What to eat in Subang Jaya’s SS15: 14 Affordable, trendy and local food you must try near bubble tea street!

Written by Candice Neo
Co-written by Junanto Xu

If you are staying in Kuala Lumpur, you must have heard of SS15, a hipster area in Subang Jaya popular with university students (due to its proximity to a few universities) that’s well-known for its bubble tea street, where you can find more than 10 different bubble tea chains (and the number is growing as we write).

But did you know that besides boba, you can find a huge variety of trendy food, photo-worthy desserts (yes we are talking about ginormous Korean bingsu here, you’ll see as you read on!) and even a hidden cafe?

We spent two full days at SS15 and it wasn’t even enough time for us to finish eating our way through! With so much to eat around here, we bet you can even come here every weekend with your BFFs and try something different each time! 😉

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1. Famous breakfast cafe from Taiwan!: The Toast House KL (多士号)

If you’ve travelled to central Taiwan (Taichung), you must have heard of the famed The Toast House (多士号) which since its founding in 2015 has grown in popularity among Taiwanese and foreigners alike, especially among those who search for hipster breakfast places.

I’ve eaten at this very shop in Taichung and really love their charcoal-toasted sandwiches, especially those with bacon and egg, that I even ordered a second serving! (And mind, I’m not a big eater and their serving size is quite regular, and at any other place I would have been satisfied with just one serving, but this was so good I couldn’t resist!)

Stuffed full of ingredients such as the meat of your choice, flowy egg, lettuce, tomato slices and even mashed potato (depending on which sandwich you opt for), you can expect a burst of savoury goodness with every bite.

Go for their Jumbo Pork Sandwiches, which is made up of three layers of toasted bread packed with marinated pork slices, mashed potatoes, lettuce and egg. And don’t miss their Danbing (蛋饼), which are iconic Taiwanese pancakes and gigantic burgers too. They have also launched a taro cheesy egg toast with homemade taro paste – another reason why I need to go back to SS15!

2. Crispy, tender and flavourful: Lim’s Fried Chicken

We heard all about the hype over Lim’s Fried Chicken but thought to ourselves, seriously, it’s just fried chicken – how unique can it be? Wouldn’t it be like another fast-food chain? But after taking the first bite, I finally understood.

The skin was crispy while the flesh is very tender, super delicious when paired with their special sambal, which gives the chicken that extra spicy tang. Although not the best fried chicken I’ve eaten, the standard here is definitely far above average!

You can also find other combos like Hor Fun (flat rice noodles) with fried chicken, curry chicken set, sotong (cuttlefish), curry lamb and other local delicacies here! They are all rich in flavour, so if you’d like some comfort food with that extra punch, opt for these to go with your fried chicken!

The restaurant can be found along SS15’s boba street. Fried chicken AND a refreshing boba after that – what can be a better combination? 😉

3. Legendary Nasi Lemak with generous servings at mamak prices: Nasi Lemak Kukus Z’DANZ ENT SS15

We saw a long queue at noontime and some people were just sitting by the roadside to dig into their packets of Nasi Lemak as there’s no proper tables or shelter. What could be so good that so many people are willing to bear the afternoon heat for?

There was only one way to find out – so we joined the line!

After 15 minutes, we finally got our lunch – a huge chicken drumstick on top of a generous serving of sambal, rice, peanuts, anchovies and cucumber. The drumstick was juicy and delicious, complemented with fresh and crunchy sides. We must really emphasize that they are really very generous with their sambal, most of the rice is covered in it and every mouthful is a burst of sweet and spicy savoury goodness.

The secret is really in their fresh ingredients. Most of the time, you’ll see some makciks (aunties) frying a new batch of chicken drumsticks and peeling onions for their next batch of sambal! And the best thing is, everything is very affordable around RM 5 onwards!

4. Halal speakeasy restaurant with secret entrance: Jibril Lounge

This looks like a regular ice-cream stall – not!

Walk past this Sangkaya stall selling coconut ice-cream and slightly push on the brick wall behind – and this is the secret entrance to Jibril Lounge. We know, there’s so many speakeasy bars in KL with very hidden entrances, but this is actually halal (yes, that means no alcoholic drinks too – they serve mocktails, not cocktails).

We were served with some of their signatures and they were mostly very flavourful and yummy. The Salted Egg Butter Chicken is definitely the star – the salted egg isn’t too overpowering and goes well with their butter chicken. Their Nasi Lemak Buttermilk Chicken is served just like Nasi Lemak – with rice, anchovies, peanuts, egg, cucumber, and of course, sambal. Delicious!

If you are a fan of good quality beef, go for their BBQ Beef Ribs (Australian premium beef) – we felt that the beef flavour was a little too strong for our palates, but then again, it’s all about personal preferences. 🙂  The Salted Egg Croissant is a nice snack too – some of us are fans of salted egg and it left us craving for more!

Pair your very flavourful meal with some of their signature mocktails – we personally preferred Potter (non-alcoholic butterbeer), but if you’d like something very sweet, go for Lisa (strawberries, dark cocoa and vanilla).

5. Legendary pork noodle soup (but hangry people stay away please): Ooi Noodle House

This place might be temporarily closed during MCO.

You will need a lot of patience if you visit Ooi Noodle House for their famous pork noodles, because the owner cooks all the orders himself, bowl by bowl, and has been doing so for over 20 years – so waiting time is on average 45 minutes to 1.5 hours (yes, even now)!

We sadly did not manage to try this, but many locals have raved about it, especially those who used to attend the nearby universities.

One reason why people return to this humble local eatery again and again (despite the long waiting time) is their generosity with their ingredients. Your bowl of noodle soup is filled up with minced pork, intestine, liver and other innards, and together with their flavourful pork bone soup base – their secret sauce – you have a bowl of what some call one of the best pork noodles in Klang Valley.

Some swear that the quality of the food hasn’t changed even after decades, but don’t expect too much of service here. Just order your food and sit down with your distractions (bring a book, newspapers, phone, etc – whatever that can keep you occupied for an hour without becoming grumpy). And of course, don’t come when you are hangry! 😉

TripCanvas’ Tip: We’ve been told that the best time to arrive would be in the early morning when they open or after 3pm before they close as there would be less people and the waiting time would be shorter. Avoid the crowded lunch hour unless you have lots of time to spare!

6. Korean bingsu in giant cotton candy: OW:L Espresso

Update: This place is currently temporarily closed and pending relocation.

We nearly jumped when this gigantic pink seal was brought in – it’s almost six times the size of my face! Peel open this fluffy Bubu, lick your fingers and inside, you’ll find *drumroll* a large bowl of Korean bingsu (shaved ice) topped with freshly cubed watermelon, honeydew, grapes and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

As a Korean dessert fan, I personally enjoyed their bingsu – the milky shaved ice melts right in your mouth and you can tell that they use fresh fruit that’s prepared right on the spot when you order! They’ve recently launched a Unicorn version too, in which when peeled open, you can find bingsu topped with macarons and candy sprinkles.

If you prefer a cooler classic, like us, you’ll be super impressed with Crystal – a bowl of bingsu served in an overlarge teardrop crystal ice, and when they serve it to you, a jar of nitrogen is poured over the ice to achieve that smokey 4D effect for your feed! Serving size is generous, so make sure you come in a group of 4-5 to share one!

P.S. If you’re hungry and want something savoury, they serve Western mains, ramyun, sandwiches and finger food such as fries and Korean rice cakes too!

7. Comforting assam curry grouper fish head: Pangkor Curry Fish Head

If you love Assam curry as much as I do, this is THE place the drop by for an appetising lunch or dinner. The Assam taste is tangy and spicy made from tamarind and spices, so the pleasant sour taste whets your appetite (if you love tomatoes, sour plum and a bit of chilli, you will love Assam!).

We ordered their signature Curry Grouper Fish Head (yes the curry is Assam curry), and coconut is not added, so for those of you who prefer your curry without coconut like I do, you will love this!

The grouper was fresh, tender and chewy, perfectly matched with the Assam curry done just right with the right amount of tang and spiciness! The curry comes in a huge pot too (I love drenching my rice in curry)!

They are also very generous with the brinjal and lady’s fingers which soak up the delicious curry nicely.

We only ordered one small Curry Grouper Fish Head and rice to share between us, and were very full when we finished everything (and super satisfied too). Our verdict? We’ll definitely be back.

8. Sticky chewy mochi: Chewie Mellow

I’m a huge fan of anything mochi to Taiwanese taro balls that are chewy and bouncy and cling onto your tongue. So when we discovered Chewie Mellow (SS15 outlet), I was very excited to try their signatures, especially their Mochi Milk series, which resemble upside-down ice-creams!

Peanut Mochi Milk is my personal favourite, sweet and chewy and served with peanut bits for that extra crunch. I particularly enjoyed their Pudding Soya Ice too, which was filled with grass jelly, barley, soya pudding and taro balls. It wasn’t overly sweet, has different layers and textures – something different you can try if you’re conscious of your sugar intake! 😉

If you enjoy shaved ice, go for the Mango Pearl Ice or Brown Sugar Chewie Jelly Ice – both are sweet, refreshing and topped with a handful of colourful taro balls. They serve hot desserts and savory snacks too.

The whole cafe is also an awesome IG spot, with colourful pastels and props. And if you spend over RM40, you’ll get a Chewie Token which you can use at their capsule machine and win a surprise gift (we got a discount card and a reusable bag)!

9. One of the best pizzas with a local twist: US Pizza

This has got to be the best pizza we’ve eaten so far (and probably the best meal some of us have had in KL)!

US Pizza was originally from Penang, but the owner learnt the recipe for making delicious pizzas from the US, hence the name.

The must-try here is definitely their cheese boat pizza, which is filled with a super generous thick layer of cheese (with three kinds of cheese) and egg yolk. Once it was delivered to us fresh out of the oven, the staff helped to mix the cheese, pulling and twisting it. And when we finally took a bite, it was cheese paradise!

Honestly, some of us aren’t even fans of cheese, but you can tell that they use good quality cheese (none of that weird smell you get sometimes in poor quality cheeses you find in pastas at some eateries).

We love their salted egg yolk pizza and lasagna (super comforting!) too! We even brought our friends to their other outlet in Hartamas and the quality was the same – top notch!

10. Buttermilk chicken along boba street: Gold Chili

We came here for a quick meal and boy were they efficient! In just 5 minutes, we were served our Buttermilk boneless chicken set (we opted for boneless as I personally feel it’s just so much more convenient, but you can order their regular chicken too!) – with around 7 pieces of chicken drenched in a generous serving of buttermilk sauce, a bowl of rice, soup and an iced tea.

The buttermilk sauce is very savoury – that’s really what made the otherwise ordinary chicken special. And I guess we were starving!

Overall it’s a good place for an affordable, tasty and quick lunch especially if you are in SS15, but I personally wouldn’t come specially for this, unless I’m also here for boba (yes this is located right along bubble tea street!).

11. Simple comfort food with ‘wok hei’: Uncle Soon Fried Rice

Looking for savoury simple comfort food? Uncle Soon (and Aunty Soon, it seems) is said to serve up some good char siew fried rice with ‘wok hei’ (a Cantonese term which roughly translates to the wok fragrance that not many chefs can master).

Order up your fried rice with a sunny side up (at an extra cost) and sambal! They use fresh ingredients (such as fresh prawns) and this is one of the main reasons why people enjoy dining here. We heard that the aunty makes better fried rice, but you try it and decide for yourself. 😉

When we were there during their official opening hours, the stall was sadly closed as Uncle Soon was taking a holiday. So do call beforehand before you go! (We’ll update this space on our verdict when we try it!)

TripCanvas’ Tip: Do come early before they are sold out!

12. Giant photo-worthy Indomie with chicken and lamb: IndoBowl

If, like me, you are a huge fan of Indomie (the only instant noodles I have at home are Indomie and Japanese ramen, and while my ramen is sadly untouched, my Indomie always finishes before I realise) and want some variety to your noodles besides the usual lazy home-cooked Indomie with egg, head down to IndoBowl!

We would have ordered the giant Indomie Mumbo Jumbo which comes with 4 servings of Indomie Goreng, 4 sticks of Sate Ayam Madura, Australian Ribeye, Lamb Chop, 4 fried eggs and their signature sambal, but there were only two of us and it would sadly have been impossible for us to finish. (The table next to us ordered and it looked really huge! I think even 6 of me can eat it.)

So we settled for their Indomie Ayam Bakar Madura and loved it! The chicken is drenched in sweet and savoury sauce that really reminded me of Indonesian food and sauces, if not for the size of the chicken (Indonesian kampung chickens are always smaller-sized, healthier and more tender, while Malaysian chickens are bigger and more fatty) as it’s quite a huge piece.

The noodles are done just right – chewy and springy, and goes really well with the oozing egg yolk and sambal (which was pretty much Indonesian too, which means rather spicy for me). Not mind-blowing, but I would say this is a simple and yummy meal, especially if you enjoy Indomie!

13. Croissants for dessert!: Hazukido

Croissants are traditionally breakfast food in many parts of Europe, often either served plain or with chocolate filling, but Hazukido’s versions render it dessert-worthy! Originally from Taiwan, Hazukido prides itself on using only quality ingredients and an exclusive folding method to make each croissant.

Our favourite is their Apple Croissant, which is stuffed with warm sweet cubes of baked apple – almost like in apple strudels! Their croissant itself is crispy on the outside, but it pulls off easily when you bite into it, and it’s soft and buttery inside.

And of course, how could we miss their Salted Egg Yolk Croissant (you can get salted egg everything in KL)? Our salted egg sadly wasn’t flowy and didn’t ooze out when we broke it into half, but it’s still delicious when the sweet buttery croissant soaks up the savoury golden goodness!

We tried their Earl Grey Milk Tea Croissant too – the Early Grey cream was quite light and pleasant. And as a brown sugar boba lover I really wanted to taste the Okinawa Brown Sugar Warabi Mochi Croissant, but I was told this unfortunately would only be available during special seasons now, and they won’t be making it on a daily basis! I went with the Okinawa Brown Sugar Croissant which is mainly brown sugar cream on the outside (there’s no filling inside), which had a distinct brown sugar taste, but of course wasn’t enough to curb my boba craves.

It would have been better if there’s a cafe area for us to sit down to enjoy our croissants, as currently you can only buy your croissants for takeaway, but it’s definitely worth a stop if you want a quality snack while in SS15!

14. Some of the best pork burgers in town!: Spade’s Burger SS15

Burger lovers, you’re gonna love this. Some say this is the non-halal version of myBurgerLab (which is not technically not officially halal certified but they use ingredients (meat and sauces) from Malaysian halal certified suppliers and they do not serve pork or alcohol), as you can get some very good pork burgers here, which are tough to find in KL.

Originating from Penang, Spade’s Burgers now has four outlets in Klang Valley. Their sinful pork patties in charcoal buns are their key selling points.

Their most raved-about recommendations:
1) Baconizer (bacon, caramelised bacon bits, bacon mayo, cheddar, cheese crisp) which you can choose between pork or beef patty
2) Porkception III (sautéed pork belly, pork patty, teriyaki mayo)
3) Dark Knight (patty, cheddar, cheese crisp, caramelised bacon bits, SPADE’S Sauce) which you can choose between pork, chicken or beef patty
4) All other pork burgers!!!

We can’t judge – yet (because some of us are huge fans of myBurgerLab). Watch this space when we update you guys on our verdict! 😉

Don’t say you don’t know where to go next weekend! Hipster food AND boba, what can be better? 😉 Tag your BFFs now!

PLEASE NOTE: All the above information is correct at the date of publication. If you come across any changes or updates, please let us know and we will update the information accordingly. Thank you! Tell us

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