food

Bakso gets delicious fusion treatment at Rakshee

BY YAP PIK KUAN
January 15, 2016

If you like the bakso soup, then order it by the dozen. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 15, 2016. The carefully crafted Rakshee linguine wasn't just about throwing the bakso into a pasta but rather making sure the flavours complemented and matched each other.

Rakshee puts the spotlight on bakso, the classic Indonesian beef ball, with an inventive menu that incorporates the dish into anything from creamy carbonara to Swedish meatballs.

Located next to Ahmad & Co in Kota Damansara, Rakshee has been quietly but surely garnering a loyal following (especially on Instagram) since its inception in early 2015.

We were pointed in Rakshee's direction by a reader and boy, are we grateful for their recommendation.

Rakshee is chic and comfy with all the hallmarks of a cafe from its striking tiled walls to heavy steel and wood furniture and trimmings.

But the restaurant isn't just all about style and no substance. A quick look at the menu will reveal that alot of detail and thought has gone into th The carefully crafted Rakshee linguine wasn't just about throwing the bakso into a pasta but about making sure the flavours complemented each other. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 15, 2016. e crafting of its dishes.

We started off with the bakso soup (RM1.90), which was served in small bowls. Each bowl was filled to the brim with a dark beef broth that was hearty and fragrant, textured by chewy vermicelli noodles and two beef balls.

The bakso was the perfect consistency, firm and bouncy with bite. Some places tend to make their meat balls with a little too much flour but at Rakshee, we could still get the light bovine flavours with no trace of gameyness.

Rakshee is supplied the beef balls from a factory in Penang and they make for the perfect base for the restaurant's fusion dishes.

We were excited to try their pastas and we weren't disappointed. My favourite was the Rakshee linguine, which scored high on both look and taste.

Share the love of the Rakshee nuggets with your friends. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 15, 2016.

The pasta on its own was already delicious, cooked al dente and coated with an olive-oil based sauce.

Black pepper and chilli flakes lent smokiness and a slight heat to the dish while a generous sprinkling of cheese added the savoury factor.

The bakso complemented the linguine with its meaty flavours and everything was cut through by the sour tang of the cherry tomatoes.

The serving was on the small side but at RM9.90, we thought it was a steal.

The spicy carbonara (RM10.90) fared just as well. Even with a rich, cream base, it wasn't cloying and the chilli flakes were smoky rather than spicy. I found it a little bit underseasoned but my dining companion, who usually can't handle spice, loved it.

The bakso again, added meaty notes to an otherwise plain carbonara.

If you can't decide on one drink, why not go for all? – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 15, 2016. We also ordered the bakso nuggets (RM9.90) which were an absolute delight to snack on.

The beef balls on their own were already delicious but deep-frying them gave them a crisp outer layer that crunched with every bite. We especially loved it with the cheese dip.

We washed it all down with Sosro's teh botol and fruit tea and Tebs carbonated tea cooler, all classic Indonesian bottled drinks perfect for hot days. – January 15, 2016.

Rakshee | Address: 11, Jalan PJU 5/20a, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor | Tel: 012-2474673 | Opening hours: 9am-11.30pm daily (Closed on Mondays) | GPS coordinates: 3.154579, 101.591251 | Pork-free

*This was an incognito review. If you'd like to recommend a restaurant, cafe or stall serving up great food, send the details over to [email protected]