New Restaurants, Cafés And Bars in KL: July 2017

This new cafe enters the city centre scene with comforting rice bowls, creative coffee and sufficient parking space for diners — sounds like jackpot! Decked out in coffee ink art (that likely inspired their ambiguous name), the quiet space has yummy afternoons to offer Burpplers working nearby. To escape the grind with a few colleagues, lunch at Black Ink No.6 and get the Yum Yum Bowl (RM20) — Japanese rice blanketed by tasty beef ribeye, onsen egg and a lush splash of Thousand Island dressing. The rice bowl is a symphony of flavours that doesn't fall short of its name. As they tend to cut down on rice portion marginally to avoid wastage, be sure to let the staff know if you prefer yours full-portion. On drinks, the Dirty (RM12) is potent cold coffee on point while a Black Sesame Latte (RM12) is surprisingly smooth and creamy without overdoing it. For something fancy to impress first-timers, get the Volcano (RM12) that comes in a cup overflowing with chocolate powdered cream and cold coffee.
Avg price per person: RM30

Down To Bones gets an upgrade this month, a hitch up from their humble weekend pop-up to a shiny new outpost in the same vicinity. Despite the plain and simple decor, these guys turn out first-class food. For classy meals with casual vibes, this is the place to bring a buddy. Urging patrons on is a neon sign that reads 'eat ribs' in Mandarin — heed that advice and order their Pork Ribs (RM23). The ginormous slab is truly tender down to the bones and slicked in a garlicky barbecue sauce for lots of finger lickin' good moments. The plate comes with tasty sides of mashed potatoes and coleslaw, which makes it even more attractive for the ultra affordable price point. For a creamy counterpart to the zesty ribs, have their Homemade Mushroom Soup (RM10), laced with mushroom chunks and fragrant chopped herbs. End the meal on a bittersweet note with the Vietnamese Drip Coffee (RM8).
Avg price per person: RM30

First season runner-up of Masterchef Asia Marcus Low has taken his dessert dexterity into Damansara Utama — make a dash for the newly opened Mad Hatter. Those with a sweet tooth will fall head over heels for this wonderland with dreamy white walls and delicate desserts. The maestro pays tribute to his local roots with the use of homegrown ingredients, such as in the Bubur Cha Cha (RM23). The plated dessert is a winner, made up of coconut ice cream, sweet potato and yam cake and pumpkin brulee that evoke the familiarity of childhood-favourite flavours. For a simpler treat, get Tastemaker Alyssia's personal favourite, Pistachio (RM17). It comes with elements of passionfruit and green tea for a fun, fruity-nutty combination. The man himself is often spotted behind the counter so don't hesitate to ask him for chef-recommendations!
Avg price per person: RM20
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Alyssia Yu

Tokyo's Mitsuyado Seimen is now open in Malaysia's own Starling Mall so if you're a fan of Japanese food, the house of tsukemen should be next on your wishlist. The interior embodies the restaurant's attention to detail, sporting intricate art pieces inspired by Japan's nature — think bamboo forests and Zen gardens. Calming but not too quiet, the venue comes to mind for intimate gatherings and even dinner dates. Dip and slurp up noodles made daily — these boast firm, chewy textures with an aromatic wheat flavour. Recommended is the delicious house special Cheese Tsukemen (from RM29.90), which comes with a yuzu dipping soup. The creaminess of melted cheddar cheese melds well with the sweet, refreshing yuzu broth. If you're a stickler for tradition, have the Original Yuzu (from RM25.90) on its own. Pro tip: You can opt to have your noodles hot or cold — the authentic experience calls for cold noodles that provide a stark contrast against hot dipping soup.
Avg price per person: RM35

Opening its doors along Chinatown's Jalan Balai Polis is Yu Noodle Cuisine, a modern-meets-traditional noodle house. Expect red lanterns and wooden chairs that fit the bill for old Chinese aesthetics. While that's sure to win over tourists in the area, the place is also prime for those looking for a worthy work lunch. Come for their clear broth Mi Xian Noodles, featured best with Japanese Clams (RM10.50) or Pork Slices (RM8.50). The former has a sweet finish whereas the meatier latter is prominent with savoury flavours. The trick is to make good use of the Shaoxing rice wine at your table, which adds a robust dimension to the dish. What sets Yu apart from its adversaries is a killer side dish of Crispy Fish Skin (RM12.50). Good to share among two to three, this crunchy snack is delicious on its own, but even better when dunked into the broth — it soaks up the soup while still retaining its crisp texture. Yum!
Avg price per person: RM15

Putting Mytown on the map for new places to eat is chocolate connoisseur The Dark Gallery. Sourcing single origin chocolate from all across the globe to serve a plethora of chocolatey treats, the swanky chocolate bar is choice, either for a dessert to go or a more elaborate dine-in experience. Shoppers who want a quick treat can stop here for their super smooth Chocolate Ice Cream (from RM10) — our favourite flavours are the smokey single origin 70% Dominican Republic Dark Chocolate and the Dulcey 32% White Chocolate. If possible, we highly recommend sticking around for the full experience of their Single Origin Platters (from RM15), a tasting flight of chocolates with varying flavours and intensities. This can be done with ice cream, hot chocolate shots, pastries or a medley of all three! If you can't do without some caffeine, the Chocolate Affogato presents a delectable twist on affogato with dark chocolate ice cream, caramelised almonds and an espresso shot.
Avg price per person: RM20
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Melanie Yu

Grounded in their passion for baking, the duo behind Good Ground Bakery doles out delicious breads, pastries and more in this stop-and-go shop in SS17. There is a warm, homely touch to the way the girls run the modern concrete counter, and behind it comes their top-grade bakes fresh off the oven. For teatime treats, stop by for their luxe version of Banana Loaf (RM6), a thick squarish slice of buttery banana goodness with extra banana chunks baked into the top crust. Also to die for is the Walnut Roll (RM6), perfect rolls glazed in sweet caramel and chopped walnuts. After taking in the beautiful spread, take home their Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies (RM6) — crunchy cookies chock full of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips — for later.
Avg price per person: RM15
Photo by Burppler Trisha Toh

Located in a spacious lot within a Mazda service centre, Kohi Yatta is the Mazda owner's answer to a bearable wait. But even if you don't own a Mazda, there's still plenty reason to visit. Swing by for a long lunch with the family as you watch your kids play in the child-friendly area. The Japanese fusion food will keep all happy. Have the Soboro Rice (RM18), a simple but tasty rice dish topped with minced chicken and scrambled egg, or try the more elegant Barley Risotto (RM18) featuring mushrooms and salmon. For the kids, there are mini meals like Macaroni Minestrone (RM8), Mini Beef Hamburger (RM8) and even daily mixed mash for tinier tots. If savouries don't suffice, consider sharing a Grand Emperor (RM15). Kids and grownups alike will enjoy these oat pancakes with fruits and cream. The cafe also makes their own brewed teas, like a Black Tea + Passionfruit + Cucumber (RM12) — the perfect antidote for a hot day in this sun-filled spot.
Avg price per person: RM25

This lesser known bar in Chinatown is one of its kind. By that, we mean it sports gorgeous vintage vibes, delicious drinks and a no-profit system. The bar opens only by reservation in advance, and everyone who works there do so voluntarily so that all proceeds can be contributed to operational costs as well as a fund to help emerging artist friends. Meant to be a happy place to gather (Shuang Xi translates to double happiness in Mandarin), this is just the spot to take your favourite friends on a good night out. What's more, the prices are easy on the pocket! Cocktails begin from RM24 for a single shot, RM32 for a double and so on, allowing patrons to pay for their drink's worth. Try the Best Before, a summery concoction of Malibu rum and pineapple juice. Or let the other intriguing names surprise you, be it the Familiar Stranger or the Mood Swing. Alternatively, kick back with a bottle of Tsingtao beer (RM12) befitting of the bar's old-world charms.
Avg price per person: RM30
Photo by Burppler Trisha Toh

Taking over the space of now defunct Brats, Shichirin does Japanese charcoal barbecue with an exotic edge. Apart from adding smoke vents, little has been done to change the decor — Brats' concrete walls and long wooden tables remain, making this a trendy BBQ establishment for group dinners with friends. Their menu of meats is not for the faint-hearted, featuring the interesting textures of Pork Womb (RM15), Pork Heart (RM15) and Kampung Chicken Organs (from RM15) among others. Since there is much to try, we'd recommend you skip the nothing-special beef selections unless you're thinking of forking out RM88 for Wagyu Loin. Instead, try the excellently marinated Pork Shoulder Loin (RM15) and the high-quality Iberico Jowl (RM25) that yields sweet, supple flesh. The handy charcoal grill burning at high heat makes cooking an easy and speedy affair, but still order the Assorted Mushroom (RM15) to snack on while the meats are cooking!
Avg price per person: RM45