Being a melting of different cultures and races intermingling with each other, Malaysia is a foodie’s paradise when it comes to what to eat for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and supper! One cuisine that still lines the streets of Kuala Lumpur till this very day is Middle Eastern cuisine still serving up great shawarmas and other great delights that is tasty and Halal! Restoran Yalla Yalla is one such eatery where they cook up daily Middle Eastern specials that fills the stomach!
Run by a local Malay Muslim owner, Yalla Yalla is a pretty small establishment with menus and daily specials posted on the windows. With many items on the menu primarily consisting of Middle Eastern dishes such as Briyani and Mandy rice, shawarmas, and local dishes such as spaghetti, burgers, and tidbits like curry puff and fried chicken displayed on the front desk.
Starting with their Fried Chicken & Fries, it’s a classic appetizer dish to get the meal started. This two-piece set of flavourful and spicy chicken wings and fries can make a light and savoury snack all on its own.
Shawarmas are the definitive Middle Eastern dish that is beloved by Malaysians across the country. Their Chicken Shawrma is cooked with marinated chicken and wrapped together with veggies in pita bread. It’s also served together with a special hot chilli sauce and yogurt that gives the spicy chicken a kick of sourness for a fresh taste. Similarly, the Falafel Shawarma is much sweeter and catered towards vegetarians with chickpea falafel stuffed inside the shawarma instead, with the sauces this time giving the chickpeas a savoury punch of flavour.
For their rice dishes, the Chicken Briyani is roasted dry chicken packed full of flavour served together with yellow briyani rice. It includes the sauces that come with the shawarma dishes above, but with an extra special condiment that gives the meat and rice a fruity and tangy depth of flavour. Similarly, the Beef Mandy consists of large pieces of roasted beef served on colourful orange and red rice that is flavourful, meaty and filling.
Lastly, the Devil Crab is a single freshwater crab cooked in a chilli-based broth and soft vegetables. Despite its looks and the name, the onions and chillis as incredibly sweet and tangy with a mild spicy flavour that goes well with the plain white briyani rice. The crab meat inside cooked with the juices of the sauce gives the meat inside the shells an incredibly sweet taste like none other.
If you are looking for a place where you can dine on affordable Middle Eastern cuisine, then Yalla Yalla is every bit as authentic with great price and value!
Food & Drink: 5/10
Ambience: 4/10
Overall Score: 5/10
Address: No. G-20, Ground Floor, Saville @ Melawati, 2, Jalan Kolam Air, Desa Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur Operating Hours: Every day, 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.