10 must-try restaurants in 1 Utama to replenish your energy after shopping [Oct 2024 update]
One thing about us Malaysians is that we love malls. Want to watch a movie? Feeling hungry? Need a new outfit for a special event? The only logical solution is to visit your friendly neighbourhood mall. In the case of Petaling Jaya residents, that 1 mall would be 1 Utama.
1 Utama is one of the world’s largest malls, with more than 750 stores to visit. It’s also one of those malls that locals love, but those unfamiliar with its layout hate. Not only does it have an old and a new wing, but it’s expanded to an ever newer wing!
If you’re tired from all that walking and browsing, here are 10 must-try restaurants in 1 Utama to replenish your energy after a whole day of shopping.
1. MARCO (#G146)
MARCO in 1 Utama has a clear goal: to serve guests Western-inspired cuisine at an affordable price. Chef Daren opened his first restaurant, MM French Cafe, in this very same mall back in 2013. 4 years later, he launched the Marco Creative Cuisine brand to test his skills and creativity further. MARCO now has 2 outlets with the other one in The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
The restaurant offers brunch specials on weekends between 11am to 3pm. If you arrive on time, check out their Hot Red (RM33), a shell pasta dish with bacon, sausage, shimeiji, egg, and housemade pomodoro sauce. What’s brunch without a Big Breakfast (RM40)? MARCO’s big plate includes eggs cooked to your preference, bacon, sausage, and hashbrowns.
Don’t worry if brunch isn’t your thing, as the eatery serves eats like Pork Shoulder in Ikura Glaze (RM60) and Salmon en Papillote (RM58), a freshly baked salmon loin cooked with white wine, fennels, and carrots.
+6012 773 1823
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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2. Samtai Yamch’a Dim Sum (#LG122)
Samtai Yamch’a is known for its dim sum, handmade noodles, dumplings, and nasi lemak. They’re also halal certified so anyone can feast on their authentic Chinese and local cuisine. If you’re craving quick and easy street food in a casual and comfortable environment, Samtai is for you.
Families with young children can opt for their Nerdy Red Bean Bao (RM10.80 for 2 pcs) for a more playful and joyous meal. You might recognise these adorable characters— they closely resemble a certain herd of yellow creatures in blue dungarees.
Other dim sum dishes include Prawn Siew Mai (RM12.80 for 3pcs), Shanghai Red Oil Dumplings (RM12.80 for 3pcs), Hargao (RM12.80 for 3pcs), and Loh Mai Kai (RM10.80).
Samtai also serves food like Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl (RM21.80), Soup Mee Tarik with Fried Gyoza (RM17.80), and Signature Fried Chicken Wings (4pcs) + Korean Ramyeon (RM26.80).
+603 7495 9093
Daily: 10am – 10pm
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3. Thai Hou Sek (#S132)
Inspired by the Thai-Chinese delicacies found on Bangkok roadsides, Thai Hou Sek first set up shop in 1995. The restaurant’s name indicates what’s to come when you step inside— you’ll be met with hou sek dishes that’ll leave you wanting more. They stand out from other Thai spots as one of their goals is to introduce pork-infused dishes to customers.
Those dropping by for a quick lunch should peek at their 1derful Value Meals menu. They have claypot dishes like Hot Basil Chili Pot Chicken (RM18.90) and Roast Pork, Tofu & Vege Pot (RM16.90 – RM22.90). Each meal even comes with a free drink.
A visit to a Thai restaurant can only mean 1 thing: tom yum. Here, diners who are in the mood for the spicy and sour soup can choose between their Seafood Tom Yum (RM38.40) with squid, prawns, mussels, and fish, or the Siu Yuk Tom Yum (RM29.90) with roast pork.
+603 7731 7933
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 10.30pm
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4. ANTE (#F346) – Closed until Nov 2024
ANTE has cemented its name in Malaysia’s culinary world through its inventive use of pork and underrated ingredients. They’re inspired by cuisines from all over the world, which means that customers get to experience many different flavour profiles under 1 roof. Due to their constant need to innovate and improve, ANTE’s menu changes yearly.
Feast on delicacies like their Country Pork Stew (RM33.80) featuring boneless roasted pork, creamy polenta, and country bread, or the BBQ Pork Ribs (RM49.80) that’s slow-cooked and glazed with housemade barbeque sauce.
The best way to treat yourself after a long week is by ordering their indulgent Waffles & Bacon (RM21.50). What’s better than savoury waffles and house-smoked bacon, topped with a maple honey drizzle and light sour cream on the side?
Although they specialise in pork dishes, they also have dishes like Roasted ½ Spring Chicken (RM41.80) and Wild Caught White Fish (RM60.80).
+603 7732 5204
Daily: 10am – 10pm
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5. Robataya (#G202 & #G203)
Robataya in 1 Utama specialises in robata, a cooking method that involves grilling food over charcoal. To ensure quality and preserve authenticity, they import seafood from Japan. Customers are also allowed to choose how their dish is served to them, whether that’s robatayaki, tempura, or sashimi.
The restaurant takes pride in its extensive and detailed menu featuring a wide selection of airflown seafood. Here, you can find live ark shells, Japanese horse mackerel, golden threadfin bream, red gurnard, and more.
The best way to experience seafood is to have it fresh and raw. For RM98, you can get their Okan Sashimi Moriawase which features 2 slices of salmon, maguro, hamachi, abura bozu, and akaebi.
Those who prefer to have their meat cooked can try their robatayaki. They have mouth-watering dishes like Gyu Teriyaki (RM43), grilled beef ribeye with teriyaki, or Buta Kyushu Yaki (RM36), which is a Kyushu-style pork belly.
+603 7628 1395
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 10.30pm
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6. IPPUDO (#LG352)
IPPUDO was founded in 1985 in Fukuoka, Japan, by Shigemi Kawahara. Shigemi Kawahara reigned supreme in a ramen cooking competition, TV Champion Ramen Chef, for 3 years running. He also believes that each employee plays a role in the delivery of a perfect bowl of ramen, therefore each step in the process is meticulously calculated. The franchise now has over 200 outlets worldwide, including here in 1 Utama.
One of the coolest things about IPPUDO is that diners can choose their ramen texture: very hard, hard, normal, or soft. You can also select the spiciness for some bowls, ranging from original to level 3.
First-time visitors can start with the Shiromaru Special (RM38). This dish features the chain’s original tonkotsu broth served with ultra-thin noodles and slices of pork belly. For even more umami, they have the Akamaru Special (RM40) which combines their signature broth with a spicy blended miso paste. If that’s not enough to entice you, check out their IPPUDO Kuro Special (RM42) topped with barbeque pork belly.
+603 7660 7633
Daily: 10.30am – 10pm
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7. Yakiniku Kuro (#LG311B)
Creating an unmatched dining experience by blending traditional Yakiniku with modern contemporary styles is Yakiniku Kuro’s mission. If you’re looking for high-quality Japanese meats, Yakiniku Kuro’s smokeless, modern grilling experience is the place for you!
Specialising in prime angus and wagyu beef, diners can enjoy their set meals which include rice, soup and a side of kimchi or salad. From the prime angus beef selections, look out for their Bara Set Meal (RM47.90 for 100g/ RM56.90 for 150g/ RM73.90 for 200g), which are cuts of beef short ribs. Diners can also enjoy a combo of prime angus cuts such as their popular Kuro Trio Set Meal (RM54.90 for 150g), containing cuts of beef short plate, beef chuck and beef skirt.
The mouth-watering cuts of wagyu will most definitely be ones to not miss out on. Indulge in their cuts of the day in their Australian Wagyu Set Meal (seasonal price) or Japanese Wagyu Set Meal (seasonal price). Can’t decide? Yakiniku Kuro have an Australian & Japanese Wagyu Combo Set Meal (seasonal price) for you to truly savour the best of both worlds!
For seafood lovers, there’s also something for you. Why not savour their Hokkaido Scallop Set Meal (RM42.90) or Shogun Giant Squid Set Meal (RM34.90)? Do note that all set meals come with an a la carte option too.
+603 7732 2868
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
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8. Tonkatsu by Ma Maison (#LG226)
In Jan 2023, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison opened its first outlet in 1 Utama. Although its location in the mall has changed, the restaurant still lives on and has built a loyal customer base. As suggested by its name, they specialise in serving high-quality tonkatsu cuts. These breaded, deep-fried pork cutlets continued to gain popularity over the past decade, and the franchise now has 9 outlets across the Klang Valley.
If you’re dining at Tonkatsu by Ma Maison, be sure to get their sets. Each set meal comes with rice (plain or multi-grain), tonjirui, and pickles— sounds like a good deal, no?
Some of the sets offered include the Oyster Set (RM49.75 nett), Homemade Curry Chicken Katsu Set (RM37 nett), and Sakana Set (RM40.50 nett). Other than that, they have the Jumbo Rosu Katsu Set (RM48.60 nett) featuring 250g of deep-fried pork loin and the Wafu Negioroshi Hire Katsu Set (RM42.90 nett) with negioroshi sauce.
+603 7727 3337
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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9. The Fish Bowl (#LG115)
As the country’s leading premium poké restaurant, The Fish Bowl is on a mission to serve nutritious meals to customers without sacrificing any flavour. They have 15 outlets across the Klang Valley, attesting to their popularity. One of the reasons for their continuous success is the customizability of their food. Anyone can go in and get exactly what they’re looking for.
Maybe you’ve had a long day, and the last thing you want to do is diligently pick every ingredient in your meal. Fret not, The Fish Bowl has ready-to-order options. If you love salmon, get their Aloha Salmon (RM26.90) with raw shoyu salmon and fish row. You can also check out their Misohungry (RM26.90) for a cooked alternative with miso salmon.
For those following a plant-based diet, you can either order their Hawaiian Tofu (RM14.90) with tofu and herby lime sauce or build your bowl with tempeh and chickpea broccoli fritters.
+6012 301 8742
Daily: 10am – 10pm
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10. L.table (#G210)
L.table claims to be a casual-chic restaurant created by The Bee Group. Through Western comfort meals and a curated selection of wines, they aim to serve food that will get customers coming back for more.
In dire need of a juicy burger? Look no further, because L.table’s got you covered. For those in search of a vegetarian option, the restaurant offers a Portobello Mushroom Burger (RM32) with caramelised onions and cheddar cheese. Other burgers served here include the Har Jiong Chicken Burger (RM36) made with shrimp paste marinated chicken and charred pineapple, and their Truffle Beef Burger (RM42).
Why choose only 1 type of cheese, when you can get 5? L.table’s Five Cheese Beef Lasagna (RM44) features mozzarella, gouda, gruyère, cheddar, and parmesan— definitely not recommended for anyone who’s lactose intolerant. The eatery has local-inspired dishes as well, like Char Kuey Teow with Grilled Squid (RM35) and Hainanese Chicken Rice (RM36) with poached chicken.
+603 7621 8966
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 10.30pm
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