24 new restaurants & bars to visit in KL & Selangor, October 2016

Peranakan fare with Nyonya-inspired cocktails, ceviches, a German-style hidden bar, Japanese shaved ice desserts, hearty pizza and fancy chocolate: it’s all go in the world of food in the Klang Valley this month.

You can view a list of our most recent new restaurant features here. This is part of a monthly series.

1. Soul Sacrifice at Desa Pandan

Named for a classic Santana instrumental, Soul Sacrifice makes a smooth entry this month, exuding a genuine neighbourhood charm, with children scampering past the kitchen while their parents chat over comfort food and coffee. Affable chef Muhamad Cyrus does a good job of devising dishes that balance familiar flavours with a bit of attitude.

Egg recipes, for example, bypass conventional routes – ‘Cup of Nations’ wraps a boiled egg in minced meat and breadcrumbs over thickly whipped purple sweet potatoes, creamed leek sauce & a shot of sambal for an elaborate reinterpretation of Scotch eggs.

Address: 38, Jalan 4/76C, Desa Pandan, 55100
Read review: Soul Sacrifice at Desa Pandan
Find: Contact details and map for Soul Sacrifice

2. Mian at Sunwaymas Petaling Jaya

It’s been a momentous month for Guoyi and Jacy; the Malaysian couple not only became man and wife, they’ve also launched their first noodle-specialist restaurant, leaning on their Hock Chew familial heritage to offer the pride of Sitiawan – kampua mee – and more.

Their thoughtful enthusiasm and careful effort could win over many fans: Noodles are sourced straight from Sitiawan (the northern hometown of Guoyi’s father), with fresh deliveries every three days, while char siu, steamed chicken, wontons and accompaniments like pickled garlic, marinated nuts and chillies are painstakingly prepared in the kitchen to Mian’s own recipes.

Address: No 9-1, Jalan PJU 1/3C, Sunwaymas Commercial Centre, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Selangor
Read review: Mian at  Sunwaymas
Find: Contact details and map for Mian

3. Shelley Yu’s at Bangsar

Shelley who? That might be the preliminary reaction to Telawi’s latest restaurant, but this distinctive venue – reputedly named for the wife of one of its co-founders – deserves recognition for attempting something determinedly different, pairing Peranakan fare with Nyonya-inspired cocktails in a setting filled with exuberant artistic flourishes.

Address: 49, Jalan Telawi 3 , Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Shelly Yu’s at Telawi
Find: Contact details and map for Shelly Yu’s

4. Monkey Noodle Bar at Taman Paramount

Monkey Noodle Bar might have a playful name, but its founders Alicia & Daniel mean serious business, bringing a warm, personal touch to their casual eatery, swinging open this month with slurp-worthy recipes that many customers will likely enjoy.

Alicia hails from Sarawak’s Foochow-strong town of Sibu, and many of Monkey Noodle Bar’s offerings bear testament to her culinary upbringing and experiences.

Address: 29, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Monkey Noodle Bar at Taman Paramount
Find: Contact details and map for Monkey Noodle Bar

5. Eatomo Food Co at Taman Desa

The ocean’s bounty, flown in from Tsukiji Market and across the globe, turned into ceviches, poke bowls and other classic and contemporary recipes at a casual kitchen: Meant to evoke a seafood market, Taman Desa’s Eatomo Food Co is hooking this neighbourhood up with fresh fish, oysters, mussels and more, reeling us in with fun ideas by husband-and-wife team Calvin and Eva.

Address: 11-1-1 Jalan 3/109F, Taman Danau Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Eatomo Food Co. at Taman Desa
Find: Contact details and map for Eatomo Food Co.

6. GOOD by Pencil Planning at Jaya One

GOOD lives up to its name: This coffee bar and concept store by Korean interior designer Sine J.H. Kim and his terrific team is a unique space that showcases admirable attention to detail – it’s easily our new favourite destination for caffeine in Jaya One.

Address: 100.G.005, The School, Block J, Jaya One, 72, Jalan Universiti, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Good by Pencil Planning at Jaya One
Find: Contact details and map for GOOD by Pencil Planning

7. Baan Kanom Jeen at Empire Damansara

A welcome new entry into the Klang Valley’s Thai food landscape, Baan Kanom Jeen is dedicated to one of our favourite Thai recipes – founder Suphasan Boonratana hopes to bring wider recognition in Malaysia for kanom jeen, an addictive ensemble of thin boiled rice noodles partnered with a plethora of curries, gravies and sauces.

Address: Lot 107, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana , 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Baan Kanom Jeen at Empire Damansara
Find: Contact details and map for Baan Kanom Jeen

8. Tinto at Desa Sri Hartamas

Buen provecho! There’s cause for celebration whenever a Spanish restaurant opens in KL, especially one that does justice to the tasty traditions of tapas, paella, cheese and wine.

Address: 38-1 JALAN 24/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Tinto at Desa Sri Hartamas
Find: Contact details and map for Tinto

9. The Berlin at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee

Lass’ sie nach Berlin kommen: Inspired by the grit and glitz of the German capital, this new hidden bar founded by Berlin-born Natalie Kniese offers a slice of gemütlichkeit in KL’s bustling Chinatown. Look for the little red door inside Agosto Guesthouse.

Address: 208, Jalan Tun H.S Lee, 5000 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: The Berlin at Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
Find: Contact details and map for The Berlin

10. Erawan at DC Mall

Chef Korn is back: One of KL’s most beloved Thai chefs has relaunched his flagship restaurant, Erawan, in Damansara Heights’ new DC Mall, a more convenient locale for many of us compared to Erawan’s former Kota Damansara home. This is a decidedly different-looking Erawan, showcasing a more modern sparkle that blends in with the sleekness and sheen of the mall.

Address: Lot L1-17&L1-18, First floor DCMall, Plaza DC Damansara City , 6, Jalan Damanlela, 50490 Kuala LUmpur
Read review: Erawan at DC Mall
Find: Contact details and map for Erawan

11. Kakigori at Taman Paramount

Break the ice at Kakigori, which promises Japanese shaved ice desserts that play it cool with distinctively spirited flourishes – a sub-zero remedy for the Klang Valley’s perpetual summer, supplying succour like snowfall in the Sahara.

Address:v5, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Kakigori at Taman Paramount
Find: Contact details and map for Kakigori

12. Pizza Craft at Damansara Uptown

The founders of Pizza Craft have set formidable ideals for their new restaurant, citing Perth-born master pizza maker Theo Kalogeracos as their inspiration, tackling recipes that take a few intriguing detours from the typical routes of commercial pizza.

Address: 28 Jalan SS21/39, Damansara Uptown, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Pizza Craft at Damansara Uptown
Find: Contact details and map for Pizza Craft

13. Thai Hou Sek at 1 Utama

This stylish new restaurant does Thai with a difference, inserting a pork-tinged spin on familiar classics in a distinctive setting inspired by the Chinatown razzle-dazzle of Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road.

Address: Lot S132, 2nd Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, No.1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Thai Hou Sek at 1 Utama
Find: Contact details and map for Thai Hou Sek

14. Ballotin Chocolate at Kota Damansara

Lustrously marbled Valrhona chocolate bonbons, crafted in irresistible flavours: If chocolates are your weakness, Ballotin might be your downfall. Expect to find nearly 20 varieties of Ballotin’s creations gleaming hypnotically on display.

Address: No 12-1, Jalan PJU 5/4, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Ballotin Chocolate at Kota Damansara
Find: Contact details and map for Ballotin Chocolate

15. Kon Rak Pak at Section 17, Petaling Jaya

Going VegeTHAIrian: Kon Rak Pak pledges a twist to the Klang Valley’s typical vegetarian fare, narrowing the focus on cuisine from the Land of Smiles – green curries, stir-fries & tom yum soups, all absolutely meat-free, with no eggs, dairy, garlic or onions.

There’s a neat touch to the decor too, with portraits of confirmed or rumoured vegetarians & vegans through history – Abraham Lincoln to Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi to Steve Jobs, Johnny Depp to Andy Lau – gazing approvingly at diners.

Address: 17-G, Jalan 17/56, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Kon Rak Pak at Section 17, PJ
Find: Contact details and map for Kon Rak Pak

16. Le’Park at Kampung Baru

Perhaps Kampung Baru’s closest thing to a hipster hideout, Le’Park is a friendly hangout that serves this neighbourhood’s signature offering – respectably fragrant nasi lemak with ayam goreng rempah.

Address: No.4, Jalan Raja Uda , Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Le’Park at Kampung Baru
Find: Contact details and map for Le’Park @ Nasi Lemak Malaysia

17. Sourakuya at Sri Petaling

A hideout for Japanese soul food, tucked on a discreet street of Sri Petaling, capably cooked by Osaka native Ogawa Tetsuya.

Address: No.17 Jalan Radin Bagus9, 57000 Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Sourakuya at Sri Pertaling
Find: Contact details and map for Sourakuya Japanese Restaurant

18. Leaf & Co at Mingle Hotel

Battered but not beaten, ravaged but reborn: Time has taken a relentless toll on this two-storey shop-house on a corner of Chinatown, but after having weathered colonial rule, a World War, and decades of commercial wear-and-tear – most recently as a pharmacy – this address is now a new heritage hostel named Mingle Kuala Lumpur, with an in-house cafe called Leaf & Co.

Address: Mingle Kuala Lumpur, 53 Jalan Sultan, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Leaf & Co at Mingle Kuala Lumpur Hotel
Find: Contact details and map for Leaf & Co

19. PAUS at Taman Tun Dr Ismail

Craft beer buffs pursuing their perfect pilsner might want to hunt down PAUS, captained by a band of Malaysians who hope to offer their fellow drinkers something a little different, focusing on the work of microbreweries from the Oceania region – Australia and New Zealand – instead of the Americas, with intentions to also explore fresh supplies from multiple Asian nations.

Address: 42a (1st Floor), Persiaran Zaaba, , Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 6000 Kuala Lumpur
Read review: PAUS at Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Find: Contact details and map for PAUS

20. The Fish Bowl at Bandar Sunway

The Fish Bowl represents the Klang Valley’s most full-hearted poke bowl initiative so far – its young founders seem to have captured the spirit and substance of the Hawaiian-inspired raw seafood salads that have become a global gastronomic attraction, paying admirable attention to freshness and flavour across a satisfyingly extensive stable of produce.

Address: 77, Jalan PJS11/9, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: The Fish Bowl Poke Shop at Bandar Sunway
Find: Contact details and map for The Fish Bowl

21. Fratello Italiano at Bangsar South

Fresh pastas, flavoursome pizzas snd fulfilling produce: Fratello Italiano reminds us of the reasons we admire Italian cuisine – this restaurant makes a satisfying entry into Bangsar South, doing justice to the time-honoured work of traditional trattorias.

Address: First Floor, Nexus Bangsar South, Jalan Kerinchi, 59200 Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur
Read review: Fratello Italiano at Nexus Bangsar South
Find: Contact details and map for Fratello Italiano

22. Sanoook at Bandar Sunway

In a city where tom yum soups and green curries bubble over across every neighbourhood, Sanoook’s most attractive asset is its creativity, melding a mastery of Thai cooking with verve for the Japanese culinary arts. This restaurant may be new, but the family behind it has been a vanguard of Thai eateries since the late 1990s, when they first launched Chakri Palace in KLCC.

Sanoook could be considered Chakri’s livelier younger cousin, swelling with contemporary ideas and cross-cultural conviction – its name illustrates its enthusiasm, by injecting an extra ‘o’ into the Thai word ‘sanook’ (fun) to represent a circle of friendship.

Address: Lot 4, Ground Floor, Sunway Pyramid West Hotel, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Sanoook at Sunway Pyramid West Hotel
Find: Contact details and map for Sanoook

23. Guantanamo at Kota Damansara

Part old-fashioned warung, part contemporary cafe, Guantanamo hopes to keep hunger at bay with traditional temptations like its fiercely fiery asam pedas ikan merah.

Address: 27, Jalan PJU 5/4, Dataran Sunway, , Kota Damansara, 47810 Selangor
Read review: Guantanamo at Kota Damansara
Find: Contact details and map for Guantanamo by Wood & Steel

24. Homebar21 at Damansara Uptown

Homebar21’s temptations include a handful of creative concoctions at bearable prices, including the Royce Martini, exactly what its name suggests, complete with a piece of Nama chocolate to boost the pleasure prescription of this vodka-&-coffee creation, & the Naughty Maid, a mischievous mix of kahlua, creme de menthe & mint leaves.

Address: 21-M, Jln SS21/1A, , Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Read review: Homebar21 at Damansara Uptown
Find: Contact details and map for Homebar21