IOI City Mall: Your all-in-one oasis for thrills, tastes & trends

Shopping malls are loved by all! They’re a great place to shop, food choices are abundant, and most important of all… is they’re air conditioned. But is there a mall big enough for all your needs? Yes. IOI City Mall located in Putrajaya is the largest mall in Malaysia and has everything under one roof.

Situated in IOI Resort City, IOI City Mall covers an expansive 230,000 square metres and accommodates more than 650 stores. The mall boasts a diverse range of eateries offering various cuisines, features renowned luxury brands such as Kate Spade, Coach, and Michael Kors, and even hosts an Olympic-sized ice rink.

Additionally, the mall provides over 14,000 parking spaces, each equipped with an automated License Plate Recognition (LPR) system. Parking at IOI City Mall is hassle-free with ample availability and advanced technology for convenience.

My experience at IOI City Mall

Feeling quite hungry, my colleagues and I decided to visit ​​Cafe Chef Wan. Locating the restaurant is easy, just find the exit to Symphony 3 and make a right. You’ll see a door with a beautiful golden archway, that’s when you know you’re at the right place. Oh, and there’s a Chef Wan sign in gold.

Cafe Chef Wan is the brainchild of the famous chef himself. Influenced by various flavours and cuisines experienced worldwide, Chef Wan was inspired to bring these tastes back home to share with everyone.

We decided to order 3 dishes and 2 drinks. Look at the picture and tell me it doesn’t look appetising. Without hesitation, we dug into the Cucur Udang (RM36) first. This dish is a popular local snack made with fresh prawns, beansprouts, chives and chillies and deep-fried to perfection. It also came with 2 sauces— chilli sauce and peanut sauce.

Now, there’s only 1 correct way to eat the prawn fritters— with your hands. The Cucur Udang was slightly bigger than bite-sized, which means it took a few bites to actually eat the whole thing. 

The outer shell had a satisfying crunch while the interior was soft and fluffy. I was especially impressed by the generous amount of prawns packed inside the fritters, expecting there to only be a few. As a prawn lover, I approve.

We then shifted our focus to the CCW Kampung Fried Rice (RM36). This dish is yet another local favourite and you can get it almost everywhere, but Cafe Chef Wan isn’t just ‘anywhere’. The dish arrived complete with 2 sticks of chicken satay, fish crackers, shredded omelette, 2 grilled prawns, peanut sauce, sambal belacan, and peanut sauce.

The chicken satay was well-marinated and possessed a smokey flavour profile. It was slightly on the dry side, but nothing that peanut sauce couldn’t fix. The fried rice itself was a burst of flavour that truly packed a punch. It was smokey from the wok hei, spicy from the chillies, and umami-rich. 

Of course, we had to try the CCW Homemade Beef Burger (RM44). The burger consisted of a prime Australian beef patty, crispy lettuce, juicy grilled sliced tomato, caramelised onion and Monterey Jack cheddar cheese served in a soft brioche bun with a side of fries.

The beef patty was a delightful symphony of flavours that left me wondering about the secret ingredient nestled within. The other elements of the burger further enhanced the overall flavour of the beef patty and were further complemented by the soft brioche bun.

“Wow, I’m stuffed,” I told my colleagues. We then decided to see what else was there at IOI City Mall. Making our way through the huge mall, I couldn’t help but notice the multitude of activities available within its premises.

There’s an indoor farm, IOI City Farm, which has a waterfall, live animals like rabbits, hedgehogs, and racoons, freshwater animals and plants. It’s the perfect place for family-friendly activities to learn about plants & animals. 

There’s also an indoor sports centre, IOI Sports Centre, an Olympic-sized ice rink, Icescape Ice Rink, and an adventure park, District 21. I can see the appeal of IOI City Mall— I would hang out here every day, if I could.

Wondering about other eateries in the mall? Don’t sweat it— there’s an abundance of food choices at every nook and cranny. One particular eatery you should look out for is NakNak.

This eatery specialises in quick-service Korean chicken & burgers. Think of it as an atas version of fast food. With a green and red neon sign, it’s nearly impossible to miss NakNak.

It goes without saying that you have to try the selection of Korean fried chicken. Choose between Nak Dak (boneless thighs) or wings and drumettes. There are spicy and non-spicy options, so everyone has a choice! Sample the Original, Gochujang, Soy Garlic, or Cheese Sauce options from RM14.90 to RM17.90.

Let’s talk about burgers. At NakNak, you’ll find a selection of chicken and beef burgers. Choices include Original Nak Dak Burger (RM15.90), Double Cheeseburger (RM26.90), Smoked Beef Bacon Cheeseburger (RM24.90), and more.

Stepping outside onto Symphony Walk, I was surprised to see the sun setting. Did I spend the whole day inside the mall? It felt like only 30 minutes passed at IOI City Mall. Right on cue, my stomach grumbled— I was hungry.

While searching for a dining spot, I couldn’t help but admire the scenic beauty of Symphony Walk. The array of dining options was impressive, providing excellent choices for relaxation and a delightful meal. Most eateries offered both indoor and outdoor seating, and there were numerous places to hang out with friends.

Ultimately my eyes landed on ThaiKor which looked phenomenal against the water fountains. Of course, I had to see what the restaurant had to offer.

ThaiKor is Malaysia’s first Thai-Korean BBQ buffet restaurant that opened not too long ago. That’s right! This all-you-can-eat buffet combines the flavours of Thailand and Korea which you can enjoy for lunch (RM48+ on weekdays) and dinner (RM78 on weekdays and weekends).

Look at that spread! There’s a variety of beef, chicken, lamb and seafood which you can hand-pick and cook by yourself. As you can see, we went (a little) overboard. For the steamboat soup base, there are 2 to choose from— chicken soup and kimchi. My personal favourite was the chicken soup for its savoury notes.

You’ll find a Korean-style flat grill where you can cook all your meats to your heart’s content. At ThaiKor, they hand-make their own chicken lard which is used to grill the meat to juicy perfection.

Suffice to say, by the end of our meal everyone had to take a 10-minute breather before heading back home. 

Final thoughts

IOI City Mall has lived up to its status as the largest mall in Malaysia. Don’t be intimidated by the size of this place— there’s plenty of seating throughout the mall, perfect for taking a break during your shopping adventure. It’s also a haven for adrenaline junkies, offering numerous activities to enjoy with friends and family. 

I’ve got the inside scoop that signing up for CLUB IOI comes with fantastic perks! Elevate your shopping adventure with bonus rewards and enjoy parking discounts for those cruising to the mall in their cars.

On 31 Dec 2023, IOI City Mall is set to host a New Year’s countdown along with a spectacular display of fireworks. So, what’s holding you back? Secure a staycation at esteemed hotels like Le Meridien Putrajaya, Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, and Palm Garden Hotel, all conveniently situated within IOI Resort City. Also, did I mention Palm Garden Golf Club offers an 18-hole course golfing experience?

Now, have I persuaded you to visit IOI City Mall yet? 

 *This article was brought to you in partnership with IOI City Mall.

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