Review: Chuup at Damansara Jaya

This vividly colourful cafe is poised to become a pretty big hit, celebrating a well-curated selection of crowd-pleasing local fare in a fun and friendly suburban setting.

Rice

Rice-lovers will likely be heartened by Chuup’s nicely executed nasi lemak (RM14.90), tastily complemented with pork rendang, tender-crisp kangkung and nearly all the other necessities (except for a hard-boiled egg, strangely) …

… as well as Hainanese chicken rice with super-smooth fowl and kitchen-made chili dip (RM12.90). No surprises here, but familiarity can breed righteous comfort. Chuup shows respect for why these recipes are so beloved.

Carb-avoiders

For folks who fear carbs, pork’s a pleasure; can’t fault “Grandma’s pork chuup” (RM18.90) _ shallow fried, marinated loins with spinach and potato carrot ragout. Pure protein and fine fibre at fair prices.

Also a success: Popiah stuffed with prawns & dried shrimp in Chuup’s own-made popiah skin (RM4.90). The food feels fresh; nothing seems like it was left on the shelves for too long. That’s a testament to the hard work & thoughtfulness of Chuup’s team, which claims to be newbies to the F&B business.