3 top GST-free restaurants in Klang Valley

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has come into force for a month now, and because we know many of you are feeling that pinch eating out at your favourite restaurant, we’ve listed down three of our favourite spots that are doubly awesome because they’ve absorbed the 6% tax.

Feast your eyes and fill your bellies at these three picks

Simply Mels

Simply Mel’s serves up authentic Kristang food from the owner’s own family recipes. – Photos courtesy of Simply Mel’s Facebook page

Simply Mel's is the first place that springs to mind whenever we think of authentic Kristang (Malaccan-Portuguese) food, and now we have more reason to feast there.

The owners of this cosy restaurant in Bangsar South announced they would maintain the pricing on their menu, and instead, reduce the service tax from 10% to 4% to offset the GST charges.

They’ve requested for patrons to tip their wait-staff if they’re happy with the service, and we for one, are more than happy to do so!

The restaurant dishes up family recipes in a comfortable setting and we get a feeling that the wait-staff are all part of one big family, lending an air of homeliness to the dining experience.

We loved their fish sambal binagre, cutlets of deep-fried mackerel smothered in a tangy and sweet sambal. Another dish we’d highly recommend is the cencalok omelette (RM15.90), the perfect pairing of eggs and the inimitable tangy flavours of fermented shrimp. Perfect with a bowl of white rice!

Simply Mel’s also serves up a mean Malacca laksa (RM17.90), and their version of fried kueh teow (RM16.90) – a slightly wetter and sweeter take on the classic noodle dish – was also very satisfying.

The laksa was a huge serving of fish cakes, omelette, tofu puffs, shredded chicken and bean sprouts on a bed of laksa noodles. Delicious and satisfying.

Simply Mel’s | Add: 1 -1A Level 1 The Sphere, No. 1, Avenue 1, Bangsar South 8, Jalan Kerinchi | Tel: 03-2241 4525 | Opening hours: 10am-10pm from Mondays to Fridays, 12pm-10pm weekends | GPS coordinates: 3.11142,101.66748 | Pork-free

Banana leaf restaurant at Universiti Malaya Academic Club

A beautiful mess of Indian rice, five types of vegetables, fried mackerel and loads and loads of curry and dhall. On Tuesdays and Fridays, there are more vegetable options available. – The Malaysian Insider pic, May 4, 2015.

Even though this banana leaf restaurant is located right smack next to the ever-busy Jalan Universiti in Petaling Jaya, it is quite literally a hidden gem.

Housed in an old bungalow that serves as the meeting point for the Universiti Malaya Academic Club, the kitchen is run by Serai Shakti Caterer and has none of the frills of some other fancier (and pricier) joints, but is all about good, old-school banana leaf rice.

The standard vegetarian set (RM5) alone would be good enough to satisfy any diner, and coming from carnivores like us, that’s saying a lot.

With five different types of vegetables alongside a delicious mango chutney, each bite of the fragrant Indian rice soaked in curry was totally satisfying.

We also sampled some of the side dishes, and would highly recommend the mutton curry (RM6 a serving) for its delicious gameyness and soft, tender chunks of meat.

We also had the deep-fried mackerel (RM5 a fillet) which was fresh and perfectly cooked so that it was slightly crispy on the outside, while retaining tender flakes of fish on the inside.

We ended our thoroughly satisfying meal with a large glass of rassam and a very frothy teh tarik masala (RM3).

If you’re looking for home-cooked flavours in your curry and vegetables, then this banana leaf restaurant is your best bet for good, wholesome and unpretentious food at very reasonable prices.

Universiti Malaya Academic Club | Add: 1, Jalan 12/5, Petaling Jaya | Tel: 012-3320233, 012-9757631 | Opening hours: 11.30am-3pm (banana leaf), 6pm-11pm, closed on Sundays | GPS coordinates: 3.117166, 101.648800 | Halal

Sausage and Ribs Shack

The signature pork ribs are lovingly marinated and then barbequed with a home-made sauce, resulting in tender, juicy and absolutely delicious ribs. – Photos courtesy of Sausage and Ribs Shack Facebook page.

If you’re in the mood for finger-licking pork ribs, homemade sausages and all manner of comfort food made with so much heart, we could almost taste the love and dedication, then you must check out this cosy diner in Taman Midah, Cheras.

A family-run restaurant, Sausage and Ribs Shack is helmed by owner Yeoh, who does all the cooking in the kitchen. Their signature pork ribs (RM60 a full rack) was an absolute joy to wolf-down, the flesh juicy and fall-off-the-bone.

Because we were told Yeoh’s homemade sausages were also not to be missed, we ordered the sausage platter (RM35) which was a mixture of juicy, perfectly seasoned chicken and pork sausages in an assortment of flavours.

All the sausages are made with natural sheep intestine casings and had a lovely bite to them.

Yeoh also serves homemade pastas, and the four-cheese jalapeno pizza (RM20), a thin-crust pizza that is perfectly crispy and delightfully satisfying in its simplicity!

The four-cheese jalapeno pizza is the perfect appetiser or meal on its own. Only problem is you probably will not be able to stop at just one slice.

Sausage and Ribs Shack | Address: 9, Jalan 2/105, Taman Midah, 56000 Kuala Lumpur | Tel: 03-91743866/016-2292168 | Opening hours: 12pm-10pm on Monday and Tuesday, 9am-10.30pm on Saturdays, 6pm-10.30pm on Sundays | GPS coordinates: 3.089656, 101.726506 | Non-halal – May 4, 2015.

*All of The Malaysian Insider food reviews are incognito and represent the personal opinions of our merry band of foodies. If you know of any restaurant serving awesome grub and you’d like to share it with the rest of the world, drop us a line with details at [email protected].