We can’t do justice to the food experience in Kuala Lumpur if we do not highlight our favourite choices for desserts too. For the sweet-toothed among us, here are some of our local desserts to fix that craving.
Here, we take you through choices 1 to 4:
1. Sweet Apam at Om Shakti Chelo’s Apam Stall & Vegetarian Food Bangsar
An apam or apom is essentially a pancake (the soft version) or crepe (the crispy version) made from the basic ingredients of flour, egg, sugar and some with coconut milk.
The Om Shakti Chelo apam is unique even to local Malaysians as this version has a soft molten centre while the edges are crispy.
The batter is a special recipe as well and we are quite certain it is one of its kind in Klang Valley.The original (RM1.20) is creamy, sweet and addictive but what we would personally recommend is the palm sugar (Gula Melaka) version (RM1.50).
With added aromatic palm sugar the sweetness took on a nice caramelized flavour which really complements the richness of the apam.
How to get there:
Address: Lorong Ara Kiri 3,
Lucky Garden,
59100 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Take the train (Putra LRT) to Bangsar Station.
Refer map: https://goo.gl/maps/7MotJ
How to get there (Recommended mode): Take a metered taxi from Bangsar Station.
What to wear: Light clothing, shoes.
What to expect: Local hawker centre. Expect a crowded hawker food street during peak meal hours.
Operational hours: Daily 12pm – 10pm.
Tips on safety, communication, ordering and directions:
A popular spot with the locals, the presence of foreigners may elicit stares but you can be assured that the people (both hawkers and diners) are friendly. Some converse in simple English but if all fails just point to the food you want and pay accordingly.
2. Swich Café at Publika
There are plenty of good cakes and talented bakers in Malaysia. But Cheng Cheng, owner of Swich Café stands out for her ingenious use of local fruits in her unconventional baked delights.
While the durian is a common enough fruit used in baking, cempedak, ciku and mangosteen aren’t.
Her kiosk in Publika offers about 20 types of cakes daily but if you only have space for 2, make them the Mangosteen Cake and the Cempedak Cake.
Frosted with mangosteen cream and served topped with fresh mangosteen, we love the tangy sweetness of the fruit and the light sponge base.
Swich’s Cempedak Tutti Frutti was voted one of the best cakes in KL for a good reason. While the soft pungent cempedak chiffon is good enough to eat on its own, it was even better with the unlikely combinations of cempedak cream plus fresh mangoes and toasted coconut.
How to get there:
Address:
Swich Café,
G3 Publika Shopping Gallery, 1 Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Take the train (Putra LRT) to Bangsar Station.
Refer map: https://goo.gl/maps/L9KrZ
How to get there (Recommended mode): Take a metered taxi from Bangsar Station. Not within walking distance from any train station.
What to wear: Casual.
What to expect: A creative and artsy mall with a very hip vibe.
Operational hours: Daily 10am – 9pm.
Tips on safety, communication, ordering and directions:
Air conditioned and bright, Publika is a shopping gallery in Dutamas with independent boutiques, bistros & diners, art galleries, an urban market with gourmet items, bookstore, convenience shops and more. The anchor tenant, Ben’s Independent Grocer, stocks both gourmet goodies and everyday essentials.
3. Gelato at Whimsical Gelateria & Caffe by Cielo Dolci @ Publika
Another creative local F & B brand, Cielo Dolci has garnered the most attention with its successful adaption of our local delicacy – the Nasi Lemak but in a frosted form.
The base of the gelato is rice with coconut milk (just like the original) and it is served topped with chili sprinkles, peanuts and a dusting of anchovies. It sounds strange but it works!
Other intriguing flavours include kedondong (hog plum), taufufa (beancurd) and turmeric gelato!
How to get there:
Address:
D2-G3-05, Solaris Dutamas, 1 Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Take the train (Putra LRT) to Bangsar Station.
Refer map: https://goo.gl/maps/L9KrZ
How to get there (Recommended mode): Take a metered taxi from Bangsar Station. Not within walking distance from any train station.
What to wear: Casual.
What to expect: A creative and artsy mall with a very hip vibe.
Operational hours: Daily 9am – 11pm.
Tips on safety, communication, ordering and directions:
The outlet is located in the same mall as Swich Café (as above). However this shop is outside the main mall and is on one of the streets at the outer boulevard. Ask the information counter for specific directions.
4. Tong Sui Stall @Pudu Wai Sik Kai (Traditional Sweet Soup Stall)
These are traditional desserts in the form of sweet soups usually consisted of lentils boiled for hours until soft and sweeten with sugar.
The variety here includes red bean, mung bean, black glutinous rice and barley soup. Some has added coconut cream and while these little bowls may look non-substantial they could actually be quite filling. It is best to order a few to share.
How to get there:
Address: Jalan Sayur off Jalan Pudu
Take the train (RapidKL LRT – Ampang Line) to Pudu Station.
Refer map: https://goo.gl/maps/1HVvD
How to get there (Recommended mode): Walk from Pudu Station.
Exit the station, look for the sign that says “Jalan Pudu” and walk toward Jalan Pudu. When you come to the busy main road, cross it and turn left. Walk until you see the busy stalls.
What to wear: Light clothing, shoes.
What to expect: Local spot. Expect a busy food street market.
Operational hours: 6pm til late. Most stalls are closed on Mondays but some observe their own rest days. Since it is an open air food street, most stalls are close if it rains.
Tips on safety, communication, ordering and directions:
Traders would understand basic English and ordering is not a problem. Prices are generally RM1 – RM1.20 per bowl.
Like anywhere else do watch out for your belongings.
Next: Top 8 desserts to try in Kuala Lumpur, Part II
