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I loveeee Malaysian rice plates!!! There aren't many options in the bay, so I am glad this spot is available. Parking: street/neighborhood Items: - Beef rendang rice plate: Good, but I prefer the chicken one more! - Nasi lemak and fried chicken rice plate: The fried chicken was gooood! Texture, batter, flavor. Amazing. I also really liked how there was two kinds of cucumbers: regular and pickled. Presentation was nice too. - Pandan coconut pudding: Soft and you can def taste the pandan coconut. - Roti and curry sauce - least fav dish of the night. Not bad, but roti was not what I expected/not as fluffy/crispy. And curry was ok. - Hartamas: Good if you're into sweet drinks! - Ampang: This was more refreshing, which i enjoyed more at the time. Some of the items I saw online weren't on the menu, but its ok. Everything was good overall for taste, presentation, and portion. Staff were friendly.
Everything was made well, but the flavor profiles just didn't completely hit. Got turnip cake, roti, chicken nasi lemak, and laksa. The turnip cake was tasty, if not a bit salty, but it had an excellent crust to it. The roti tasted fine, although I enjoyed it plain over dipping it with the provided curry sauce. The curry doesn't really taste like much. The nasi lemak had well made fried chicken, but the most flavorful parts of the dish were the anchovies, pickled cucumber, and peanuts. The laksa was probably the favorite dish. Shrimp and chicken were both cooked perfectly, but the broth could use more spice, shrimp paste, and coconut cream. Even the extra sambal to make it spicier didn't add any spice because it was more sweet. I wish they didn't hold back on the spice here. I could have been a pretty good dinner otherwise. Service was friendly, but food doesn't live up to my liking.
Come for: the chicken Know that: portions are small I came for SF restaurant week last month with a friend so excited about their singapore chili crab set menu. For $90, the meal included a crab and fried rice with 4 fried mantou buns. It was advertised to feed 2-4 people. We were skeptical and asked the server to confirm. She said it would but ended up being very wrong. (Note: we were a table of 2 normal sized guys) Crab (3.5/5): the sauce was good but nothing amazing. Went well with the mantou. The crab was pretty small and didn't have that much meat. Fried rice (3/5): also pretty average. The crab was flavor and meat was negligible. We ended up adding one more dish: the fried chicken which ended up being the best dish of the night. Cereal and salted egg fried chicken (4.5/5): juicy chicken, crispy, nice salted egg flavor. Would recommend. Service was average, ambiance was more like a date spot (smaller place) and parking wasn't terrible. Overall, for the price, I did not think the dinner was worth it. If I went again, I would center my meal around the fried chicken rather than the crab.
Special Malaysia night set menu was amazing. The star of the evening was without a doubt, the crab laksa noodle soup! Savory, and wonderfully fragrant. Service was pleasant and ambience was clean and simple. JYW recommends!
I have been languishing from the lack of good Malaysian/singaporean food here and I hoped Damansara would end the suffering The agony continues The ambience and interior of the place is cozy, the staff are attentive. But we know it's all about the food. I had Otah growing up and my grandma made it spicy, restaurants will never compare to your grandma so with that grain of salt, the otak otak here was pretty good, not spicy, with a nice flavour and mouth feel Laksa was not my cup of tea, I'm used to the very red/orange and coconut to make it thick, the broth herewas much more thin and, though, had a flavour was not flavourful(!) Roti was ok, but the curry sauce accompanying was also the same, thin and not satisfying in the mouth We also had nasi lemak, there was some serious lack in flavour here, couldn't pin it down, maybe if there were more salted nuts and ikan bilis it would have been better. Sambal was decent. We had tofu here and the flavour was only on the surface, no flavour reached inside the tofu and provided a bland experience Finished with chendol, actually pretty good, brought back my brain freeze memories of chendol at changi airport because I still eat too fast despite no plane to catch Unfortunately at their price point, I'd only come back to try the chilli/black pepper crab. My languishing resumes
In one of the best places to dine from the list of the Melting Spots, I have Damansara off the bat. I have to visit this Malaysian restaurant for one big reason, to try the medium spicy laksa bowl one last time. This is now my second time trying one since Tang Bar in Stonestown Food Court. I'm itching to try other Malaysian treats as well. Visiting Damansara is like I already set foot in the streets of Kuala Lumpar without leaving the big city. Inside, I can smell the aroma that is similar to Thai spices, but everything I order on the menu is truly Malaysian! Even though I'm the only one dining here, everyone working in Damansara is very nice. The only table I sit is where the sunlight shines through the curtains and into my food and drink as if they're in the spotlight. For my appetizer, Roti Chanai with vegan curry dip. While the roti is nice and fresh, the mild dip delivers pleasant tones of a bit of tart and savory flavors. That's something new for my palate! Then comes the star of tonight's dining experience, Vegan Laksa! Adding an extra spiciness can bring a total of three chili peppers, yikes! More coconut cream? Extra noodles? Or more laksa broth? None of the above! I can smell my bowl of broth a half dozen inches away. The laksa spices definitely hit the spot. And since it's medium spicy, it's practically painful, but a man like me can handle this much spiciness based on how much my body can take it. As for the mushrooms, green beans, and tofu cubes, they're all in good quality. Red bean coconut shaved ice with pandan jelly (Chendol) never disappoints. I can handle the frozen chunks similar to when I handle the laksa spices. I like how my female server comes to my table every time since I'm the only one dining. Everything from a laksa bowl to shaved ice was perfectly executed; all made with such promising efforts. There are still many restaurants where I encounter spicy foods before I decide to fall back to choosing a mild level. May their business continue to shed more light for La Cocina.
Came here for a quick dinner. Popiah was fine. Was not a fan of the raved about cereal fried chicken. Did not try the classics and opted for the chili pan mee and it was spicy! But was lacking in flavor for me. I'll come back and try the nasi lemak and laksa next time. Thanks!
Crab fried rice was good, the only thing is I feel like it was a bit overpriced for the portion sizes we got. This was a restaurant week deal, and the crab fried rice was and priced to share for three people
Situated right off San Jose Ave, Damansara is a cute little mom and pop restaurant (malaysian own from KL). Went on a sunday and parking was pretty easy. We got reservation but it was pretty free, so prob was not necessary. There was only one waitress and she was very attentive. She checked on us every now and then to make sure we had everything and refilled our waters at least 3x. We enjoyed the otak, laksa, fried chicken. The popiah was ok, good but likely wont get again. The cendol was ok also and will get again as it is mom's fav dessert. The mee goreng fel like malay korean to me. I made that term up but the sweet and spicyness made me felt that way. It is way saucier than traditional malay mee goreng. It felt quite fusion. Will return to try the coconut laksa next time to comepare and get the roti canai. Total came to $120 for 3, so ~$40/person. So little southeast asian food left in the city. Pls go support them!
Excellent service! This is the ONLY Malaysian restaurant I care to go to in SF for the last year or so... that one place in Chinatown is super lacking in the one thing quintessential to Malaysian cuisine: hospitality. Damansara thrives at making their guests feel at home and I love bringing family and friends here. We had the rendang and omg...having been to KL many times over the years I am so picky about the texture of rendang and Damansara is the expert, if not the maker of the best I've ever had. You can tell they really take their time slow cooking their meat with imported spices. The laksa was amazing and the cendol was just like the kind my grandmother used to love to order at the food court in Midvalley. Damansara is truly the next best thing to a plane ticket back to Malaysia. Cant wait to try the chili pan meen!!!
as a singaporean-malaysian, I was excited to try this! I did not have to wait for a walk in on Sunday night, but I arrived around 6. food came out really quickly, and the staff were super nice and attentive (filling our glasses often). the dishes seemed pretty authentic, but I wish the sambal was spicier. I also wish the rendang was a bit more tender and moist -- it was a bit dry. the laksa was complex in flavor and not spicy at all. I wish they were more generous with the egg and shrimp. in general, pretty pricey but worth a try if you have never had Malaysian food.
We came by for dinner early on a Saturday. We had classic dishes - beef rendang and the laksa soup. The food tasted good; rich and spicy. Maybe a little too rich/spicy because i felt a little gassy afterward, but that may just be me. We didn't have any cocktails but they did look good, asian inspired. Overall a good experience, a little on the pricier side but the quality seems to justify it. Peanut allergy: some items have peanuts - we let the waiter know and i had no issues with cross contamination here.
Malaysian restaurants are rare, and this one seems authentic. Ambiance is nice-casual and the restaurant is very clean. Service was very friendly! We only tried the Asam Laksa, which is my favorite Malaysian dish. The flavors were right-- which is honestly so rare. The shrimp sauce (in the spoon) and the mackerel tamarind soup really made it feel real. However, the noodles were overcooked and really short, the soup was very salty and I wished there was more broth. Definitely had the potential to live up to the stuff in Malaysia, but it fell a bit short. Would be willing to try this place again to explore more of the menu. 3.5-4 stars for now!
8 months ago
1 year ago
SERVICE - located on the corner of noe valley - street parking only can be difficult to find especially on a weekend - small but well decorated interior - ambiance good for a semi casual meal - service is friendly and quick MENU - Malaysian food - vegan and vegetarian options available - slightly pricey ($25 per entree) FOOD - vegan laksa (8/10): creamy mushroom broth with rice noodles, tofu puffs, and sprouts. The portion is quite generous and is good for sharing between two people. I liked the richness of the broth with the sweet coconut and the hints of umami from the mushrooms. I would have liked more tofu and slightly less oil in the broth. - vegan rendang rice plate (9/10): jackfruit stew with butterfly pea flower infused rice and cucumbers. The flavors in the jackfruit marinade are complex yet so well balanced. I would eat that sauce on any protein. This portion is also generous to share. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! The ambiance was nice and the food was tasty. read more
Came here for the special 15 item brunch Malaysia Day celebration. Arrived 10 minutes before the event started and right at 12pm they started to seat everyone. At each table we started with a cup of Iced butterfly pea lemongrass honey and then a cup of hot teh Tarik which was my favorite drink of the day. It reminds me of hong kong milk tea. The first dish did not come out until 50 minutes after we were seated. It was Kaya Toast with semi soft boiled eggs. I think traditionally the eggs should be alot softer forming a type of egg jam for you to dip the toast into but that was not the case here. Next was the Dabai fried rice which came out room temperature. The flavor was savory and reminds me of rice and beans texture but with more of an olive taste. I think it would've been better if served hot. Then the forbidden rice pudding came out warm and it was not bad. At 1 hour and 30 minutes after seated, they brought out a big tray of assorted food with no descriptions of what anything are so it was a taste and guess and reference back to the instagram post of this event. The kuih talam tasted like it was missing sugar and just tasted bitter to me. The Rosewater kuih sago was interesting and pretty tasty. It was prepared like a piece of mochi. The bingka ubi kayu is my favorite peace of sweet and reminded me of butter mochi. The mung bean kasturi was not bad but really heavy. The curry puff was cold and didn't tasted fresh. It was also quite salty. The pumpkin Cara berlauk was interesting and also quite heavy. The beehoon fresh roll was cold and lack flavor. The keropok crackers are good as they should be. The dip tasted like sweet and sour sauce. Overall not a great experience. All the food didn't taste fresh and tasted like they were all prepared a head of time but the service was still very slow. None of the food items really stood out to me. Items were all placed in a giant tray that was was meant for people to take togo but they were awkward to carry (especially since we were taking public transit). We asked for another togo box since we consolidated everything to one tray with some more leftovers that wouldn't make since to carry two giant trays. And the server was reluctant to give an additional small togo box. The instagram post about this event also advertised more drinks to be paired with this meal but it was never served. Never got our green tea, coffee, and tropical punch which would've improved the heavier and sweeter items that were served. read more
I loveeee Malaysian rice plates!!! There aren't many options in the bay, so I am glad this spot is available. Parking: street/neighborhood Items: - Beef rendang rice plate: Good, but I prefer the chicken one more! - Nasi lemak and fried chicken rice plate: The fried chicken was gooood! Texture, batter, flavor. Amazing. I also really liked how there was two kinds of cucumbers: regular and pickled. Presentation was nice too. - Pandan coconut pudding: Soft and you can def taste the pandan coconut. - Roti and curry sauce - least fav dish of the night. Not bad, but roti was not what I expected/not as fluffy/crispy. And curry was ok. - Hartamas: Good if you're into sweet drinks! - Ampang: This was more refreshing, which i enjoyed more at the time. Some of the items I saw online weren't on the menu, but its ok. Everything was good overall for taste, presentation, and portion. Staff were friendly. read more
Everything was made well, but the flavor profiles just didn't completely hit. Got turnip cake, roti, chicken nasi lemak, and laksa. The turnip cake was tasty, if not a bit salty, but it had an excellent crust to it. The roti tasted fine, although I enjoyed it plain over dipping it with the provided curry sauce. The curry doesn't really taste like much. The nasi lemak had well made fried chicken, but the most flavorful parts of the dish were the anchovies, pickled cucumber, and peanuts. The laksa was probably the favorite dish. Shrimp and chicken were both cooked perfectly, but the broth could use more spice, shrimp paste, and coconut cream. Even the extra sambal to make it spicier didn't add any spice because it was more sweet. I wish they didn't hold back on the spice here. I could have been a pretty good dinner otherwise. Service was friendly, but food doesn't live up to my liking. read more
1 year ago
Come for: the chicken Know that: portions are small I came for SF restaurant week last month with a friend so excited about their singapore chili crab set menu. For $90, the meal included a crab and fried rice with 4 fried mantou buns. It was advertised to feed 2-4 people. We were skeptical and asked the server to confirm. She said it would but ended up being very wrong. (Note: we were a table of 2 normal sized guys) Crab (3.5/5): the sauce was good but nothing amazing. Went well with the mantou. The crab was pretty small and didn't have that much meat. Fried rice (3/5): also pretty average. The crab was flavor and meat was negligible. We ended up adding one more dish: the fried chicken which ended up being the best dish of the night. Cereal and salted egg fried chicken (4.5/5): juicy chicken, crispy, nice salted egg flavor. Would recommend. Service was average, ambiance was more like a date spot (smaller place) and parking wasn't terrible. Overall, for the price, I did not think the dinner was worth it. If I went again, I would center my meal around the fried chicken rather than the crab. read more
Special Malaysia night set menu was amazing. The star of the evening was without a doubt, the crab laksa noodle soup! Savory, and wonderfully fragrant. Service was pleasant and ambience was clean and simple. JYW recommends! read more
2 years ago
I have been languishing from the lack of good Malaysian/singaporean food here and I hoped Damansara would end the suffering The agony continues The ambience and interior of the place is cozy, the staff are attentive. But we know it's all about the food. I had Otah growing up and my grandma made it spicy, restaurants will never compare to your grandma so with that grain of salt, the otak otak here was pretty good, not spicy, with a nice flavour and mouth feel Laksa was not my cup of tea, I'm used to the very red/orange and coconut to make it thick, the broth herewas much more thin and, though, had a flavour was not flavourful(!) Roti was ok, but the curry sauce accompanying was also the same, thin and not satisfying in the mouth We also had nasi lemak, there was some serious lack in flavour here, couldn't pin it down, maybe if there were more salted nuts and ikan bilis it would have been better. Sambal was decent. We had tofu here and the flavour was only on the surface, no flavour reached inside the tofu and provided a bland experience Finished with chendol, actually pretty good, brought back my brain freeze memories of chendol at changi airport because I still eat too fast despite no plane to catch Unfortunately at their price point, I'd only come back to try the chilli/black pepper crab. My languishing resumes read more
In one of the best places to dine from the list of the Melting Spots, I have Damansara off the bat. I have to visit this Malaysian restaurant for one big reason, to try the medium spicy laksa bowl one last time. This is now my second time trying one since Tang Bar in Stonestown Food Court. I'm itching to try other Malaysian treats as well. Visiting Damansara is like I already set foot in the streets of Kuala Lumpar without leaving the big city. Inside, I can smell the aroma that is similar to Thai spices, but everything I order on the menu is truly Malaysian! Even though I'm the only one dining here, everyone working in Damansara is very nice. The only table I sit is where the sunlight shines through the curtains and into my food and drink as if they're in the spotlight. For my appetizer, Roti Chanai with vegan curry dip. While the roti is nice and fresh, the mild dip delivers pleasant tones of a bit of tart and savory flavors. That's something new for my palate! Then comes the star of tonight's dining experience, Vegan Laksa! Adding an extra spiciness can bring a total of three chili peppers, yikes! More coconut cream? Extra noodles? Or more laksa broth? None of the above! I can smell my bowl of broth a half dozen inches away. The laksa spices definitely hit the spot. And since it's medium spicy, it's practically painful, but a man like me can handle this much spiciness based on how much my body can take it. As for the mushrooms, green beans, and tofu cubes, they're all in good quality. Red bean coconut shaved ice with pandan jelly (Chendol) never disappoints. I can handle the frozen chunks similar to when I handle the laksa spices. I like how my female server comes to my table every time since I'm the only one dining. Everything from a laksa bowl to shaved ice was perfectly executed; all made with such promising efforts. There are still many restaurants where I encounter spicy foods before I decide to fall back to choosing a mild level. May their business continue to shed more light for La Cocina. read more
Came here for a quick dinner. Popiah was fine. Was not a fan of the raved about cereal fried chicken. Did not try the classics and opted for the chili pan mee and it was spicy! But was lacking in flavor for me. I'll come back and try the nasi lemak and laksa next time. Thanks! read more
Situated right off San Jose Ave, Damansara is a cute little mom and pop restaurant (malaysian own from KL). Went on a sunday and parking was pretty easy. We got reservation but it was pretty free, so prob was not necessary. There was only one waitress and she was very attentive. She checked on us every now and then to make sure we had everything and refilled our waters at least 3x. We enjoyed the otak, laksa, fried chicken. The popiah was ok, good but likely wont get again. The cendol was ok also and will get again as it is mom's fav dessert. The mee goreng fel like malay korean to me. I made that term up but the sweet and spicyness made me felt that way. It is way saucier than traditional malay mee goreng. It felt quite fusion. Will return to try the coconut laksa next time to comepare and get the roti canai. Total came to $120 for 3, so ~$40/person. So little southeast asian food left in the city. Pls go support them! read more
2 years ago
Excellent service! This is the ONLY Malaysian restaurant I care to go to in SF for the last year or so... that one place in Chinatown is super lacking in the one thing quintessential to Malaysian cuisine: hospitality. Damansara thrives at making their guests feel at home and I love bringing family and friends here. We had the rendang and omg...having been to KL many times over the years I am so picky about the texture of rendang and Damansara is the expert, if not the maker of the best I've ever had. You can tell they really take their time slow cooking their meat with imported spices. The laksa was amazing and the cendol was just like the kind my grandmother used to love to order at the food court in Midvalley. Damansara is truly the next best thing to a plane ticket back to Malaysia. Cant wait to try the chili pan meen!!! read more
as a singaporean-malaysian, I was excited to try this! I did not have to wait for a walk in on Sunday night, but I arrived around 6. food came out really quickly, and the staff were super nice and attentive (filling our glasses often). the dishes seemed pretty authentic, but I wish the sambal was spicier. I also wish the rendang was a bit more tender and moist -- it was a bit dry. the laksa was complex in flavor and not spicy at all. I wish they were more generous with the egg and shrimp. in general, pretty pricey but worth a try if you have never had Malaysian food. read more
We came by for dinner early on a Saturday. We had classic dishes - beef rendang and the laksa soup. The food tasted good; rich and spicy. Maybe a little too rich/spicy because i felt a little gassy afterward, but that may just be me. We didn't have any cocktails but they did look good, asian inspired. Overall a good experience, a little on the pricier side but the quality seems to justify it. Peanut allergy: some items have peanuts - we let the waiter know and i had no issues with cross contamination here. read more
Malaysian restaurants are rare, and this one seems authentic. Ambiance is nice-casual and the restaurant is very clean. Service was very friendly! We only tried the Asam Laksa, which is my favorite Malaysian dish. The flavors were right-- which is honestly so rare. The shrimp sauce (in the spoon) and the mackerel tamarind soup really made it feel real. However, the noodles were overcooked and really short, the soup was very salty and I wished there was more broth. Definitely had the potential to live up to the stuff in Malaysia, but it fell a bit short. Would be willing to try this place again to explore more of the menu. 3.5-4 stars for now! read more
I came here for lunch during SF restaurant week! Malaysian/Indonesian/Singaporean food is pretty hard to come by so I was very excited to try this place. There was around a 20 min wait when we got there, seemed like the restaurant was not used to such a large crowd as we were told the kitchen was backed up but not all the tables were filled. Restaurant week brunch was $25 for a milk tea, mee goreng or char kway teow, and a roti channai (choice between sweet or savory). I thought this was a really good deal and we got a lot of food through this combo! I loved the sweet roti with the pandan kaya, and ordering both noodle dishes medium spicy was the perfect level for me. I do wish there was a little bit more of a generous meat portion in the noodle dishes though. Overall was a great meal and I would definitely come back to try some of their other dishes! read more
We visited Damansara as a part of SF Restaurant week 2023. It was a small cozy restaurant. I really the feel and vibe of it. It had a modern interior but environment felt warm. Luckily for us, we walked in and were able to get seated. We made our selections and ordered. Service was very attentive. There was a server that went around making sure our glasses were full of water. I ordered the cereal chicken version of the hawker snack flight. The food was good but thought it would be nice if the chicken was hot (instead of warm) and crispy. The popiah had a bit too much sauce which made it quite salty. The taro cake was delicious in my opinion and different from the taro cakes I've had at dimsum places. I selected the laksa as my main. The soup was delicious and hearty. The noodles were slightly overcooked which made it soft instead "elastic/springy" but it was fine still. Overall, decent laksa but the one I tried in socal is still better. Our table also got the chili crab. The crab was fresh! You can tell from the meat. The buns that came with the crab soak up the chili sauce so well. It's a must try. The cassava cake we got to conclude the meal with was warm and brulee'd on one side. It was not too sweet and one of the best cassava cakes I've tried. Overall, I feel Damansara is solid and would definitely coming back. read more
The vibes of this place were amazing, so I'm pretty bummed that the food was a miss for me! Our group did the SF restaurant week deal, which is $45 for a 4 course meal. Considering the first and last course were pretty small and the apps too, I don't know if I'd recommend it since the entree itself I couldn't finish half. I was really excited for the rendang as it's rare to find Malaysian food in SF, but the flavors just felt lacking to me. It was oddly not salty or moist enough, and the ratio of beef to rice to cucumber was a bit odd too. My favorite course was definitely the cassava cake at the end, warm and buttery. read more
4.5 stars but rounding up to 5 in hopes they continue to stay open! The highs on the menu are very high, but there are a few lows that I hope they'll work out. * Loaded taro cake - 5/5. I loved how the taro was simultaneously crisp and soft on the inside, and the umami toppings were an outstanding contrast. This felt very unique and perfectly executed. I still think about it all the time. * Curry puff - 4/5. It was like a samosa but filled with a curry potato mixture. I didn't realize the early bird menu version ($10) doesn't come with a dip and pickles like the regular version ($14) but either way the price feels a little steep for what it is. It was tasty though! * Vegetarian popiah - 5/5. Like the taro cake, this felt like something I couldn't find anything else. It was surprisingly crispy on the inside and had a nice blend of textures. Really flavorful and felt like a combo between a omelet and a summer roll. Would definitely get again, but I think it's only on the early bird menu. * Vegan laksa - 3/5. It wasn't bad but the broth mainly tasted like coconut milk and lime juice. I felt it lacked the umami presence that the vegan laksas at Lion Dance and Dabao both have. * Asam laksa - 5/5. I've never had this kind of laksa before but it was really good! Instead of being coconut-based, the broth is lighter and a little sour thanks to the tamarind which goes really well with the fish flavors and mint. My only complaint was there weren't really any fish pieces, so it felt a little homogeneous texture-wise. * Vegan rendang - 3/5. Not bad but the rendang was underseasoned and the texture was a little too firm. * Fried bread and kaya dessert - 5/5. OMG one of the only desserts I crave on a regular basis. Imagine mini fried donuts but instead of glaze you get this incredible kaya (pandan, egg yolk, and coconut-cream) custard topping. Ambiance - fairly quiet at early dinner hours even on weekends (though I hope that changes soon) so no need to reserve a table for now. read more
2 years ago
Had a very tasty meal here with great service. Will definitely go back and get some of the same things and some new ones. What we had: Roti chanai, beef rendang, garlic chips, crab 3 ways (cereal, chili and pepper), chendol, sweet sambal, shrimp sambal The highlights: Across the board, all dishes were intensely and well flavored as expected of Malaysian food. There was not one dull dish but the highlight was the beef rendang and pepper crab (although all were good). read more
Came here recently for SF restaurant week and took advantage of the 3 course menu. Damansara is a quaint spot in Noe Valley with modest ambiance and plenty of flavorful Malaysian dishes. The appetizer flight (spring roll, pork meatball, and murtabak) was my favorite part of the meal and honestly pretty filling in itself. My entree, the signature laksa, tasted alright in the moment but is one of those things that actually tasted better and more flavorful as leftovers after a couple days. The cassava butter cake was a nice way to end the meal but everything else was so filling it made it difficult to finish off this dense dessert. Overall a nice place with good service and would come back if in the area. read more
1 year ago
Went back a second time and food was yummy but not authentic. Couldn't taste any belacan in the laksa. Nasi lemak rice didn't have any coconut fat flavor or fragrance. Sambal was not good. Should have known based on how they spell belacan and roti canai with an "h" :( smfh Waiter was nice and I liked the vibe but probably wouldn't go back a third time :p read more
We REALLY wanted to love this spot. Amazing staff and attentive service not to mention a beautiful bar and drink selection. However we came to taste the famous 2 day broth laska and we were ...disappointed. We found our dish was severely lacking flavor no notes of any spices or herbs while lacking salt. We were especially excited to sample the laska as the menu stated SPICY in bold and caps so we were eager for a tasty bite but was met with a broth that failed to deliver on any spice flavor. At $24 a bowl we really wanted to be blown away but found ourselves with more to be desired. Excited to try the small menu our party of two practically ordered half the menu to get a good sampling yet we found 2/5 dishes to actually be tasty and worth the price point. Notable mentions were the fish paste and the salted egg fried chicken dishes. The fish was tasted well seasoned and bright with citrus notes and overall a great pairing with some rice! Our only qualm with the salted egg fried chicken was there wasn't much salted egg flavor. However the chicken was juicy so it was a good bite but lacked in the salted egg delivery. We also ordered the coconut sticky rice and again we were met with little to no coconut flavor and the sticky rice didn't seem to be much sticky-er than overcooked jasmine rice. We also tried the deep fried mantou and we found it to have a beautiful crispy exterior but the oil seemed to ooze out the mantou after one bite. Overall we really wanted love this place as we heard good reviews in the news but were let down. Our hunt for a great laska place continues on! read more
2 years ago
Owner gets defensive about negative reviews in google, just read their spiteful response, it's always the customers problem. Came in at 2pm on a Sunday, was told dogs aren't allowed which is fine as I can always leave him in the car (with dog mode) Lady insisted I do a take away instead of dining in. Found out they close 3pm and they flip their sign close at 2:30pm quite unprofessional if you ask me. Food was not the same, not sure what happened. Asam Laksa use to be good they no longer use sardine in their asam laksa. Rendang was dry. I must say the only redeeming dish was their babi keluak. Attached is the proof of my claim. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
3.5 STARS Rice is life! If there were more Malaysian (or Singaporean) restaurants, I would be in trouble. Say, goodbye to the IF life... And, say, hello to the...Fatty Rice life. Nasi Lemak aka Fatty Rice is the national dish of Malaysia that's traditionally eaten for breakfast. And, it would make me a breakfast convert...if it was more easily found. Well, you can now get your Nasi Lemak fix at Damansara but only for dinner. Damansara started as a pop-up in the owner-chef's apartment and she now has a brick and mortar space in Noe (formerly Ardiana). Malaysian restaurants are a unicorn so obvs there's lot of hype and people are excited...I sure was. They're currently open for indoor dining only. No rezzies, walk-ins only. There was a line before opening so def get there early to make the first wave. I wanted to order takeout but they're not offering it so I just sat at the counter for for a quick dinner. M E N U Small focused menu of six small plates ($7-$16), three entrees ($22-$24.50), and two desserts ($6-$7): https://tinyurl.com/3rt36zec. Beer, wine, and sake-based cocktails available. *** "20% Workers' Equity Fee is added to every check. This fee is NOT a tip, it is equally distributed to all employees." *** Suggested tip: 15%, 20%, and 25%. F O O D * Nasi Lemak: Ayam goreng, coconut rice, egg, pickles, peanuts, crispy anchovies, sambal tumis ($22): https://tinyurl.com/2fr2tfj6 -- Ayam goreng (fried chicken): Large, meaty bone-in fried thigh with a deliciously crunchy skin and golden flaky crumb. Unfortunately, the chicken itself was dry and underspiced. -- Coconut rice: Soft and fluffy but the coconut flavor was too subtle to detect. I had to look back at the menu to confirm it actually said, "coconut"; it did. -- Egg: Standard hard boiled egg (half). -- Ikan bilis (fried anchovies) + roasted peanuts added a great textural contrast to the soft rice. -- Acar (pickled veggies): The pickled veggies had a nice tang with a touch of sweetness. -- Cucumber: Crisp and refreshing. -- Sambal tumis (stir-fried chili paste): Too mild for me; I was hoping for more boldness and heat. * Cassava Bingka Ubi: Flourless cake w/ cassava, eggs, butter, coconut ($6): https://tinyurl.com/2p9buem8 Dense, chewy, and coconutty with a crispy top reminiscent to a torched brûlée. Not overly sweet which I appreciated. S E R V I C E Friendly and prompt. I ordered as soon as I was seated at the counter. My order arrived in 10 minutes so I was able to have a quick meal. A M B I A N C E Casual and minimalist with a small bar area and counter seats overlooking the open kitchen. P A R K I N G Residential and metered parking. Overall, the Nasi Lemak flavors didn't quite hit for me (or it could be my palate) but Damansara is brand new so I'm sure it's just a matter of fine-tuning things. Would def visit again when they offer takeout or outdoor seating in the future. read more
I'm really happy that Chef Tracey has finally opened her own brick and mortar restaurant. I've been a huge fan since she was doing pop-ups in her apartment and, for me, she still holds the title of best pop-up for her Malaysian Crab three ways. When I saw that this was opening up, I had to go right away. My friend and I came here at 6 pm on their first Friday service. There were no reservations but we luckily got their last open table. We each had a bowl of the Damansara laksa and shared the satay, cereal and salted egg fried chicken and Nasi Lemak (fried chicken) meal (this was way too much food). Everything was perfect and flavorful. I would say that the satay and the laksa are must-orders. Service was good and the restaurant had a nice layout with tables as well as counter seating. Prices are reasonable. Given the quantity of food we ordered, this was about $85 per person but you should be able to get dinner for around $50. They automatically add a 20% workers equity fee which always makes it awkward when it comes time to tipping (I still have a decent tip on top even though most folks I know would just add 5% after the 20%). Highly recommended and I really hope that laksa becomes as popular as ramen some day. I can't wait until she introduces her Malaysian crab to the menu. read more
Cute interior, great service, and tasty food! I had the cereal and salted egg yolk fried chicken, Asam Laksa, and keropok. All were quite good! I especially enjoyed the asam laksa, although, I thought it would be more funky/pungent based off the description! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Craving laksa and feeling Sunday lazy, we were happy to find some within Noe! We got there before 6:30, meaning we were able to take advantage of their happy hour deals (discounted small bites and huge curry puff? Say less.) We ordered the pescatarian trio, curry puff, and laksa. The popiah was delicious- we definitely should have gotten shrimp to add to the sweet sauce. The curry puff was ENORMOUS and had a very generous portion of curry filling inside a perfectly crispy and flaky shell. The laksa was yummy as well, with a more mild flavor profile but still creamy and savory. Service was also extremely attentive and friendly- I don't think I ever saw the bottom of my water glass. We will def be back to sample the rest of the menu and enable our lazy Sunday dinners. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Came here for SF Restaurant Week! Ordered the $25 brunch Special. Service was attentive but could be slow since there was only 1 waiter for the entire restaurant. I was lucky to find parking in the front. Interior is well decorated & the glass panel on the countertop seating makes it inviting as you can see the chef cook! Roti Chanai - 8.5/10 I love the texture of the roti, the curry sauce had the seasoning but I felt it could have been more full bodied as the consistency was like drinking soup Milk Tea - 10/10 I ordered a hot teh tarik & it hits the spot, always a fan of this preparation & HK style milk tea. Beware if you order it iced as the flavor profile is more milky. Kaya Toast - 9/10 Love that they make their kaya in house, only reason its not at a 10 is because of how little spread there was on the toast but overall anything kaya flavored is a MUST Char Kway Teow - 6.5/10 Which was surprising given that this dish is a Malaysian staple. Portion size is great but looking at the bottom of the bowl there was a pool of sauce underneath. Rice noodles were a bit undercooked but my main complaint was the lack of seasoning, dark soy sauce was plentiful but could have used more light soy, oyster sauce, or kecap manis. Forgot to request spicy but the server gave some hot sauce which redeemed the dish for me. There was some good wok hei given the charring but maybe a bit longer on the wok would have been perfect! Overall it was the blandness that killed it for me I do love that this restaurant is in the Noe Valley which saves me from having to travel far! Will still come back to sample the other dishes as those are very hard to find in SF unless you make them at home. read more
Get The Crabs! Laksa is great and I adore the beef rendeng but the crabs are what bring T and I back. Get 1.5 crabs with all the different sauces if you can't decide. You can designate half a crab for each sauce! My personal favorite is the chili crab but you really can't go wrong. The black pepper crab is a bit sweeter, and the cereal egg one is a little more earthy. Chendol ice was a new item for us and it was fantastic. Super refreshing and a great way to wrap up the meal. read more
Delicious, cozy ambiance, and kind service! :) I'm absolutely coming back to try the crab everyone was munching on, with a fun little bib on. I also want to try the popiah!!! The asam laksa & kaya bread was mind blowing!!! And as a curry puff fanatic/Singaporean, I'd say it was pretty authentic. Nasi lemak chicken was solid but the sambal chili was lacking in my opinion. More expensive than I was expecting but a solid spot. read more
3 years ago
Found this place on IG and decided to give it a try ordered a few dishes. The Adam laksa and curry puff were my favorite. The flavors tasted ever authentic. However I wanted to get the crab since they're advertising it for the holidays. This was where things needed improvement. I've genuinely never in my entire life had crab that was so dry in my life. The sauce didn't really pick up and honestly felt like I got a not fresh crab. Asinine to charge market price for crab just to overcook it. Would come back but would not recommend getting the crab lowkey a scam. read more
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More info about Damansara
Ask the Community - Damansara
Do they serve halal meat?
The menu warns of possible undercooking, but doesn't say which dishes. If it applies to only certain non-vegan dishes, please add a symbol saying which dishes. I'd be surprised at beef rendang or nasi lemak. Are they subject to this warning?
I see the menu no longer mentions the 20% equity fee, and says a 20% service fee may be added for parties of six or more. Can anyone confirm that they no longer have any other service fees, either an equity fee or a San Francisco mandate surcharge?
Only service fee for large parties.
Is there outdoor or patio seating?
No, it's 100% indoor seating. Also, tables are close together. I understand this, because it's a small place. If you're trying to distance, you may be uncomfortable unless you take care to go off peak times and have a back up plan nearby just in…
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