A food discovery journey in Malaysia would not be complete without coming here. This refined restaurant prides itself on more than just serving heritage cuisine—the menu includes ancient dishes even locals are unaware of. OpenHouse collaborates with the Department of National Heritage to bring back long-lost recipes, such as sambal neraka (literally “hell sambal”), a condiment that’s surprisingly not as fiery as the name suggests. It’s among six kinds of chili paste accompanied with various traditional crackers in the Kudap Kudap Sambal Experience starter. If you prefer something zestier, the pomelo chicken salad is an excellent combination of tangy fig-cider dressing and briny sea grapes.

A must-try main? The popular ikan bakar air asam, or grilled barramundi draped in tamarind sauce, which goes well with white rice spiced with kulim (jungle garlic). Ayam ketumbar—tender chicken bathed in fragrant coriander, lemongrass, and dried gravy—is another standout. Finish off the meal by ordering the cempedak cheesecake, infused with a pungent jackfruit-like flavor yet light-bodied with a supremely smooth finish. For now, the restaurant is housed in an air-conditioned pavilion akin to a luxury tented camp while its permanent home is being built just behind it. The new site will feature an extensive herb garden to provide a steady supply of edible plants and flowers, many of which are currently foraged from the jungle. —Angela Goh

openhouse.my
+60 19 299 0032
2 Jl. Stonor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

OpenHouse: Long-Lost Recipes

Kuala Lumpur Dining

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