[CLOSED] Anson Colonial Cafe

Anson Colonial Cafe is a modern Hainanese eating house, born out of award-winning chef Isadora Chai's revere for her childhood haunt, Coliseum Cafe. Housed in a 98-year-old building along Lorong Raja Chulan, the restaurant has an old-world charm that will set the mood for weekend outings with your family. Expect to see local delights on the menu, spiked with Chai's inventive twists. The specialty is a Marmite Chicken Rice (RM28) — think deep-fried chicken skin and steamed chicken flesh steeped in a toffee-like Marmite sauce. Served with oiled chicken rice, the dish is adventurous while still teeming with nostalgic flavours. If you prefer your local dishes original, try the Ipoh Sar Hor Fun (RM28) with its flavour-packed chicken and prawn broth. When dining at Anson, you have the option of ordering from neighbouring Antara, their sister Malaysian fine-dining establishment. Do that for dessert — the Terribly Alcoholic Cendol (RM38) is delicious (and intoxicating)!
Avg price per person: RM50
Photo by Burppler Trisha Toh

Throw out the window what you know about Hainanese cuisine. Anson is Isadora Chai’s reinterpretation of this beloved cuisine and more, inspired by everything Isadora grew up eating - steaks from Coliseum Cafe, homemade popiah with the family… think Asian favourites with a modern twist.

The rundown:

1. Baked crab gratin: Do you like cheese? If yes, there’s a high chance you will like this. If not, skip.
2. Marmite chicken rice: Steamed chicken with deep-fried chicken skin, served with light marmite sauce to go with the requisite accompanying sauces. Interesting and impressive, the tender chicken/fried skin/fragrant rice/bitter sweet sauce combo just works.
3. Sar Hor Fun: Highly addictive super rich broth! Bowl’s packed with shrimps and shredded chicken pieces. Delicious.
4. ‘Terribly’ alcoholic cendol: Creme de menthe cendol with Kailua sago pearls. Not as terrible as I thought. A cool creation that’s worth trying for a happy ending.
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