Ever since Yut Kee moved from its old location to the more spacious and comfortable Jalan Kamunting lot, the kopitiam has gained an even stronger cult following. The heritage decor makes an Instagrammable feature, paying homage to its near-90 years in business. Do like regulars and come for the greasy Roti Babi (RM10), minced pork and onions stuffed in deep-fried bread. A friendly uncle will be on the lookout to make sure you eat it right — with drizzles of Lea & Perrins' Worcestershire sauce. Also not to be missed are their fresh bakes. The Kaya Roll (RM1.10 per piece) is deliciously dense while a buttery Marble Cake (RM1.30) sends our tastebuds straight to cake heaven.
Avg price per person: RM15
Photo by Burppler Muriel A.
Healthy, diet friendly
The best dish of my dinner.
Housemade straciatella that’s to die for. So good, with the sourdough and with almost anything that you can mop every bit up. Kiddos loved this too. Note to self: Order extra portion next time as they always attack my order.
Surprise! The venerable purveyors of, well, great beer, have a new kitchen manned by N.O.T. Kushiyaki and we’re thoroughly impressed with the food. The menu has been expanding rapidly, with everything going through multiple iterations of improvement. Amidst the skewers galore, you'll find this delicious Lamb Rice Bowl (RM25). Not just any lamb, mind you. This right here is lamb belly, slow-cooked for 21 hours, and grilled for a delicious brown sear. Quite possibly the softest lamb we’ve had in Malaysia, it sits on a bed of fried egg (yolk perfectly runny), spicy mayo, seaweed and, of course, rice. RM25, not including the cost of the beers you’ll inevitably be guzzling.
Avg price per bowl: RM25
Is cauliflower 'rice' considered cheating? Perhaps. But this fluffy, genuinely delicious cauliflower 'rice' tastes like the perfect midpoint between couscous and regular rice. And in our opinion, this is the tastiest poke bowl in Klang Valley, so it fully deserves a place on this list. The salmon is a notch above those at most poke parlours (pick your marinade, they’re all pretty great), the vegetables are as vibrant in the mouth as they are on the eyes, and we left feeling a good deal healthier than when we came in. Well worth the RM25.
Avg price per bowl: RM25
If it's the high prices attached to healthy eating that keeps you at bay, shimmy on over to Chimichurri. This do-it-yourself salad bar in Jaya One sees an emphasis on using fresh, non-processed ingredients, and the bargain it drives at RM9.90 a bowl is just the icing on the cake. There are over six proteins to choose from, though we urge you keep your choice (and your budget) to the Chicken (RM9.90), Dory Fish (RM11.90) or Beef Brisket (RM14.90). From there, decide on your greens and then, a tummy-filling base of either couscous, quinoa, cauliflower rice or brown rice. Apart from its affordable price point, there is also much to love about their sauces, which is really where their flair is found — think delicious stuff like rendang, chimichurri, creamy butter and even spicy sambal!
Avg price per person: RM15
Photo by Burppler Shin D
Set along Jalan Bangsar, the rustic Makanhouse is backed with local lunch options and not just any, but the heritage-nuanced Melaka Portuguese and Kelantanese food. Run by an amicable family celebrating time-honoured recipes, the small eatery dishes out their best deals at breakfast. Look out for the brown rice paper-wrapped goods, such as the Nasi Lemak (RM5), Nasi Dagang Ikan Gulai (RM12) and the blue-tinged Nasi Kerabu with Spice-Fried Chicken (RM15). Since the shop only opens at 10am, we recommend coming in for first dibs at these ready-to-eat meals, which are all wholesome enough to pass off as lunch! On the pricier side, they also lay out a bountiful buffet-style lineup for lunch every afternoon. Featured in here is a dish that might be worth breaking the bank for: the Salted Fish Ambilla Curry (price varies).
Avg price per person: RM15
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Tiffany Ng
Sometimes while passing a Malay food stall at the hawker centre I give in to temptation and get these deep fried delights if I happen to spot them. These vegetable fritters containing julienned carrot and cabbage were satisfylingly crunchy and not too doughy, and served with a sweet and spicy Thai chilli-esque sauce. Great for a light afternoon snack or whenever you're feeling peckish.
Seah Im Food Centre, Dapur Minang - Dapur Melayu #01-36
Taste: 3/5
The pictures of soft thick-cut brioche generously stuffed with one of my favourite foods of all time – eggs – proved too tempting to resist, so I finally succumbed to ordering what could easily be made at home.
Kudos to Egg Stop for preparing the fluffy scrambled eggs a la minute, as these were fresh and very well-cooked. I also liked the subtly spicy signature sauce slathered on the insides of the bread. The sandwiches here make great snacks, and though they’re a little costly for their size, still pack much more value than many an overpriced brunch plate at any trendy cafe you could throw a stone at.
Taste: 3/5
