ON Dec 13, the MICHELIN Guide presented its inaugural selection of 97 restaurants in Malaysia for the 2023 Kuala Lumpur and Penang guide, covering over 20 types of cuisine.
Amongst the 97 restaurants listed, four were recognised with one MICHELIN Star for their high-quality cooking and 32 establishments received a Bib Gourmand for offering delectable food at reasonable prices.
In Kuala Lumpur, Dewakan and DC. by Darren Chin were awarded one MICHELIN Star while Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery and Au Jardin represented Penang’s one MICHELIN Star counterparts.
According to Darren Chin, the cooks in their kitchen are mainly comprised of young Malaysians and having the MICHELIN Star in Malaysia is a good incentive to keep local talents in Malaysia which will help grow our culinary scene.
Chef Su Kim Hock of Au Jardin says that it is a team effort and one of the major keys to being successful is allowing his chefs to have creative freedom when dreaming up new menus.
“Our first selection in Malaysia highlights the diversity of cuisine on offer in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, reflecting the uniqueness of the country’s multi-ethnic culture in gastronomy,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide.
Poullennec also added that it’s “just the beginning for Kuala Lumpur and Penang’s gastronomic journey” and that their inspection team “is looking forward to exploring a lot more of Malaysia”.
A MICHELIN star is recognised in every country. By putting Malaysia on the MICHELIN map, it shows that Malaysia restaurants are also on par with restaurants from other countries.
Besides awarding MICHELIN Stars and Bib Gourmands, MICHELIN Guide inspectors also kept a lookout for service professionals worthy of the MICHELIN Special Awards. In this edition, Leanne Lim of Dewakan earned the MICHELIN Service Award for her passion, attentiveness, and knowledge about the products served in the restaurant. Meanwhile, Mahamad Hafiz Abdullah of DC. by Darren Chin received the MICHELIN Sommelier Award for his extensive wine knowledge, recommendations, and pairings. Last but not least, Lim Yan You, 32, the chef de cuisine of Au Jardin, was presented the MICHELIN Young Chef Award as the ambassador for future chefs.
The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2023 will be available free of charge on the MICHELIN Guide website and app.
Restaurants awarded one MICHELIN Star
-> DC. by Darren Chin (Kuala Lumpur): Located along Persiaran Zaaba TTDI, Kuala Lumpur, DC Restaurant is housed in a three-storey building built in the 1970s. Each floor houses a different experience and serves four- to seven-course menus, including a vegetarian menu. Their dishes range from classic French to novel creations with Japanese influences.
-> Dewakan (Kuala Lumpur): Established in 2015, Dewakan highlights local ingredients from our seas to our farms and jungles. Its name is a portmanteau of the word “dewa” (meaning deity or god) and “makan” (meaning to eat) – representing “food from God”. Their prix fixe tasting menu includes fermented or dry-aged items made in-house, alongside seasonal fruits and herbs by chef Darren Teoh.
-> Au Jardin (Penang): Located in Hin Bus Depot, Restaurant au Jardin is the debut restaurant curated by Chef Su Kim Hock. serving the finest Contemporary Franco-Asian Cuisine. They are also known for their menus that change every month which also reflects both culinary tradition and creativity.
-> Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery (Penang): Chef Gaik Lean crafts quality Peranakan cuisine with her decades-long guarded secret recipes. Many items on the menu are made from scratch, including her heavenly pie tee and gulai tumis that uses over eight ingredients in the curry paste, such as fresh saffron.
Bib Gourmand List
(Kuala Lumpur)
-> Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh
-> Aliyaa
-> Anak Baba
-> Congkak (Bukit Bintang)
-> Dancing Fish
-> De. Wan 1958
-> Hai Kah Lang
-> Heun Kee Claypot Chicken Rice (Pudu)
-> Hing Kee Bakuteh (Jalan Kepong)
-> Lai Fong Lala Noodles
-> Nam Heong Chicken Rice
-> Nasi Ayam Hainan Chee Meng (Jalan Kelang Lama)
-> Restoran Pik Wah
-> Sao Nam
-> Wong Mei Kee
(Penang)
-> Bridge Street Prawn Noodle
-> Communal Table by Gēn
-> Duck Blood Curry Mee’
-> Green House Prawn Mee & Loh Mee
-> Ivy’s Nyonya Cuisine
-> Ming Qing Charcoal Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
-> Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay
-> Neighbourwood
-> Penang Road Famous Laksa
-> Rasa Rasa
-> Sardaarji
-> Taman Bukit Curry Mee
-> Teksen
-> Thara
-> Theeni Pandarams
-> Tho Yuen
-> Wan Dao Tou Assam Laksa
