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Welcome to Hakka Republic where the only thing Hakka about this place is this smiling naked peeing kid.
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Corn bread and sweet buns
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Okay, the truth is, I have no inkling as to what Hakka decor is supposed to look like, but I must say that I was very impressed when I stepped into Hakka Republic last night. The place is dimly lit, perfect for a romantic tryst but not necessarily for that purpose only, and the decor is oriental chic, classy with dark wood fixtures, high ceilings and wall to wall windows that overlook the bustling Changkat Raja Chulan road on one side and a rooftop garden on the other side. A bar counter separates the dining and drinks section, and whilst the tableware, music and decor suggest a classy environment, there is no dress code at Hakka Republic. Good news for those who are glued to their slippers.
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Steamed Grade 9 Wagyu with Ponzu Sauce (RM120/100g)
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The corn bread and sweet buns are such a treat for our asian palates which are more accustomed to softer breads. Grade 9 wagyu is served as a starter here, and the marbling is perfect for steaming, resulting in melting tender slices, which, when dipped liberally into the ponzu sauce and sesame sauce, is simply remarkable.
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Tuna Tartar with Green Tea Cold Soba (RM25 for a full portion)
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Champagne
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Wild Trio Mushroom Soup with Truffle Oil (RM22 for a full portion)
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Ciku Sorbet – palate cleanser
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The menu is clearly Western with Japanese influences. Chef Adi Radzi has trained for several years in Japan and his accumulated experience of 11 years in the industry there is put to good use at Hakka Republic. Another starter, the marinated tuna tartar served with springy green tea cold soba with a citrus dressing, is an example of Chef Adi’s prowess in Japanese cooking. The mushroom soup is rich and thick (although I didn’t quite taste the truffle oil) but the William Fevre Chablis 2005 with its fruity nose and mild acidity was an excellent pairing that reduced the cloying feeling from the soup.
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Miso Marinated Black Cod (RM55 for a full portion)
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Slow Braised Black Angus Beef Cheek with Creamy Polenta (RM52 for a full portion)
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Wines
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Between the two Mains that I tried, I preferred the slow braised black angus cheek with creamy polenta over the miso marinated black cod with braised baby kailan and sesame dressing. This certainly doesn’t indicate that the black cod dish is substandard; au contraire, it was excellent too with its buttery texture that absorbed the miso seasoning. But the angus cheek was gelatinous and melt-in-your-mouth and so amazingly good that I had to stop myself from yelling Hallelujah for this RM52 dish of ecstasy.
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Desserts – Hakka Republic’s Special Rich Fruit Cake with Brandy Sauce, Sticky Date Pudding, Baileys Infused Croissant and Butter Pudding
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Desserts felt like Christmas, especially since fruit cake was served. No complaints here. Everything was good.
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Enomatic Machines
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I first heard about the Enomatic Machines from Masak-Masak’s blog and was keen to see it for myself. Hakka Republic is perhaps the only bar in Malaysia that owns one. The enomatic machines allow bottles to be opened and protects the wine from oxidation. They purportedly preserve the quality of the wine for up to three weeks. With up to 16 bottles attached to the machine, this basically means that customers can have tasting portions of any of these wines (at different prices) instead of purchasing full bottles.
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The restaurant runs Friday lunches (4 courses) at RM48+ (without wine) and RM86+ (with 3 glasses of wine) which I think is pretty reasonable for food of this quality. I also like the fact that it’s happy hours all day long on weekends!
Thanks very much, Sue Lim, for the invitation to dine at Hakka Republic. Please note that the food featured above are all tasting portions and are thus smaller than the actual serving size.
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Hakka Republic (website HERE)
Lot 2.05, Level 2
Menara Hap Seng
Jalan P Ramlee
50200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2078 8908/9908
Open daily for lunch and dinner (exception: closed Saturday lunch).
Pork free.
NB: Thank you Ryan Khang and Fatboybakes for kindly inviting me to Hakka Republic. I’d be lost and lonely and friendless without you.
Hi, I’m Chucky! Mummy sez don’t play wif your food (Artistically created by Ciki of CumidanCiki)