Doma Korean Cafe at Mont Kiara Shoplex: Restaurant Review

KL’s most unconventional Korean restaurant fuses the surprising synergy of Seoul & Sydney to stir up contemporary cooking with cross-border currents – Doma’s chef Terry Song comes to Malaysia from Australia, while co-founder Carl Lee is South Korean; check out their collaboration if you enjoy Korean flavours but want to move beyond the city’s archetypal BBQ eateries.

Come ravenous; Doma’s evening menu consists of small, medium & large plates, constructed for sharing.

Korean Fried Chicken

The restaurant remains one of Mont Kiara’s best-kept secrets, supplying a calm, leafy setting for munching on a platter of Korean fried chicken done three ways – original, honey-soy & sweet-spicy – endowed with the requisite full-on flavour & juicy crunch (RM29).

Porcine Specialities

Much meat on the menu – soy-glazed roasted pork belly emerges in an elaborate preparation, partnered with blackberry tofu mousse, shallots, scallions & garlic chips (RM67; the interplay of the cooked & raw elements provide for intriguing dynamics, though the sum total might be an acquired taste). You’ll also find other porcine specialities like twice-cooked pork belly sliders with spicy mayo & red cabbage (RM17) & crispy pork hock with mixed herbs & smoky honey BBQ sauce (RM55). The braised Wagyu beef short ribs with radish, chestnuts, enoki mushrooms & pumpkin puree sound supremely tantalising too (RM107).

Seafood

There’s also a smattering of seafood – the most tempting may be the yellowfin tuna sashimi with horseradish emulsion, cucumbers & white soy dressing (RM22), though we’re also pretty fascinated by the prospect of the pan-seared scallops with pea puree & yuzu zest (RM21) & soft-shell crab with paprika puree & baby coriander (RM32).

Desserts

Recommended desserts include confidently executed sticky rice pancakes, fresh & warm, well-topped with ice cream (RM11).

Soju & Beer

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Korean restaurant without soju & beer. Note: The lunch selection is a little smaller but comprises sufficient enticements in its own right, from kimchi fried rice with bacon & parmesan (RM18) to grilled calamari with pineapple & roasted seaweed (RM18).