Wild horses shouldn't keep fans of modern Asian fare away from this lovely, leafy eatery; across the street from Merchant's Lane, the team behind one of Chinatown's top cafes has crafted another alluringly atmospheric venue, heralding the evolution of their ambitions with a full-fledged restaurant where the kitchen explores rambunctiously original recipes that blend Japanese with Thai inspirations, Chinese with Mexican, Malaysian with French; where memorable meals are made for sharing and talking about throughout a two-level space; where dynamic cocktails and delectable wines flow for hours after the sun sets.
Cancun comes together with Canton for the pulled duck tacos, braised with five-spice powder, fleshy and full-bodied, rich in a deep, dark umami over wheat tortillas (RM28; a sprinkling of salsa might help for uplift), while San Luis Potosi meets Sichuan for the nachos, swapping the typical dip of cheesy minced beef for chicken mapo tofu instead, sultry but not overpoweringly fiery (RM24).
Wildflowers loves cooking under the influence of liquor: Red wine brings a sweet smoothness to the light-and-mild sambal prawn that's plopped with Peranakan-style vegetables over papadum, messy but moreish (RM28), while the kitchen's take on beef brisket evokes a cross between rustic French bourguignon and Hong Kong beef stew, slow-cooked initially with red wine, then splashed with Shao Xing minutes before being served, partnered with sliced Hainanese bread to soak up the meaty gravy (RM42).
Wildflowers
153, Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur.
Currently open for dinner by reservations; will commence regular lunch and dinner operations within this month. Tel: 03-2856-3369
This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com