Five favorite lunch restaurants in Kuala Lumpur
Remember when we thought that the lockdown would only last a few weeks? We are now 13 weeks further and it looks like we won’t be able to travel outside the Malaysian borders for the next couple of months. Luckily there is plenty to do and eat here! Time for a blog of my five favorite lunch restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.
Favorite desserts
Before we moved to Malaysia we had never been to Asia. I thought I would eat rice every day and it would take some getting used to. Saying goodbye to my favorite desserts, cakes, and other delicacies. I couldn’t be more wrong! Every day I can drink coffee and eat cake in a different restaurant without getting bored. Now that we can go outside again and the restaurants are open, I can pick up my new favorite hobby again and write blogs while enjoying an ‘Iced soy caramel latte’.
1. Huckleberry
‘We’re a local artisan bakery and café that serves fresh pastries, wholesome breads, rustic cakes, nourishing food and drinks to satisfy every mood. We’re a place where food lovers come together to create memories in a welcoming, cozy and chic space.’
Well, this food lover loves to come here all the time. Located in the bustling Bangsar Shopping Centre you will find Huckleberry. Count on long queues at the weekend. Since it’s not possible to book online, you have no choice but to join the queue at the back. This is more than worth it, not only the food is great here, but also the drinks look fantastic. The Superfood Lattes, including the ‘Iced Matcha Latte’, have bright colors and you can even choose to replace the cow’s milk with soy milk. The prices here are a bit higher than average, but the food also looks above average. We often joke about how much I spend on lunches compared to Jeroen. During the week he pays for a large plate of rice, omelet, vegetables, and a drink RM8 converted €2. I on the other hand pay on average RM40 for my lunches converted €9. A rather big difference and Huckleberry also falls under the ’40 ringgit lunch’. Well, once in a while you can treat yourself to good food in a nice environment!
Besides the delicious food, the decor is very cozy here. It feels a bit like sitting in a large living room with nice chairs, plants, and beautiful lamps. And meanwhile, you can smell the freshly baked bread and cupcakes. A ‘red velvet’ or ‘carrot cupcake’ is not to be missed. They are already looking at you in the cabinet and you’d love to taste them!
Adres: G108 & GK2 Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
285 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur
2. Common Man Coffee Roasters
‘We aim to provide delicious, quality coffee, in a way that celebrates the relationships formed during the journey between bean & cup; from the farmers and millers, tot he baristas and drinkers.’
Seven days a week you are here at the right address for an extensive brunch. Especially at the weekends, it’s packed with friends, families, and couples who start the Sunday morning with a good breakfast and strong coffee. The prices are the same as in Europe, but you get a dish that is almost too nice to touch. My favorite is the acai bowl with fresh fruit, peanut butter, and seeds. As the name suggests, coffee is the specialty here. Each coffee bean has an exotic name and one is even stronger than the other and all this is freshly prepared for you at the huge bar in the middle of the restaurant. It can sometimes be quite difficult to find restaurants here in Malaysia where they also have vegetarian options. Luckily you have plenty of choices here and the quinoa salad with crispy kumara (sweet potato chips) is a must! The coffee is roasted by the team in Singapore and prepared by baristas trained in the CMCR Academy.
Adres: A-G-1 New Podium,
Plaza Vads No.1 Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad. 60000 KL
3. Yellow Brick Road
‘Yellow Brick Road café was built in 2015 to keep the flame of a little magic and comfort burning at a time of social and political turmoil in Malaysia. From witty dish names such as ‘Peter Pandan’ to quirky drawings of fairies on the walls, Yellow Brick Road is a home away from home—there’s no place like it.’
The name Yellow Brick Road of course refers to the road to success and happiness from the movie Wizard of Oz. The founders of the restaurant saw the dissatisfaction and sadness in their city and wanted to change this. With their restaurant, they let the guests dream of a magical world with a wide choice of delicious pancakes. I have been here several times now and it is always cozy and busy. Chances are that you will have to wait until there is a spot available, but keep this in mind because it is more than worth it!
So I come here for the pancakes. In the Netherlands, we were regularly in the Pancake House and we never thought that there is also a Malaysian pancake house. Of course, there is a difference, here the pancakes are smaller and a lot thicker but certainly no less tasty. ‘My favourite things’ (10+ points if you know from which movie this is from) is my favorite with red fruit and a scoop of salted caramel ice cream.
Adres: 8-7 Plaza Batai, Jalan Batai, Damansara Heights, 50490, KL
4. Gula Cakery
‘We want to create a mindset among our students and customers that baking is an everyday thing that is fun and easy to do. If one feels like baking, there should be no hesitation.’
What started as Gula Bakery from home grew into three Gula Cakery’s spread over Kuala Lumpur. As a teenager, Arieni taught herself how to bake with the help of her grandmother’s recipe book. Together with her mother, better known as Gula Mommy, they started Gula Bakery from home. A home baker with workshops given by Arieni. Two years later she opened her first café and her fame grew enormously.
I just discovered Gula Cakery in our new mall in Tropicana Gardens Mall. The moment I saw the cabinet, I was their new biggest fan. Huge pieces of cake are already shouting at you, and you’re only too eager to hear them. I’ve sat here a couple of times now, with a piece of cake of course, and it’s amazing how many people work in this business. All the cakes are prepared fresh in front of you and in my case, I can stare at them for hours. With 176 different pies, every sweet tooth can have its heart here. ‘Vanilla Pavlova’ is my favorite. The soft meringue that melts on the tongue with blueberries, strawberries, and fantastic vanilla cream. Another plus is that the pieces are huge so this is definitely the perfect lunch!
Adres: No. 2A, Persiaran Surian, Tropicana Indah, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
5. Feebay
‘Feebay.Co aims in serving both authentic local cuisines and western food together with specialty grade coffee and chocolate with uncompromosing quality.’
This modern café is spread over three locations in Malaysia. I like to sit here with my laptop with a cool drink, but we also like to come here for lunch on weekends. The menu consists of a mix of ‘Local Sensations’ like ‘Nasi Penangan’ and ‘Katsu Salted Egg Butter Chicken Rice’ and Western dishes like pasta and American pancakes. Especially the latter is a favorite. With a thick blob of mascarpone, berries, and maple syrup I enjoy my lunch to the fullest. You pay for this dish RM10, about two euros. The coffees are average, so you pay for a latte RM12 and a ‘Dirty Chai Latte’ costs RM15,70.
Adres: C-G-9. Sunway Nexis,
Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara,
57180, Selangor
I’m already looking forward to the weekend to visit one of these restaurants. And of course, there are so many more tents to try out and write about. But that’s for next time!
Five favorite lunch restaurants in Kuala Lumpur
Remember when we thought that the lockdown would only last a few weeks? We are now 13 weeks further and it looks like we won’t be able to travel outside the Malaysian borders for the next couple of months. Luckily there is plenty to do and eat here! Time for a blog of my five favorite lunch restaurants in Kuala Lumpur.
Favorite desserts
Before we moved to Malaysia we had never been to Asia. I thought I would eat rice every day and it would take some getting used to. Saying goodbye to my favorite desserts, cakes, and other delicacies. I couldn’t be more wrong! Every day I can drink coffee and eat cake in a different restaurant without getting bored. Now that we can go outside again and the restaurants are open, I can pick up my new favorite hobby again and write blogs while enjoying an ‘Iced soy caramel latte’.
1. Huckleberry
‘We’re a local artisan bakery and café that serves fresh pastries, wholesome breads, rustic cakes, nourishing food and drinks to satisfy every mood. We’re a place where food lovers come together to create memories in a welcoming, cozy and chic space.’
Well, this food lover loves to come here all the time. Located in the bustling Bangsar Shopping Centre you will find Huckleberry. Count on long queues at the weekend. Since it’s not possible to book online, you have no choice but to join the queue at the back. This is more than worth it, not only the food is great here, but also the drinks look fantastic. The Superfood Lattes, including the ‘Iced Matcha Latte’, have bright colors and you can even choose to replace the cow’s milk with soy milk. The prices here are a bit higher than average, but the food also looks above average. We often joke about how much I spend on lunches compared to Jeroen. During the week he pays for a large plate of rice, omelet, vegetables, and a drink RM8 converted €2. I on the other hand pay on average RM40 for my lunches converted €9. A rather big difference and Huckleberry also falls under the ’40 ringgit lunch’. Well, once in a while you can treat yourself to good food in a nice environment!
Besides the delicious food, the decor is very cozy here. It feels a bit like sitting in a large living room with nice chairs, plants, and beautiful lamps. And meanwhile, you can smell the freshly baked bread and cupcakes. A ‘red velvet’ or ‘carrot cupcake’ is not to be missed. They are already looking at you in the cabinet and you’d love to taste them!
Adres: G108 & GK2 Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
285 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur
2. Common Man Coffee Roasters
‘We aim to provide delicious, quality coffee, in a way that celebrates the relationships formed during the journey between bean & cup; from the farmers and millers, tot he baristas and drinkers.’
Seven days a week you are here at the right address for an extensive brunch. Especially at the weekends, it’s packed with friends, families, and couples who start the Sunday morning with a good breakfast and strong coffee. The prices are the same as in Europe, but you get a dish that is almost too nice to touch. My favorite is the acai bowl with fresh fruit, peanut butter, and seeds. As the name suggests, coffee is the specialty here. Each coffee bean has an exotic name and one is even stronger than the other and all this is freshly prepared for you at the huge bar in the middle of the restaurant. It can sometimes be quite difficult to find restaurants here in Malaysia where they also have vegetarian options. Luckily you have plenty of choices here and the quinoa salad with crispy kumara (sweet potato chips) is a must! The coffee is roasted by the team in Singapore and prepared by baristas trained in the CMCR Academy.
Adres: A-G-1 New Podium,
Plaza Vads No.1 Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad. 60000 KL
3. Yellow Brick Road
‘Yellow Brick Road café was built in 2015 to keep the flame of a little magic and comfort burning at a time of social and political turmoil in Malaysia. From witty dish names such as ‘Peter Pandan’ to quirky drawings of fairies on the walls, Yellow Brick Road is a home away from home—there’s no place like it.’
The name Yellow Brick Road of course refers to the road to success and happiness from the movie Wizard of Oz. The founders of the restaurant saw the dissatisfaction and sadness in their city and wanted to change this. With their restaurant, they let the guests dream of a magical world with a wide choice of delicious pancakes. I have been here several times now and it is always cozy and busy. Chances are that you will have to wait until there is a spot available, but keep this in mind because it is more than worth it!
So I come here for the pancakes. In the Netherlands, we were regularly in the Pancake House and we never thought that there is also a Malaysian pancake house. Of course, there is a difference, here the pancakes are smaller and a lot thicker but certainly no less tasty. ‘My favourite things’ (10+ points if you know from which movie this is from) is my favorite with red fruit and a scoop of salted caramel ice cream.
Adres: 8-7 Plaza Batai, Jalan Batai, Damansara Heights, 50490, KL
4. Gula Cakery
‘We want to create a mindset among our students and customers that baking is an everyday thing that is fun and easy to do. If one feels like baking, there should be no hesitation.’
What started as Gula Bakery from home grew into three Gula Cakery’s spread over Kuala Lumpur. As a teenager, Arieni taught herself how to bake with the help of her grandmother’s recipe book. Together with her mother, better known as Gula Mommy, they started Gula Bakery from home. A home baker with workshops given by Arieni. Two years later she opened her first café and her fame grew enormously.
I just discovered Gula Cakery in our new mall in Tropicana Gardens Mall. The moment I saw the cabinet, I was their new biggest fan. Huge pieces of cake are already shouting at you, and you’re only too eager to hear them. I’ve sat here a couple of times now, with a piece of cake of course, and it’s amazing how many people work in this business. All the cakes are prepared fresh in front of you and in my case, I can stare at them for hours. With 176 different pies, every sweet tooth can have its heart here. ‘Vanilla Pavlova’ is my favorite. The soft meringue that melts on the tongue with blueberries, strawberries, and fantastic vanilla cream. Another plus is that the pieces are huge so this is definitely the perfect lunch!
Adres: No. 2A, Persiaran Surian, Tropicana Indah, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
5. Feebay
‘Feebay.Co aims in serving both authentic local cuisines and western food together with specialty grade coffee and chocolate with uncompromosing quality.’
This modern café is spread over three locations in Malaysia. I like to sit here with my laptop with a cool drink, but we also like to come here for lunch on weekends. The menu consists of a mix of ‘Local Sensations’ like ‘Nasi Penangan’ and ‘Katsu Salted Egg Butter Chicken Rice’ and Western dishes like pasta and American pancakes. Especially the latter is a favorite. With a thick blob of mascarpone, berries, and maple syrup I enjoy my lunch to the fullest. You pay for this dish RM10, about two euros. The coffees are average, so you pay for a latte RM12 and a ‘Dirty Chai Latte’ costs RM15,70.
Adres: C-G-9. Sunway Nexis,
Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara,
57180, Selangor
I’m already looking forward to the weekend to visit one of these restaurants. And of course, there are so many more tents to try out and write about. But that’s for next time!
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