KL Hit List

Wow. Wow. Wow. That was all I could think about after stuffing my face with these mini smoked and braised duck mantous. The duck was so meltingly tender and the mantous, pillowy and light. So not what I expected to find here. I mean, we couldn’t get away with the normal brunch stuff like truffle omelette which was good (portion-wise is huge, absolutely recommend to share), the dish just couldn’t compare to these bad boys. There’s also some salad but honestly, I’m rooting for the duck. Duck for breakfast. Duck for president!

This is so good it’s hard not to finish in one go! It’s all about the batter and Brasserie Fritz made a thosai-themed one with excellent effect. The battered casing is light, crispy and aromatic, and the cod fish white and perfectly cooked. Served with cucumber raita, peas, and dangerously addictive fat chips. I might stir up a controversy here, but this puts up as a strong contender for one of the tastiest fish and chips in KL.
#Burpple

Hard to practice restraint here when there’s a truckload of toppings to choose from. The sambal petai and sweet sambal is a must try. In the event that you find yourself broke and hungry, this ranks right up with just about any other cheap and good eats you have ever eaten.

Nasi lemak is no novelty but these guys whip up some real good deal here. From only RM2 for a solid nasi lemak, it’s no wonder the stall has developed a cult following. I was genuinely surprised when our bill amounted to only RM10.40 for these two overfilled styrofoam packs which included almost everything on the menu?? In the mix were dry pork curry, luncheon meat, fried eggs, stir-fried kangkung and a damn tasty sambal petai. A lot of good flavours going on in our dinner though the rice tastes more muted than you might expect. Still, dinner here is an absolute steal and worth making a beeline for.

Review coming soon!

Birch knows how to treat their guests to a comforting brunch fare that excels in both quantity and quality. A dish that is not just easy on the eyes, the Shakshuka is a true brunch fan’s delight. The flavourful skillet dish of baked eggs, harissa spiced tomato and red pepper stew, Greek feta and crispy kale, goes so amazingly well with the slice of to-die-for toasted sourdough (crunchy crust, soft centre!). Definitely not for sharing! Heh.
#burpple

Opened by the same team behind Mezze and Huckleberry, new kid-on-the-block Birch knows a thing or more about what it takes to brunch our city’s socks off! The interior fit-out is bright and airy with hanging plants and comfortable banquettes, making brunches at this spot a true stylish affair. Indulgence is the go here so don’t stop with just one dish. For starters, the lemon ricotta hotcakes is no joke. Stacks of super fluffy hotcakes with a surprise ricotta in the centre, topped with a killer homemade honeycomb butter, maple syrup and bananas. So satisfying!
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Passage Thru India is an experience. A welcoming destination for some of the best Indian food in KL, it’s unfortunate this place gets a ‘bad’ rep for being too ’touristy’ by locals. Sure, it’s a well-known tourist destination in KL but it has earned its status for good reason. The owner’s many years of travels to India has inspired the majority of the menu as well as the restaurant’s rustic interior. What’s amazing is that the walls are hand painted entirely by the owner himself! According to the website, the walls were “painted with artistic series where there are no rules and no pretensions but simply an interpretation of beautiful India.” Ugh a place after my own heart. Now on to the food!
Waste no time in ordering the Murgh Tikka Butter Masala — tender cubes of boneless chicken cooked in a traditional clay oven, then cooked in deliciously creamy butter masala. Diet can wait. Whether you like cauliflower or not, you should order the crispy and flavourful Gobi Manchurian because it is damn good and no regrets. And the Aloo Gobi. Because why not have more cauliflowers? Delicious food, great service and cool surroundings. Get amongst.
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The restaurant doesn’t get packed on weeknights which is perfect for times when you want to escape from the city’s bustling nightlife. Ample parking spaces, live music on weekends. A little high-end indian experience, but one that’s worth trying!
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Craving for one of life’s greatest pleasures? Now’s a good time to make your way down to Jalan Batai and scoff down Yellow Brick Road’s rye and sourdough bread smeared in heavenly butter, now studded with either Truffle, Garlic & Olive, and Seaweed. All made with Lescure butter, no less! Pop in for a few slices, and end up staying for brunch. Their newly added ‘Sober’ Cold Soba tossed in Japanese sesame dressing and served with crispy-salty kale, home-cured salmon and soft boiled egg is a total standout. Park yourself here on a quiet weekday morning and feel your stomach thanking you for an epic brunch. Also, two words; Chai Latte. You're welcome!
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Flippin’ fantastic poke bowls. You get to build your own bowl and add whatever you please. I’m obsessed with their Signature Moana which comes with salmon, togarashi egg, edamame, sweet corn, purple cabbage, seaweed, roasted sesame mayo and wasabi peas. Went absolute nuts when a Fin regular recommended the buttered almonds adding a perfect crunch to the overall texture. Pok-ing awesome. Poke bowls have never tasted better!! Love that it comes in a wide bowl, allowing us to toss and mix the sauce and ingredients evenly without worrying about making a mess on the table. Do us all a favour and please get the roasted sesame mayo (or the sriracha mayo if sesame ain’t your thing) and dem buttered almonds. Absolutely mandatory. K, thanks.
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Comfort food at its best. House made pan mee topped with fine minced pork, crispy anchovies, fried garlic and perfect poached egg. And it’s not super kitchen chilli pan mee if you don’t add the signature ‘secret recipe’ chilli flakes so make sure you tambah a bit and toss everything together, leaving no noodle spared from the spicy mix. Get ON IT!
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Fans of Whisk will be delighted to know that a third branch has opened in Damansara City, making it one of the prettiest little cafes to hit this neighbourhood. The interior is gorgeous in pink, nailing cool cafe vibes. Currently open as early as 8am on weekdays, their delicious cold brew and cakes are well worth heading in before starting the day. The mall is still empty at this period of time, making this an ideal spot for a little me-time. Savour this quiet before it gets crowded!