, kaffir leaf, lemongrass, and lime, both promising to transport your taste buds to an idyllic Balinese holiday.
Address: Level 2, 106, Lingkaran TRX, Imbi, 55188 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +603-3010 0213/ +6016-709 2998
Yakiniku Tenshin
Yakiniku Tenshin is a culinary constellation shining brightly in the city centre for aficionados of Japanese gastronomy. Nestled within the bustling heart of Avenue K, this eat-all-you-can gem is a sizzling sensation known for its top-grade Japanese A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef, grilled yakiniku-style to mouthwatering perfection.
Embark on an unforgettable gastronomic journey as you relish the spectrum of exquisite A5 cuts, each one meticulously seared to seal in a smoky, succulent taste. The lavish a la carte buffet is a treasure trove of wagyu wonders, including the likes of Wagyu Sirloin Nigiri, crispy-yet-tender Wagyu Croissants, flavourful Wagyu Sando, delectable Wagyu Cones, hearty Hamburg Steak, luxurious Noodles with Wagyu & Caviar, and the unique Wagyu Namaharumaki, among others.
Pescatarians are not left out of this pork-free bounty, with a stunning selection of seafood delicacies including the sizzling Hotate Teppanyaki, the cheesy King Prawn Cheese Yaki, the fresh Oyster Sashimi, the sophisticated Uni Tartare, and the comforting Snow Crab Nabe. To top off the dining experience, patrons can quench their thirst with an unlimited supply of sake, beer, and house speciality cocktails.
Adding a cherry on top, all wagyu beef served at Yakiniku Tenshin comes with a halal certification, making it a universal delight for all food lovers.
Address: L3-14C, Level 3, Avenue K, 156, Jalan Ampang, Kampung Baru, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: 10.30 AM – 10.30 PM
Contact: +6011-3331 9089
