8 Foods in Taman Desa You MUST Try (+ the BEST Spots to Try Them!)
On a recent night out at Taman Desa with my friends, I was surprised to see just how bustling the food scene is in this housing estate.
I don’t normally pass through this place when looking for spots to eat in Kuala Lumpur because it’s more of a residential area, and boy was that a mistake.
We ate at this Japanese joint but on the way there, I was jotting down the names of the restaurants that I promised myself I would check out next time. Eventually, I managed to check them all out, which led me to create this list.
With that being said, join me as I talk about the best hidden gems that serve amazing Taman Desa foods. I’ve also included some pro tips that I’ve learned from my experience in these spectacular restaurants.
Yakitori at Maruhi Sakaba
— Media credit: kenbeelai
Address: 6B, Jalan Desa Jaya
Contact details: +60 3-7972 1049
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM
Cost: $$
Sometimes, it doesn’t take much more than barbequed meat to please a simple man like me, which is why I cherished every yakitori I ate at Maruhi Sakaba. You can easily go to any yakitori spot in Taman Desa, but what we love about this restaurant is the variety of meat they offer.
Aside from the usual slices of pork belly, they also offer pork shoulders, pork liver and last but not least, the pig’s tongue. At first glance, the latter two of these pieces of meat may not be the most ideal parts to eat, but trust us, they do possess a unique flavour that you should try!
Plus, the exotic parts themselves won’t be recognisable, as they’ll all look like chunks of meat. Furthermore, once you throw them on the grill, you’ll be left salivating once you get a whiff of their smoke.
Pro tip:
If you’re here to spend a memorable night with your friends over some alcoholic drinks, we highly recommend ordering their specialty, the Maruhi Sour Cocktail. It consists of shochu, lime, soda water and bitters, creating this slightly sour yet delicious drink.
Tomyum Noodles at Thai Luck
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thailuckthaicuisine/
Address: 7-0-11, 7-0-11, Jalan 3/109f, Danau Business Centre
Contact details: +60 3-7972 2222
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
For those times when you want to warm your soul during rainy days, we recommend stopping by Thai Luck and trying out their timeless tom yum Noodles. This bowl of hot and tangy noodles can get you through any gloomy day—and fill your tummies at the same time!
Thai Luck’s version of this dish is quite overloaded, to say the least. It surpasses every tom yum soup we’ve tried in the past, as it features a generous amount of mushrooms, fish paste fuchuk and hard-boiled eggs.
Furthermore, you can add more protein to your soup by adding either their delicious homemade chicken balls, jumbo prawns or both! These additional sources of protein are the perfect vessels for the tangy soup, as they do a great job absorbing all of its flavours.
Pro tip:
If you want to balance out the spiciness left on your tastebuds, we recommend ordering a cup of their homemade milk tea as your drink. It’s an authentically made tea that features a tad bit of sweetness to help alleviate the spice levels left by the soup.
Porkie Egg Benedict at Red Kettle
Website: https://www.redkettle.com.my
Address: 37, Jalan Bukit Desa 5
Contact details: +60 3-7988 0801
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for a solid brunch spot in Taman Desa, then Red Kettle should be on your radar! They offer tons of dishes that are perfect for starting your day, but our favourite one is hands down the porkie egg benedict.
Personally, we think that it’s the ultimate meat lover’s sandwich, as it features a fat slab of pork that sits atop some bacon strips—yum! To top it all off, a runny egg benedict is squeezed in the middle, giving it that added egg yolk flavour that completes the dish.
At the time of writing, it’s temporarily closed because of refurbishments, which we think is a great idea, as the place has seen some better years the last time we went there. One thing’s for sure though, I’ll be waiting in line as soon as they reopen just to get a porkie egg benedict!
Pro tip:
While you’re here, you must also try their delicious soft-serve ice cream, which you can either get in chocolate or vanilla flavour. It’s the best way to wash off the meaty taste left on your tastebuds and end your meal on a sweet note.
Japanese Ramen at Ramen Mob Taman Desa
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ramenmob.my/
Address: 22 Jalan 2/109e Jalan Desa, Off, Jln Klang Lama
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Weekends: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Japanese ramen is another dish we highly recommend for those rainy days in Kuala Lumpur, and the best spot we frequently go to is Ramen Mob. It’s a great place that serves authentic ramen that is nailed to a tee, from the thickness of the noodles to the flavour and the broth.
Speaking of broths, one of the best flavours we keep returning for is the yakibuta shiro ramen, which features this rich and slightly salty taste. These flavours are absorbed by the delicious hand-pulled noodles, which makes slurping them all the more satisfying!
If you want our advice, we recommend ordering additional chashu (pork shoulder). They’re the perfect addition of meat to this overall noodle-based dish—plus, they’re perfectly charred!
Pro tip:
If Ramen Mob isn’t your cup of tea, you can also check out other ramen spots in Taman Desa like Teppan Sakaba, Maruhi Sakaba and Taisyu Yakiniku.
Char Kuey Teow at Restoran Tuck Tuck Tei
— Media credit: robxlim
Address: No. 64A, Jalan Desa Bakti, Wilayah Persekutuan
Contact details:+60 12-359 5823
Operating hours: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to Monday: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $
Char Key Teow is one of the most iconic street foods in Malaysia, so it’s only right to try it while you’re here. More specifically, we recommend getting this dish at Restoran Tuck Tuck Tei, as they offer tons of other Malaysian staples from their menu.
It’s not that they do anything that breaks the mould, but it’s more of an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” kind of deal. At the end of the day, it’s still stir-fried noodles that are topped with various kinds of vegetables and meat chunks, and that’s already perfect in itself!
If you’re not looking for char kway teow, however, you can order their other bestsellers like Penang white curry mee, pork noodles, chee cheong fun and more!
Pro tip:
If you’re not into spice and seafood, you can also opt for their kolo mee, which is a noodle-based soup that’s just as good! The only difference is that it’s less intense in terms of spices and the prawns are replaced with pork slices.
Sarawak Laksa at Charlie’s Cafe
Website: https://www.facebook.com/orimycharliescafe2015/
Address: 29, Jalan Bukit Desa
Contact details: +60 12-816 0003
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $
If you can’t squeeze Sarawak into your schedule but still want to try its iconic laksa, the best thing you can do is stop by Charlie’s Cafe! They offer an authentic version of this beloved dish while putting their own spin on it.
Personally, one of the things I love the most about their laksa is just how overloaded it is with toppings. For starters, it comes with huge tiger prawns, chicken cutlets and spicy chicken thighs, all of which perfectly absorb the tangy broth that the Sarawak laksa is known for.
Another highlight of their laksa is their homemade sambal, which completes the overall spicy flavour of the dish! This addition will have you sweating bullets while you’re chowing down on the prawns and slurping the noodles but hey, that’s part of the experience!
Pro tip:
While you’re here, we also recommend ordering their durian cheesecake, if you’re looking to try something unique and sweet at the same time. If you’re worried about the infamous stench of durian coming to play here, don’t be!
Nasi Lemak at Restoran Sepetang
— Media credit: farrelltankl
Address: Faber Plaza, 54A, Jalan Desa Bakti, Old Klang Rd
Contact details:+60 16-613 9112
Operating hours: Daily from 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $
Of course, you can’t leave Taman Desa, or Malaysia for that matter, without trying its national dish, nasi lemak. You can get this in just about every eatery or hawker stall in the country, but we recommend trying it out in different towns to see how different they serve them.
We recommend Restoran Sepetang because they serve the quintessential version of this dish. Everything from the fluffiness of the fragrant rice down to the crispiness of the chicken is nailed to a tee!
Another noteworthy highlight of their nasi lemak is the spicy sambal, which packs just the right amount of kick. Couple that with some hard-boiled eggs and some slices of cucumber, and you’ve got yourself the textbook nasi lemak!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something more hearty and warm, you can also order a bowl of their dry pork noodles! This dish goes perfectly well with nasi lemak and a side of their potato curry—yum!
Udon at Restoran Sanuki Udon
— Media credit: __yuki_min__
Address: 1st floor, 25A, Jalan Bukit Desa 5
Contact details:+60 12-359 5823
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Udon is another dish you should try during those rainy days in Kuala Lumpur. From its smooth and thick noodles to its hearty soup, everything about this dish screams comfort food—and we’re all for it!
Sanuki Udon is one of the many hidden gems in Taman Desa that offers authentic Japanese dishes, and we get why it’s such a beloved spot for locals. They offer several variations of the classic udon, but the one we recommend the most is their house special, kitsune udon.
Kitsune udon is your typical udon noodle soup, but this time it’s topped with delicious kelp and mackerel flakes.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something along the lines of seafood, we recommend ordering the kakiage udon. It’s a version of this noodle soup that’s topped with tempura and thinly sliced vegetables.