12 restaurants for small plates and tapas in KL and Selangor

Small plates are getting big in the Klang Valley – here are 12 restaurants for contemporary tapas with cross-border inspirations, ideal for sharing and snacking.

1. Mr Wolf, PJ

Asian-accented appetisers are a highlight here – for the citrus-cured salmon carpaccio with pickled daikon, yuzu shoyu and avruga caviar, Mr. Wolf adds memorable dynamics by introducing an extra element of bunga kantan prawn tartare, Also available: Everything from crunchy pork skin ‘nachos’ embellished with a sweet-savoury, meaty mix of beef bolognese, sriracha mayo and cucumber salad to squid surimi strips, served cold with morsels of salted duck egg yolk and teriyaki vinaigrette.

Read review: Mr Wolf at Taman SEA, PJ

Find: Contact details and map for Mr Wolf

2. Drift Dining, Changkat Bukit Bintang

Guests are encouraged to drift from course to course, sharing wine and conversation while grazing on platters of, say, Moroccan-spiced crunchy cauliflower, made creamy with saffron yoghurt and supplied with a sweet spark from rum-soaked raisins.

Read review: Drift Dining at 38 Bidara

Find: Contact details and map for Drift Dining and Bar

3. Marta’s Kitchen, Desa Sri Hartamas

Authentic tapas, from roasted peppers and eggplant marinated in balsamic vinegar and EVOO, with a hint of garlic and parsley, to the classic tortilla de patatas, a thick omelette served fresh, warm and wonderfully fluffy, laced with truffle oil for extra aroma.

Read review: Marta’s Kitchen at The Signature

Find: Contact details and map for Marta’s Kitchen

4. The Locker & Loft, Damansara Kim

Beef rendang mantou with pickled vegetables, catfish fingers with Creole-style plantain chips, and roasted cherry tomato bruschetta, made with Hainanese toast and topped with sambal kantan mayo, are just a few of the shining beacons of inventiveness here.

Read review: The Locker & Loft at Damansara Kim

Find: Contact details and map for The Locker & Loft

5. Ante, 1 Utama

Ante 1 Utama specialises in beautiful small-plate recipes personally created by the team here, separated into cold & warm categories. The former includes Jamon Iberico balanced with poached and fresh apple slices, shaved radish and chive flowers, while the latter boasts highlights like succulent cuts of sous-vide cured pork loin coated in a delicate tuna cream, shallots, celery leaves, capers and tomatoes.

Read review: Ante at 1 Utama

Find: Contact details and map for Ante, 1 Utama

6. Doma, Mont Kiara

Doma’s dinner menu consists of small, medium and large plates, constructed for sharing, bearing Korean influences, including yellowfin tuna sashimi with horseradish emulsion, cucumbers and white soy dressing.

Read review: Doma Korean Cafe at Mont Kiara Shoplex

Find: Contact details and map for Doma Korean Cafe

7. Gastro Bar By Burgeon, Taman Mayang

Portions here are predominantly tapas-sized, with highlights like the Imperial Prawn, a crisp spring roll stuffed not only with the eponymous crustacean but also morsels of century egg, cushioned with rocket leaves, subtly invigorating ginger and poppy seeds.

Read review: Gastro Bar By Burgeon at Bukit Mayang Emas

Find: Contact details and map for Gastro Bar by Burgeon

8. Supperclub, TREC

Supperclub’s food highlights consist of European-accented tapas – the kitchen does a decent job with seafood small plates, from bruschetta topped with prawns, textured avocado paste and cilantro to grilled baby octopus with extra virgin olive oil and lemon.

Read review: Supperclub at TREC

Find: Contact details and map for Supperclub

9. Basil Tapas Bar, Damansara Uptown

Basil Tapas Bar’s menu is surprisingly extensive and ambitiously elaborate, with no fewer than 20 types of tapas. The ideal introduction might be the slow-cooked octopus with spicy marinated duck fat potatoes, vegetable confit and sweet paprika.

Read review: Basil Tapas Bar at Damansara Uptown

Find: Contact details and map for Basil Tapas Bar

10. Mercat, Bangsar

Mercat does complete justice to the Catalan tapas bars that its founders David Caral and Jorge Fernandez and their team work extremely hard to evoke. Order the Esparragos en Lata, a striking composition of invigoratingly fresh asparagus on a soft, light bed of asparagus foam.

Read review: Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar at Telawi, Bangsar

Find: Contact details and map for Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar

11. Bacchus, Kuala Lumpur

The selection showcases mainly Spanish and Italian inflections – tapas-style spicy chorizo, garlic prawns, beef meatballs and potato omelettes share the limelight with poached egg cushioned with shaved cheese and pesto.

Read review: Bacchus at The Row, Doraisamy

Find: Contact details and map for Bacchus

12. Hello by Kitchen Mafia, PJ

The tapas here absolutely have us at Hello – our should-try favourite is the chicken liver pate, soaked in milk and whiskey, blended and prepared in a water bath, producing buttery-soft mouthfuls of rich and robust flavours, paired with fried bread that’s the epitome of a guilty pleasure.

Read review: Hello by Kitchen Mafia at Section 17, PJ

Find: Contact details and map for Hello! by Kitchen Mafia