Very few would turn down the opportunity to feast like an Emperor. Someone who didn’t was our Malaysia-based lifestyle writer Ong Chin Huat, who was invited to experience a flavoursome meal at EMP KL, a brand-new upscale Chinese restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
Opened in December last year, the new upscale Chinese restaurant EMP KL has garnered many fans and followers thanks to its delicious take on Chinese cuisine, which food connoisseurs and critics have lauded as both modern and authentic.
EMP KL is located at The Westin Kuala Lumpur and is divided into a main dining area with an open kitchen on one side and eleven private dining rooms on another. It boasts an excellent view which looks onto the capital city’s main shopping drag, Jalan Bukit Bintang.
I found the restaurant to have a warm and inviting ambience with its earthy colour palette with touches of imperial grandeur. The combination will give any diner a sense of luxury, and the intricate latticework clay carvings are the icing on the cake.
Among its mouth-watering offerings are Chilled Ice Plant Salad with Yuzu Dressing, a refreshing and tangy starter or the Crispy King Prawns with Wasabi Mayo for an added crunchy zing. For those who like a warm bowl of soup, the Braised Hot and Sour Seafood Broth have a rich and satisfying texture that is both nourishing and appetising.
Seafood fans will be in for an absolute treat thanks to EMP KL’s breath of piscine dishes.
The Giant River Prawns Chee Cheong Fun in Claypot is a speciality as it marries a popular street food with succulent giant prawns, while the Steamed Bamboo Fish Canton Style in Lotus Leaves enables all the flavours of the steamed fish to be retained due to it being wrapped up inside the lotus leaves.
The Tiger Prawns in Barbecue Beijing Royal Style is a dish to end all cravings and one to order if you wish to impress any important clients. While the Sweet and Sour Golden Prawns in Hawthorn Berry Gravy give a new piquant twist to a perennial favourite. The Baked River King Prawns with Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese, on the other hand, mixes eastern and western ingredients to create a desirable dish which tantalises the taste buds.
For those who love duck, the Signature Crispy London Duck is a must-have as it uses duck specially imported from the UK and is roasted to crisp perfection, while the Golden Crispy Garlic Chicken is comfort food at its best, albeit with an added flair. For beef lovers, the Tea-smoked Beef Short Ribs and Wok-Fried Japanese A5 Wagyu Beef with Black Bean Paste must be savoured to be believed how tender and luscious the meat is.
Although it is a pork-free restaurant, EMP KL includes Dim Sum on its menu, which is served daily from 10 am to 3 pm. The Threesome Dim Sum consists of Cod Fish with Crab Meat and Squid Ink Dumplings, Homemade Fish Dumplings and Minced Chicken with Chives Dumplings.
To end the meal on a sweet note, I suggest ordering the Red Ruby Bubur Cha Cha, a typical Malaysian dessert or trying the Crispy Coconut Pancake with Gula Melaka.
EMP KL – Where and how?
EMP KL is located at 1st Floor, The Westin Kuala Lumpur, No199 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +6010 303 0011.
For further information on the restaurant and its wide range of dishes, please visit https://empkl.com.
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