New Restaurants, Cafes and Bars in Kuala Lumpur: February 2020

Plan a hot, hot meal with your buds at this newbie in Jaya One – expect excellent service, fresh meats and MSG-free soups with free refills! Have Three Soups (RM42) which you can choose from the four flavours available – mushroom, pork bone, spicy and tomato. Ingredients wise, specialities here comprise of the Ring Roll (RM12), Pork Belly (RM22), Hong Kong Beef Ball (RM16) and the Handmade Mee (RM10). Ps. They're open till 1am, so file this spot away for late-night eats!

This fresh joint in Petaling Street is dropping sweet and savoury baos like no other. A popular order is Pork (RM17) that sees juicy cuts of sake-braised pork belly stuffed between a fluffy bao and topped with peanuts, preserved mustard greens and crispy pork lard. Also good is the Lamb (RM17) with flavourful mutton rendang and caramelised jackfruit. For something sweet, the Matcha Bao (RM14) features Niko Neko matcha and grounded pistachio between two fried bao buns. Psst. They also have a bar and will be rolling out a cocktail menu soon!

From the folks of The Lolla Co. is this hip brunch spot tucked in Seventeen Mall. A delicious meat-free option is the Superfine Bowl (RM26) packed with all kinds of goodness – herbed chickpeas, roasted pumpkin, beetroot hummus and more. The Lolla Co. is popular for their sandwiches, and you can find them here too – we recommended the Chef's Cubanos (RM26) with roasted pork shoulder, pineapple ham and swiss Emmental cheese. Coffee's a must-order, and you can trust the team pull great shots with beans sourced from The Roast Things.

Find this pretty vegan bar-restaurant on the first floor, just above Michelin-starred Hawker Chan in Petaling Street. They're open from 4pm onwards, so swing by for light bites such as the Guac Out (RM20), guacamole and hummus served with homemade flatbread or the Shroom Arancini Balls (RM18) with harissa mayo. Sip on a housemade cocktail like the namesake Jungle Tapir (RM36) comprising asam boi, dark rum and kombucha. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available — Kombucha (RM13), Cold Pressed Juice (RM15) and Coffee (from RM8) by Rage Coffee.

Folks of Puchong, say hello to this new cafe that's great for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city over coffee and pastries. On hot days, a must-order is the signature Matcha Matcha Sakura (RM15), a matcha latte filled with watermelon cubes and garnished with Sakura petals. Pair that with an order of Scones (RM9) served with strawberry jam and butter. They've also introduced some hot dishes like Omelette with Ham and Cheese (from RM8) and Scrambled Eggs on Toast (RM8) that make for a good breakfast.

Situated in this quiet neighbourhood of Taman Desa is this unassuming bakery doling out exquisite French pastries. Try the best-selling French Cheesecake (RM15) – ultra-light cake bursting with flavour. Slowly nibble on the Hazelnut Croissant (RM10) that's super crumbly and chock-full of nuts. New savoury baked goods have also been added to the menu, think nasi lemak croissant!

Fans of Melbourne's Gami Chicken will be thrilled to find their latest outpost at Pavillion Shopping Gallery. Dive straight for the Whole Chicken (RM55) that comes in two flavours – choose from original fried, sweet chilli, soy garlic or spicy. You can also devour snacks like Potato Heaven (RM19), layers of creamy mash topped with mozzarella, potato wedges and sour cream. Wash that down with a signature mocktail like the citrusy Gami Sunrise (RM14) with passion fruit puree and ginger ale.
Photo by Burppler Calie Tang

Swing by for breakfast with the fam at this cool kopitiam decked in pastel tones and neon lights in Taman Connaught. You'll find all your staples here, including standouts like the Nasi Lemak With Fried Chicken (from RM6), Dry Lou Shu Fun (from RM6) and Dry Pan Mee (from RM6). Desserts are anything but traditional, with delicate ice cream cakes made to resemble kuih as seen in the Ondeh-Ondeh ice cream cake (from RM10). Ps. They have opened another spot in Setapak!
Photo by Burppler Sebastian Wong