Papasan Canteen: Comfy Japanese spot dishes huge karaage omurice & loaded seafood udon in Cheras

Unpopular opinion: Japan is basically the Italy of Asia — amazing food, sure, but sometimes a bit… bland (at least for my spice-loving palate). Now, before you grab the pitchforks, let me clarify: I’m not saying Japanese or Italian food is bad! I still enjoy both every now and then. But as a die-hard fan of chilli and all that jazz, I usually lean toward Indonesian or Thai cuisine. 

So, when I caught wind of Papasan Canteen and their famous massive omurice, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away.

Their original outlet is in Kuchai, but I opted for the newer one in Cheras — it’s a lot closer to home. Plus, it’s within walking distance of the Taman Midah MRT Station (perfect if you’re counting steps for that 10K goal), which is super convenient.

My dining companion and I arrived just before the lunch rush. The interior? Let’s just say it’s… one-of-a-kind. If you’re in a big group, you’ll get regular tables. But for dates or smaller parties, expect stools lined up along quirky counter-tables. 

The setup actually reminded me of a school ablution area (#iykyk), which kind of adds to the whole “canteen” vibe they’re going for. Cool touch!

What I tried at Papasan Canteen

I’d seen videos hyping up their massive Omu Curry Rice with Karaage, so naturally, I had to try it myself. While the idea of a mountain of karaage sounded fun, I knew there was no way I’d finish it alone. I settled for just 2 pieces, which came to RM16.

When the dish arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t enormous, but for the price, the portion was generous. The short-grain rice had that perfect, slight stickiness and was neatly blanketed in a thin omelette layer. 

The light sheen of oil on the egg looked gorgeous, with pickled ginger on top. If you’re not into intense pickled ginger flavours, you’ll love Papasan Canteen’s mild, balanced take on it.

Here’s the size comparison with my hand, for reference.

The curry had a nice, smooth consistency and packed a bit more of a punch than typical Japanese curry cubes — my guess is they used the powdered kind. As soon as I tasted it, one thought immediately came to mind: curry-flavoured Maggi instant noodles!

Now, onto the star of the show — the chicken! I was excited to try it, and it didn’t disappoint. Instead of small pieces, Papasan Canteen served whole, boneless chicken thighs, deep-fried to perfection. 

The crust reminded me of Jollibee’s fried chicken: super crispy but not too hard to chew. It was so tender I could cut through it with my spoon, and juice practically oozed out with each bite. This was some seriously good fried chicken!

My friend took forever deciding what to order — we even considered going wild with the Durian Carbonara (RM30) for a second! After some debate, she finally went with the Seafood Fried Udon (RM26). And boy oh boy, was it massive!

The bowl was absolutely packed with seafood. We counted 4 scallops, 3 squid rings, a whole extra tentacle, and 2 whole prawns. And that wasn’t all! There were bonito flakes, seaweed, eggs, bell peppers, and onions mixed in. This was no ordinary stir-fry, that was clear from the start.

At first glance, I thought the udon might be on the dry side, but wow, I’d never been happier to be wrong! The noodles were fried to perfection, coated in a rich blend of soy sauces and vinegar that hit the taste buds right from the first bite. 

Honestly, every bite was pure bliss — I’m not even exaggerating. There were even a few charred bits on the udon, adding a delightful hint of smokiness that rounded out the dish beautifully.

Final thoughts

Honestly? This might just be some of the best Japanese food I’ve had in a long time. The Omu Curry Rice was decent — though, as someone who doesn’t love Japanese curry, it didn’t totally win me over. But for curry fans, it would probably hit the spot!

The Seafood Fried Udon, though? Out of this world. After finishing the (massive) bowl— with quite the effort — we both agreed we’d return to Papasan Canteen just for that udon.

Expected damage: RM16 – RM26 per pax

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