Makan Mana: Trisha Toh

It’s probably the most under-the-radar bar in KL, and I wish it would remain hidden! Run by a brother-sister duo (the former a photographer and vintage collector, the latter a tattoo artist) and a few friends, the bar has a welcoming vibe with an impressive collection of vintage furniture and knick-knacks to match. Also, for a bar that claims not to be a speakeasy, it’s a real challenge to find it; the location instructions are as vague as ‘find Public Bank, turn right’. Thankfully, they have a Facebook page where reservations can be made, and are highly recommended.

WHAT TO ORDER: It’s really hang-out space first, drinks second, so I’d recommend just kicking back with bottles of Tiger or TsingTao and while your time away.

This place has been a firm favourite since their opening two years ago. The founder, Afiq, and I used to work together at a local café five years ago. His calm and relaxed demeanour channels through the café, making it a warm and welcoming space. It’s the kind of place you’d feel quite comfortable setting up your laptop and whiling the day away with copious cups of filtered coffee – their mainstays consist of beans from The Roast Things, but I much prefer to keep my excitement running with their guest beans.

WHAT TO ORDER: I suggest you put on your loose pants and find solace in their Sloppy Joes with egg – it’s filling and messy, and no one’s going to judge you for indulging with your hands. Their sourdough breads are some of the best in town, and don’t leave without trying their house-made kombucha.

I got to know this café via a talented baker who attended one of my talks, and is now a friend. This bakery is located on the same row as Analog, and with Honcho’s wood-fired oven pizza in the same area, there’s no place I’d rather be. #SS17rules

WHAT TO ORDER: The banana loaf is what it’s all about at Good Ground Bakery. Moist and greasy from all the buttery goodness, and chock-full of pure banana flavour with a good balance of sweetness, the loaf is even better when toasted and eaten with butter (yes, more butter!). Get in quick as it always sells out very fast.

Flippin’ fantastic poké bowls. I knew its owners, Michelle and Joel, from a freelance styling job I did with them prior to opening Fin. Besides being the friendliest couple in town, they’re absolutely funny too! Their attention to detail makes the difference here – each serving comes in a wide bowl, allowing us to toss and mix the sauce and ingredients evenly without worrying about making a mess on the table.

WHAT TO ORDER: I’m obsessed with their Signature Moana, which comes with cubes of salmon, togarashi egg, edamame, corn, purple cabbage, seaweed, wasabi peas – all topped with a kick-ass roasted sesame mayo. I went absolute nuts when a Fin regular recommended the buttered almonds, adding a perfect crunch to the overall texture.

I’ll be first to admit that I was sceptical when a friend brought me here claiming their chicken tikka masala is ‘sooooo delicious’. After dining here, I totally get why it has earned its status as a well-known tourist destination in KL. The owner’s many years of travels to India has inspired the majority of the menu as well as the restaurant’s rustic interior. What’s amazing is that the walls are hand-painted entirely by the owner himself!

WHAT TO ORDER: Waste no time in ordering the Murgh Tikka Butter Masala – tender cubes of boneless chicken cooked in a traditional clay oven, and then in deliciously creamy butter masala. The diet can wait. And whether you like cauliflower or not, the crispy and flavourful Gobi Manchurian is a must, as well as the Aloo Gobi. Because why not have more cauliflowers?