M Cafe by Meesha Sukira at Plaza Damansara: Review

Fashion & food are woven together with flair at Bukit Damansara’s M Cafe, a culinary spin-off of batik house Meesha Sukira. If you’re searching for a cosy restaurant with an impressive setting & interesting cooking, M Cafe might fulfil those requirements.

A Hidden Sanctuary for a Meal

This boutique cafe is a hidden sanctuary for a meal; before tickling your taste buds, feast your eyes on the striking Saloma portraits, vibrantly colourful fabric & elegantly handmade accessories that Meesha Sukira, a home-grown label, takes pride in.

Salted Egg Fried Chicken

M Cafe offers the pleasure of Malaysian cuisine interpreted with care & creativity by founder Michelle & her collaborators Marina & Moriah – we’re instant fans of the knock-out salted egg fried chicken, creamy but not cloying, brimming with brawny flavours. RM15.90++ (served with rice); M Cafe is determined to deliver a robust range of favourites at fair prices.

Comfort Cooking

Comfort cooking is the centrepiece, with recipes that Michelle & her partners cherish. Mee hoon soup boasts a home-made lightness, with clean & wholesome nuances, complemented by a fresh-tasting fish fillet (RM16.90++); the Hainanese-inspired chicken chop flaunts an enjoyable crunch that yields to a chunky juiciness, coated in a moderately tangy sauce (RM15.90++; like many M Cafe dishes, this comes with a complimentary beverage in lunch sets, but it can be ordered a la carte for dinner).

Dried Fish Sambal Rice Platter with Fried Egg

There are some surprises on the menu – for folks who can warm up to a spicy intensity, order this distinctively unique dried fish sambal rice platter with fried egg. The flavourful fish component is inspired by Moriah’s time spent with indigenous tribes on Sarawak’s Mount Murud; the lime & apple slices are thoughtfully served to help cut through the sambal’s stinging fieriness.

There’s pretty much something for everyone, from expertly executed classics like seafood mee hoon (RM13.90++; also a treat for fans of chillies), devil’s curry with white rice (RM15.90++), pan mee soup with minced chicken (RM13.90++), cucur udang (RM6.90++ for 5) & nasi lemak with accompaniments like crispy fried chicken or sambal sotong (RM14.90++) …

… to the fusion fun of a hearty red chicken rendang heaped on a hill of pasta (RM14.90++) – simple but satisfactory.

Desserts

Sweets take a Western path. The crowd-pleasing choice: a competently prepared choc lava cake with ice cream (RM11.90++).

Beverages aren’t an afterthought; a genuine sense of meticulousness was poured into offerings like the honey lemon grass drink, red dates with ginger honey, calamansi soda, chocolate shake & lychee ice blended; similar to how M Cafe’s savouries aren’t too salty, these reinvigorating cool-me-downs aren’t too sweet. Many thanks to M Cafe’s warm team for hosting us here.