Best Places to Eat in Damansara Jaya

For delicious Vietnamese fare with a friend, head to this DJ favourite. To start, the Fresh Spring Rolls (RM6.50 for two) with fresh prawns and veggies and a sweet-spicy chilli dip is excellent. For the main event, you can't go wrong with the Beef Noodles (RM9.50) with light yet savoury beef broth and tender beef slices – everything you crave on a rainy day. Don't leave without getting the Creme Caramel (RM4), which comes with either caramel sauce or concentrated Vietnamese coffee. Go with the latter for a spot-on bittersweet flavour.
Photo by Burppler SeenMun K

Li’s stellar take on local grub is not to be missed – think classics like chicken rice and kaya toast, elevated with modern techniques. The community loves the House Rice Bowl (RM17.90), a combination of steamed rice with crispy chicken, sous-vide egg and chilli mayo. In Burppler Sunita S's words, 'it's engineered like a warm hug'. Another crowd-pleaser is the crunchy Pork Toast (RM9.90), which works as a great snack if you're feeling extra hungry. Baked goods are also up for grabs at the counter – snag the wonderfully fluffy Sourdough Loaf (RM10) and a jar of sous vide Kaya (RM7.90) to enjoy at home.
Photo by Burppler Sunita S

As soon as this roasted meat shop opened, the buzz around juicy char siew and crispy siew yuk has drawn regulars to form queues religiously. Burppler Blueskies Cottonclouds is a big fan of the Roast Pork + Char Siew Dry Curry Noodle (RM12.90), which she recommends having with silky hor fun to help mop up the spicy gravy. To cover all meat grounds, get the Triple Meat Platter (RM14.90) featuring roast pork, char siew and roast chicken with fluffy Japanese pearl rice. We also love the housemade chilli sauce that comes with a calamansi wedge – squeeze in the juice to give the sauce a lifting tang.
Photo by Burppler irene ho

On weekends, residents flock here for savoury claypot chicken rice that’s easy on the wallet and downright yummy. The famed dish sells out especially quickly during dinner service, so come early to avoid disappointment. Dive straight for the perfectly fired Claypot Chicken Rice (RM22 for two) with juicy chicken and smoky, charred rice. For a flavour boost, pile on savoury toppings like the Salted Fish (RM1.60) or Chinese Sausage (RM1.60). We also recommend getting the Yau Mak (from RM7) and Lotus Root with Pork Rib Soup (RM7.50) to complete the meal.
Photo by Burppler Sok Chien Lim

There’s so much about this homely restaurant that locals keep coming back for: hearty Hakka grub, generous portions and efficient service. Order the signatures to share, such as the Mooi Choy Kao Yoke (pork belly with preserved mustard greens, RM22), Hot & Sour Kai Choy (from RM12) and Nyonya-style Steamed Fish (RM42). Though the latter isn't strictly a Hakka dish, it's delicious and worth its salt anyway. On weekdays, come for the homemade Hakka Yong Tau Fu (RM2 per piece) stuffed with fish paste, minced pork and salted fish.
Photo by Burppler Blueskies Cottonclouds

Formerly located in Section 19, Appu Uncle Curry House may already be a familiar name for their fragrant curries, but what we also enjoy about this curry house is the quirky branding — the restaurant's decked out in humorous illustrations to look out for. Come in the mornings to snag a packet of Nasib Lemak (RM1.80), which comes with a note of (often funny) advice from Uncle Appu. For lunch and dinner, it’s all about satisfying Banana Leaf Rice (from RM6), best had with the freshly fried Ikan Tenggiri (RM7.50) and savoury Mutton Curry (from RM7).

With a spacious dining area and pocket-friendly prices, this one's ideal for group dinners — bookmark this spot for your next get-together with friends. Top dishes include the classic Bibimbap (RM19.90), the spicy Sundu-Bu Jjigae (tofu and seafood stew, RM19.90) and the Kimchi Sam-Gyeop-Sal-Gui (grilled pork belly with kimchi, RM24.90). All the set meals come with three refillable sides too. Pro tip: If sharing, order the dishes a la carte for 10 percent off.

On a quieter street in Damansara Jaya lies this 30-year-old, no-frills coffeeshop that doles out excellent seafood noodles. Prices are slightly steep, but rest assured, the fresh ingredients and spot-on execution are worth paying for. The simple Fish Ball Noodles (from RM6) is good, but we say pump it up with fresh, plump Oysters for an additional RM10. You can also have yours with other seafood options, like Pomfret Fish and Prawns, depending on availability. Expect the broth to be clean yet utterly flavoursome, which bodes well with a dash of chilli padi for extra heat.