Snapshot

More than 10 years ago, we walked into an Italian restaurant in Solaris Dutamas, before Publika even opened, and found a chef from Bologna and his Malaysian wife serving up rustic Italian meals that evoked family-run trattorias. That restaurant, Osteria RealBlue, soon nurtured a reputation for ha...

Let's start over: It was love at first sight for us when we stepped into Kwong Cheung Loong, with a wall filled with Wong Kar-wai movie posters, from Happy Together to In The Mood For Love. Nostalgia is in the air here, with Wang Chieh and Faye Wong songs from the late eighties and early nineties...

Puchong's latest place for CKT needs fresher, plumper cockles and much more wok hei to live up to its promise of serving Penang fried kway teow.Mei Tian RestaurantJalan BP 7/11, Bandar Bukit, 47120 Puchong, Selangor.

From Roti John to Yakiniku Don, this serenely leafy cafe offers sustenance and sanctuary in Bangsar South. Part of the new Komune Living hotel, Komune Cafe is worth checking into to check out Malaysian-inspired sandwiches stuffed with spiced omelette, minced chicken and kyuri (RM12) and Japanese-...

M Cuisine makes a meal of both contemporary and conservative Chinese creations: Novelties like Rose Wantons (RM28; crispy-fried shrimp dumplings, poking out from a pot of parsley) and the Giant Bean Curd with Shrimp Paste Sauce (RM28, crunchy like a cracker) will catch the eye, while old-fashione...

Bangsar's latest spot for New York-style pizzas is a casual affair, serving 18-inch pies by the slice at prices starting from RM6.Our favourite of four pizzas we tried was the classic Pepperoni (RM12), with crisp, thin slices of beef salami all across the slice. The crust meets the mark for pizza...

Hankering for brunch with cocktails on weekends? Pair Lulu's crispy sweet potato rosti, creamily layered with an avocado mash, cherry potatoes and a poached egg (RM24), with a cool, easy-drinking potion - perhaps the Malaysian-inflected Ondeh Cloud (RM28; gin with coconut, pandan, gula Melaka and...

Bushido strives to bring honour to the art of yakitori, slicing and skewering up chicken for smoky succulence. The binchotan-grilled basics are accounted for, from thigh meat (RM6) to wings (RM8), though our favourite here is the bonjiri (RM5), cooked noticeably crunchier than normal, balancing o...

Gorgeously home-smoked pork ribs and belly, cooked at low heat over charcoal and wood for more than four hours, delivered to your doorstep every Friday through Sunday: Yat Sing Smokehouse turned out to be a terrific choice for a recent dinner with friends, prompting everyone to consider ordering...

It's aperitivo hour all weekend long at REXKL, with a new pop-up by Spetta that serves Italian cocktails, cheeses and charcuterie every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from noon through midnight.With Aperol, Campari and oranges on the bar, it's clear that the classics are all aboard, from Veneto's A...

Fire up your night with Er Lou Bar's torched-at-the-table cocktails.If the shoe fits, order the one nicknamed Sorry Boss, unapologetic with a double-dose of rum, white and dark, poured over with pineapple syrup, fresh coconut water, coconut cream and burnt egg white for a caramelised crown. Meanw...

For a splash of colour to complement your banana leaf rice, Kadei by Manchula is one of PJ's friendliest BLR spots, genially and generously dishing out a fresh, flavoursome meal. Order the tangy mango fish curry, a cherished family recipe (Manchula is the name of the restaurant founder's mom).Kad...

A stack of sourdough pancakes with a light, lovely chew, followed by sourdough slices with a crisp crunch, complemented by creamy butter, make for an irresistible indulgence at Cheras' new Engi Patisserie on those cheat days when carbs don't count.Engi Patisserie should easily be a crowd-pleaser ...

Inspired by masakan padang that has proved enduring from West Sumatra to Negeri Sembilan, MinangKapau is a lip-smacking spot for spicy fare simmering with full-bodied flavours and succulent textures.True to Minang traditions, customers can build their own version of nasi padang here, with small d...

This could be our favourite bubble tea in KL: Chicha San Chen is a two-decade-old Taiwanese brand that has found a foothold in recent years in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore - it now embarks into KL with its first branch in Pavilion, serving up tea that truly kept us returning for more.We...