Restoran Buddies came highly recommended by one of my readers, who mentioned the chef was formerly from Overseas Restaurant. Located in Taman Shamelin Perkasa, it’s best to call ahead to book a table as Restoran Buddies is often packed, even on a weeknight.
Fuss-free interior
I was told to order the shark lips soup, claypot sea food (hoi mei pou), Thai style paku salad, double boiled coconut soup, kon chin har lok (soy sauce prawns) and steamed fish. We ordered everything, including roast duck and braised pork trotter, over two visits with our friends.
Steamed wild patin
If you’re familiar with the dishes at Overseas Restaurant, think of Restoran Buddies as a more reasonable alternative, minus the fancy setup. The place is simple – basic décor with an option to dine inside or alfresco. We ordered a steamed wild patin on our first visit, which was delicious. It reminded me of the one we had at Zheng Ji in Cheras, also run by a former Overseas Restaurant chef.
Steamed Shun Fong 顺丰鱼
Hong Siu-style Shun Fong
The gravy is aromatic and savoury, which brings out the sweet flavour of the patin. Restoran Buddies offers a variety of fishes, from the humble tilapia to Soon Hock, depending on your budget. I brought my own fish on our second visit – half a Shun Fong 顺丰鱼 (threadfin), cooked two styles. Steamed and “hong siu”. The Hong Siu style was delicious as the cook on the fish was spot-on, but the steamed version was left too long to cook so the texture isn’t as rich (think cod-like).
Kon chin har lok
I rather enjoyed the kon chin har lok; large prawns coated in caramelised soy sauce. Sticky, sweet and savoury, the prawns were cooked just right so it’s firm and succulent. A bit steep, at RM40 per prawn but each prawn is almost the size of my palm.
Shark lips soup
Restoran Buddies’ shark lips soup is good stuff. Similar to shark fin’s soup, but you get more bite from the shark lips. A dash of black vinegar livens up the taste profile of this dish – we ordered this again on our second visit.
Braised pork trotters
We were pleasantly surprised with the braised pork trotters, which was deep fried then braised for a lighter texture on the skin. This had plenty of umami and despite not being a fan of pork trotters, I enjoyed this very much.
Seafood pot
Also delicious was the seafood pot, braised till tender with plenty of dried scallops. I like that the flavours are stronger and you get a hint of wok hei from the claypot. It’s not as luxe as what you’d get from those larger Chinese restaurants, but I love how simple and comforting this is at Restoran Buddies.
Homemade beancurd with petola
Another simple yet well executed dish is their braised beancurd with petola (seng kua tofu). The beancurd is homemade, so the texture is creamy, almost custard-like. Thai-style paku salad is light and tangy – a refreshing twist especially when you’re eating rich food like prawns and pork trotters.
Thai style paku salad
Stir-fried mixed vegetables
It’s not always available, so the floor manager will usually suggest their vegetable of the day. We had the stir-fried mixed vegetables (beansprouts, pea snaps and mushrooms) with roast pork bits.
Double boiled coconut soup
Good for 2-3 pax
Restoran Buddies is also known for their double boiled soup in coconut, which boasts a sweet-savoury profile from the old coconut flesh. A portion is good to share between 2-3 pax. The roast duck came highly recommended, and it was quite good. Not quite the HK-roast style, but this one has a herbal base so it’s less cloying.
Roast duck
Peach gum tong sui
Overall, we enjoyed the food at Restoran Buddies. Dishes are well executed and it’s a place of zero pretence, and prices are about 30-40% cheaper than what you’d pay for at a fancy Chinese restaurant (our bill was about RM150 per head).
Bangsar Babe on Facebook Bangsar Babe on Instagram
Ambiance: 5.5/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 7.5/10 (non-halal)
Verdict: My must-haves are the seafood pot, braised pork trotters, shark lips soup and steamed wild patin.
Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!
Restoran Buddies, Taman Shamelin Perkasa
Restoran Buddies(M) Sdn Bhd
11g, Lorong 6 A/91,
Taman Shamelin Perkasa,
56100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 016-383 8183
Business hours: 11.30am till 2.45pm, 5.30pm till 9.45pm
(closed Monday)