Lunchers

Had there been more cili padi, I would’ve found this rendition a pleasant savory counterpart as compared to the sweeter ones I’m used to having. The mantaos however, were on the dry side and took a bit of effort peeling/cutting through.

This local spot is tucked in one of the folksy shophouses in the Masjid Jamek area; Lekiu Cafe’s interior is similarly simplistic, as well as a compact lunch menu that’s suited for a quick lunch break. The Iced Coffee here was rich and had a slight hint of Milo, whereas the Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng (MYR10.90) was perfectly executed — a whole chicken leg with a thin, crispy coating that retains a juicy and fleshy texture on the inside, the coconut rice was just right in fragrance and the sambal was tasty and spicy with a notable kick. While the roti bakar peanut butter (MYR4) did seem intriguing at first, it turned out to be just a pressed toast filled with regular peanut butter. Aside from the fact that it’s doused with an odd amount of lettuce, the Kuey Teow Goreng (MYR7.50) here had a satisfying flavor and a good touch of ‘wok hei’.

I’ve set rather high expectations for this place as I took in the ostentatious decor that adorned the restaurant. When I was handed the menu, only 5 set choices were available, and that was it. They did not have a full menu whatsoever. I decided to go with the Chicken Chop since I was feeling like playing it safe. However, as I was served the chicken feet soup for the starter and a jelly for dessert, the whole experience had me rather confused. Understandably the menu, albeit small, is predominantly Asian cuisine, but I simply cannot fathom the idea of serving chicken feet soup for the starter of a chicken chop. Overall, the food here was incredibly lacking in terms of preparation and repertoire, not even its impeccable service could plea for a return.

The Malaysian equivalent of comfort food — Nyonya food here really soothes the soul with its simple but authentic array of dishes that’s also very budget friendly. The Udang Masak Nanas platter (MYR14) here comes with sliced okras and the sweet Nyonya sambal most of familiar when it comes to Nyonya cooking. Surprisingly, what came through the most for me was the Otak-Otak (MYR9) — rich, flavorful and savory accompanied by a warm slice of fluffy bread. Have the cendol (MYR5.80) to end your meal here, you won’t regret it.

The market for Korean fried chicken in the Klang Valley seems to have set prices on the higher end, despite being merely chicken wings. The 6 pcs set that came with a bowl of wedges and raw cabbage clocked in at MYR19.90 whereas the 4 chicken fingers with fries came at MYR13. The chicken wings here were dry and flavors weren’t bold either. Chicken fingers were akin to chewing battered cardboard. Would I return? Absolutely not.

The food here packs a great punch, and the portions here don’t play it down either. The salted egg calamari (MYR18.90) here is one of the best I’ve had recently, lightly stir fried with a salted egg salad to further exhibit the fragrance of the dish. Ended the meal with a Molten Lava cake (MYR21) that was comforting and definitely crowd pleasing.

Filipino food surprisingly hasn’t really made its mark in Malaysia, considering the proximity of the two countries. Nevertheless, better late than never! The Beef Salpicao (MYR22) was the dish of choice here, exuding savory, peppery goodness. Grab a bowl of their avocado or ube ice cream if you still have the space for it!

The sister restaurant of the Singaporean Common Man has finally set its foot in Malaysia at Bangsar South, whipping up porky renditions of familiar brunch fares. I went with the Brioche French Toast, which has a light toasted crisp on the outside that melts completely with the softness of the brioche once bitten into. The bananas, bacon and caramel gave it a sweet, savory and earthy flavor respectively and I’d be a fool to not order this again on my next visit, which will be happening very soon.

Sarawakian cooking is not familiar to many in the Peninsular Malaysia, but I’m glad this is one of the first I’ve gotten to try! Served with Adan rice that is native to the paddy fields of the Ba’kelalan tribe, paired with the chutney that’s bursting of fried onion flavors, this set meal definitely did not disappoint. Would definitely revisit to try their house made burgers and sandwiches.

Taking over what used to be Battery Acid Club, the minimal setting transitioned this seemingly sophisticated looking restaurant into the ambiance. However, the food was rather disappointing despite reasonable prices. Pork chop was probably the best of the lunch dishes (MYR 19), however it was a tad bit overcooked and dry, though flavor was good. The ramen was a complete letdown and frankly a lazed effort, as the ramen broth was basically the same broth as the complimentary broth that came along with the set lunch. We were hoping the Cream Cheese (MYR9) would bring someone light, however this was just as disappointing, presenting simply a huge dollop of cream cheese, sweetened by the passion fruit sauce and slightly tart with dehydrated guava pieces. I’m hoping that with such a decent space, the newly opened restaurant will reinvent their menu in the near future.