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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)
Love the first pic — FBB would be so glad to have a Happy Twin, in lieu of the clichéd evil twin.
Then again, it is FBB: Of course his Doppelgänger’s gonna be a happy version too! 😀
How odd that the desserts *were* Christmas-themed! Ha ha ha. The meal looks lovely, LL, and very decadent indeed! 🙂
sigh u make me miss the meal..
and wished how i bought my camera along…and BUY a flash..hahaha
definitely a keeper for a nice special meal with ur loved one..
LFB: Yes, FBB should count himself blessed.
Manggy: It’s especially odd, here in Malaysia, to find Fruit Cake served for desserts. But I’m not complaining. 🙂
Joe: Ask FBB to give you his pics since you took them for him. hahaha.
I like the new style.. Photos shot long. u may be on2 a new trend here. how come i missd lil hakka boy? So cute!
Ahh..the peeing kid is obscenely cute! If just judging by its name, would never hv thought this is a western fine-dining place – i was thinking you’d show stuff like YTF, mui choy kauyook etc…lol!
Great place for rendezvous!!! Lol…
The enomatic wine machine scores high for me… gotta try it soon!!!
Hakka Republic? Where’s the char yoke? Where’s the mui choy khau yoke?? Where’s the Lui Cha Farn??? 😀
When I first saw the title, I thought this may be a good place to bring my parents (return of the prodigal dotter?? :P) to sample some fancy hakka food for a change. But cheh….. Should have known when I saw the wagyu beef starter.
Now where was that place you had Lui Cha farn again? Somewhere in Klang?
C&C: Thanks dahling. Yar, hakka boy was in a corner. I was lucky to spot him when I was shooting the enomatic machines. I thot of FBB straight away.
Pureglutton: Hehe…it’s an interesting choice for a name. Imagine all those uncles and aunties sauntering up to Hakka Republic to have some good ol’ hakka food…kekekke.
thule aka leo: Bring ur wife and ur girl! hehe.
gfad: Idiot woman. 😛 The lui cha farn is in Bukit Tinggi, Klang. Hey, I can’t wait to hang out with you!! ^_^
it should be called ciki sorbet
u thot of fbb straight way? what.. the enomatic machines or the rolly polly hakka bwoy ..? 😀
C&C – just realised that I’d forgotten to put in that last pic in honour of ur creativity.
P.S. Oooh…errrr….both, I guess? FBB’s always so close to our hearts, isn’t he?
oh, that last photo?
well, I was lucky to spot him when I was shooting the enomatic machines. I thot of FBB straight away.
Ciki: You lost me at Oh.
oh, that last photo? (the one bout not playn with ur food?)
well, I was lucky to spot him when I was shooting the enomatic machines. I thot of FBB straight away.
you’re killing me…really you are….first my grandma, now meeeeee….aieeeeeee!!!
you’re welcome for the rescue from your previously friendless existence and friendless social life…
the food was amazing. And your pics does it justice!
manneken pis finally found an oriental friend.
cant wait to check out this place!
Wah.. Lovely pictures and lovely food. So opulent. Hakka Restaurant, Western Inspired Food, Malay Chef… 1Malaysia in real life…
Nice photos, as usual! 🙂 So many beef dishes, though I can’t take it, my bf, ys would love it. Would love to try the cod!
Yeah, gotta agree that the desserts look like Christmas desserts! Haha!
Totally agree with you about the Hakka boy being the only Hakka thing about the place.
I missed this for the Prom with no lucky draw gifts?? boo hoo!
I was somewhat disappointed that it turned out to be Hakka by name only… thought it’d be perfect for the visiting parents this weekend too. But corn bread! How can you not love a place that serves corn bread to start?!
ROFL @ FBB’s comment…He’s mentioned that he has asked you if you had any friends before blogging 😉 Food looks excellentlar..
Interesting place! From the name..i assumed it serves Hakka Food! The steamed wagyu is such a unique dish!
dat’s why mums tell their teenagers – don’t pick at ur zits or u will end up with a broccoli nose!! i present to u broccoli nose sculpture .. 😛
but meens, u hd lodsa frens b4 bloggin wat. just the othr day u intoduced me to chucky n freddy n the boogieman.. and not forgetting JASON.. he was in town for fri the 13th?!
FBB – eatchor words… 😛
Like the rest, am also dissappointed that there’s nothing Hakka about the food. There’s really not much Hakka restaurant around…
But the food looks really sumptious…..and definitely, an addition to list of place for lunch for the office crowd.
fatboybakes: Your benevolence has certainly earned you that fan club.
thenomadGourmand: Thank you, sweetie!
Hairy Berry: manneken pis?? apa tu?
Paranoidandroid: Good observation there! Ei, u forgot indian food blogger. 😛
Sugar Bean: Got lots of non-beef dishes too. The menu is available online, you know. Just click the link above.
jason: Hehe…oh well, I suppose it’s just a concept.
A Lil Fat Monkey: At least you got to wear your monkey suit.
550ml jar of faith and MH: I guess you just have to drill it in your head that it’s a western restaurant. Yeah, we could do with more hakka food as I’m also a big fan. And yes, corn bread is amazing!
unkaleong: I suppose I could ask you the same question, hor…dating within the blogging fraternity somemore….kekeke.
Precious Pea: interesting concepts. Yes, you must try the steamed wagyu some day.
ciki: are you saying that all my friends are spooks? Aeeeeiiiii! Not sure if you’re helping me. 😛
been meaning to try this place but my hakka boi said how to try when it’s not serving hakka food!!! hahaha adoi, its just a stone throw from my opis sum more :p
btw the road you see from their glass window is Jalan P. Ramlee
Thanks for pointing out the street, Babe! Maybe you can go with your colleagues instead? 😀
ohh looks very nice! and what a cool wine machine 🙂
LL, my coliks will never go to such places cos they’re very kiamsap :p will drag my hakka boi one day SOON! btw you looked absolutely beautiful in yday’s NST XOXO
Ah, got cheated by the restaurant name. Before reading the post I thought they serve Hakka food lol. No idea it’s fine dining at all.
Alexandra: Yeah, it’s a pretty cool wine machine, especially when you can store wine for that long after opening the bottle.
babe_kl: They have lunch specials. 🙂 And thanks! I almost missed that article.
Simon Seow: Ya, it’s an interesting name, alright. Gonna be tough explaining to uncles and aunties who are expecting good ol’ hakka food.
it’s an interesting choice for a name. Imagine all those uncles and aunties sauntering up to Hakka Republic to have some good ol’ hakka food..talking about pregulation
With images like the first one, you should have an “R” rating for this blog 🙂 Absolutely stunning pictures.
I went to Hakka Republic largely because of your blog and an article in the New York Times. It was my best experience in KL. The concept is good and with some fine tuning it can be big. The bar is amazing with good mix of Asian/Western music and the wine list has to be one of the best in KL. Service is friendly and I was recommended to try their Foie Gras, a new item on their menu. This was delicious and unique as it was flavoured with miso. For my mains I ordered their Steak which was excellent and for RM120-00 a bargain for US Prime. I had a steak at a 5 star hotel a couple of days ago which claimed to be the best in KL – it was nowhere close and more than double the price here.
Many thanks for a great tip. Going to try some of the local restaurants you wrote about. What about Chinese? What’s the best? I intend to shout a good meal for my host in KL.
Just ate at Hakka Republic recently. Seems that after 2 1/2 years many of the menu items are the same. Must mean they’ve stood the test of time. Loved their wine list and the wild mushroom soup too.