Tonka Bean Cafe,
Ground Floor, Impiana KLCC Hotel,
13, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2147 1111 ext 3034/ 3035
Business hours: 6.30pm to 10.00pm. Halal
ON DAYS when you crave for something simple for buka puasa, check out Tonka Bean Cafe’s buffet where well-loved local classics are on the menu.
Impiana KLCC Hotel sous and banquet chef Ali Tuwin recommends the Nasi Briyani Gam Johor, a specialty of his that also has a little personal story behind it.
“When I first came to peninsular Malaysia almost 20 years ago, I found the food here quite strange because there were so many spices and ingredients in one dish. The cuisine here is very strong and different from what we have at home,” the Sabahan said.
Probably one of the first dishes he tried that reminded him of home was nasi briyani gam.
“It was about 10 years ago and the dish was prepared by a colleague. The Johor version especially does not have a strong taste and is slightly sweet. I immediately liked it,” he said.
To go with rice, acar, tauhu bakar, salted fish, ulam, grilled fish, all kinds of sambal, cucur udang, stir-fried ginger beef and many others are served.
Among the 120 dishes, firm favourites such as curry laksa, roti canai, murtabak, nasi tomato, Chilli Crab, Salted Prawns, chicken rice, putu piring, beef and chicken satay, Ikan Bawal Masak Siam and bubur lambuk are available.
And with most buffet spreads, this one also presents international favourites such as assorted tempura, chicken shawarma and appetisers including Salmon Gravalax, oysters and mussels on ice.
A meal would not be complete without something sweet and Tonka Bean does not disappoint with its pengat pisang, a sweet broth with thick chunks of banana and sago that is not too sweet.
One can practically make a meal out of the dessert section with Bread and Butter Pudding, bubur kacang hijau, a chocolate fountain, fresh fruits including durian, agar-agar, chilled barley with ginkgo, cendol, omochi, Indonesian layer cake, and the crown jewel, 18 flavours of Baskin Robbins ice cream.
If you had rushed through dinner and want something refreshing to wash it all down, head to the chilled beverage area where you will find different kinds of drinks including air mata kucing, sirap limau, juices including kurma and soya bean.
You can enjoy all the above for RM108++ per person until Aug 11 while a child between six and 12 years old and senior citizens above 55 years will be charged RM54++ per person.
There will be a special offer of RM98++ per person on the last three days of Ramadan.
Bring along the cut-out coupon from the 18th issue of the bridal magazine Ratu Sehari and you will enjoy a 20% discount.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
