When I was working in the area (a long time ago), Madam Kwan's @ Suria KLCC was a regular haunt for lunches with my colleagues then as it was within walking distance from our office. We'd sneak out earlier than our scheduled lunch hour (so that we can guarantee ourselves seats quickly)...those were the days and, although I've been to Madam Kwan's other outlets (sporadically), I have not stepped into this particular outlet since.
So, when I was here on a weekend, I decided to revisit this old place for dinner. Back then, the place was so popular that there would always be long queues at peak meal times....and it was no different today (still packing in the crowds!). There's even a Miss Kwan's here serving more or less the same food.
The matriarch of the family as well as the business, the grand old dame must be in her eighties now...and that's actually how she looks like in real life too with her trademark hat and scarf.
A dining experience at Madam Kwan's wouldn't be complete without having one of her most famous items on their menu and that's her signature Nasi Bojari @ RM24.90 (new price RM29.90) with assam prawns, beef rendang and a whole deep fried chicken leg served with tri-coloured rice of red, yellow and white on a piece of banana leaf. Other condiments of hard-boiled egg, cucumber and tomato slices complete the dish.
If I had to choose my top item of the dish, it would be the fried chicken. Totally fragrant and aromatic from whatever spices used in the marinade, the chicken is fried to perfection to offer a crunchy skin and moist, tender meat....so good! ;)
The dish of assam prawns uses fresh and fairly good-sized prawns with lots of shredded onion. A tad on the sour side for me but still acceptable nonetheless. The beef rendang, in shreds, resembled the texture of pulled pork with the same degree of tenderness but not quite having the authentic rendang and kerisik flavours.
The simple but commendable dish of Fried Rice @ RM17.90 (new price RM20.90), fried with chicken, egg and salted fish that had a bit of "wok hei" going on.
On another day, after a bit of shopping on my own, I decided to stop by for a late breakfast. The first thing that greeted me was a new menu (on the left)...yikes! And we all know what happens when we get a new menu! >.< To accommodate new prices!! :'(
I went with a crowd pleaser, the dish of Nasi Lemak @ RM21.90 (old price RM17.90) with aromatic coconut steamed rice, chicken curry, sambal ikan bilis, dried shrimp floss, hard boiled egg, acar and cucumber. What can I say, it's still a respectable nasi lemak.
I'm not sure if I was lucky and gotten two pieces of chicken (thigh & drumstick) or it's now the only cut used or it's been like this all this while (I can't recall). I surely wasn't going to complain as those are my favourite parts. The chicken curry was still good although I faintly remember that it used to be thicker.
Whenever I dine at Madam Kwan's, my dessert of choice has always been the Sago Gula Melaka @ RM9.90. I never saw the need for any other dessert (though I've had the Cendol once before I reverted back to my favourite dessert) here.
What I like most is that the gula melaka is always served separately which is great for people like me who don't like it sweet. Just a light drizzle is quite enough for me.
This is a simple dessert that Madam Kwan does extremely well...it's the combination of biting into cooked-just-right pearls of sago with good gula melaka coupled with the absolutely thick and fragrant coconut milk that seals the deal. It's still the best sago gula melaka for me.
Teh Tarik (Cold) @ RM5.90
My Personal Opinion
Even after a long layoff of not stepping into Madam Kwan's, I have to say that the food is still as I remembered though a tad overpriced (more so now that the prices have increased further)! The food may not be as intriguing as the story behind Madam Kwan's but kudos to the team for maintaining the standards and tastes all these years.....since 1977!
It's great to see a restaurant going the distance with the same sought-after dishes (though the menu has expanded somewhat) that her customers first fell in love with and continue to still love after all these years.
So, for those who can look past the prices and want to relive the taste of Madam Kwan's....go get yourself her iconic Nasi Lemak or her ever popular Nasi Bojari! ^_*
Madam Kwan's
Lot 420/421 Level 4 Suria KLCC
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: 03-2026 2297/8
Lot 420/421 Level 4 Suria KLCC
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: 03-2026 2297/8
I always enjoyed the food served at these Madam Kwan outlets. Their service and menu is good hence the stiff price la. We seem to enjoy the same type of food there too! High 5.
ReplyDeleteThat matriarch is a popular and friendly lady who walks everywhere in the same hat and similar scarves, making heads turned. Everyone knows here and she would wave back like a walking advertisement. LOLOL
Yes, I've seen the walking advertisement you're talking about! ;)
DeleteI say, I must go visit Madam Kwan one day. There is one at 1-U and I pass by every now and then. I would love to try the Nasi Bojari and the Sago Gula Melaka.
ReplyDeleteI think these two dishes will be to your liking :)
Deletemadam kwan's pioneering status as a contemporary restaurant for malaysian food has certainly helped them to endure! but of course, their good work in upholding standards is a major factor too :) always nice to read about places that we used to love but don't frequent as much nowadays - the scene sure was different 15 years ago for restaurants and cafes in kl ;)
ReplyDeleteI think 15 years ago it was all about the taste of the food...but now ambience, decor, food presentation, instagram-worthy, uniqueness of the dish, etc. come into play as well ^_*
DeleteI've never been in this restaurant, but I have friends who say that like to take visitors here to enjoy a taste of Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is pretty popular among the visitors...and I think it's a good starting point to introduce them to Malaysian food :)
DeleteI never dine in at any Madam Kwan's restaurant but definitely heard so much about their Nasi Bojari.
ReplyDeleteMe will most probably pour more than half jar of that Gula Melak into my dessert, haha!
Wow, you have a very sweet tooth :) I would have thought that everyone would have eaten at Madam Kwan's one time or another since they're easily located in major shopping malls! ^_*
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