Cracked walls, faded tiles, and a rich history unlike any other. Those are the makings of a Malaysian old heritage building.
A hidden restaurant that simultaneously exudes simplicity and culinary elevation in everything they do. And nestled within the abandoned Mah Lian Hotel, a front for an old brothel long gone.
This cosy and intimate date night spot in a 1960s building goes by the name of Chocha Foodstore, the meaning of chocha? “Sit and drink tea”, translated from the Hakka dialect. And here, you can do just that.
Yumcha sessions at Chocha are different from your typical gatherings. Here, the experience is intimate, classy, refined, and curated.
Image Credit: Google Review, Chocha Foodstore.
The beverages
Of course, when the namesake of your restaurant involves tea, you’ve got to have some seriously sippable offerings. And Chocha delivers just that and more! Their tea offerings involve classics like Lapsang Souchong, the signature tea here and also the first black tea in history. And Oolong as well. Also, some that are a little more modern, like the Darjeeling Autumnal Read Tunder and Dong Ding Oolong Cold Brew Tea.
Speaking of drinks, one should definitely consider the upstairs bar, Botak Jungle Bird. The drinks menu has since opening expanded to include a whole host of wines and even sake to pair with your meals. Though, the cocktails are the true star here.
Staying faithful to the classic Malaysian theme, the signature cocktails embody the best flavours our beloved country has to offer. Cocktails like the Bunga Kantan, a longstanding cocktail on Botak’s menu, showcase the aromatic ginger lily/flower with a deep pumpkinseed-infused vodka. With just a spritz of fresh calamansi and club soda, simplicity and finesse both sing in harmony.
Image Credit: Chocha Foodstore.
The food
And now, onto the food. Chocha features a lunch and dinner menu, course and à la carte, that has shifted seasonally since opening. Serving up modern Malaysian sharing plates, they vivify and breathe a modernist approach into everything they plate up.
Meant to be shared, flavours here are bold and bright. Everything here is locally sourced. Even the herbs are specially handpicked from Chocha’s humble garden. There’s a level of refinement yet simplicity in every dish, focusing on showcasing the beauty of Malaysian ingredients and flavours to the best of their ability.
Try out revamped classic dishes like the Salted Sinsilog Noodles. Satisfyingly wide, chewy, and toothsome. They’re handmade in-house and served with Borneo salted fish crackers and local herbs.
For something meatier, and perhaps a little more what’s considered ‘normal’ to see in a restaurant, the Argentinian Angus Flank is your pick, you shouldn’t worry, even the steak here has a local twist. Inspired by Negeri Sembilan’s daging salai, the Argentinian Angus Flank comes with a dousing of bright green turmeric and anchovy sauce.
The secret ingredient? Tahi minyak, or rather, coconut milk curds, a byproduct and the result of Chocha making their own coconut oil in-house!
Image Credit: Chocha Foodstore.
Dessert you say, well, you have to try the Tapai Ice Cream. Tapai, a traditional fermented rice dish originating from much of Southeast Asia, has been transformed into this elevated dessert.
Made out of blended tapai pulut, fermented coconut whey and coconut ‘ricotta’, the texture of the ice cream has a thick and generous mouthfeel that’s seriously satisfying to the tongue. And paired with homemade coconut jelly, fresh coconut flesh and lime, this dessert is a modern homage to flavours we grew up eating.
The environment
The interior and layout at Chocha invites groups of families and friends to dine and share. From room to room, you’ll see pastel tiles from decades ago reflecting the low dim lights of the restaurant, the very same that were seen in Mah Lian Hotel’s glory days.
The wooden elements in the furniture give it that additional rustic touch that’s already prevalent in the interior. Everything was maintained from the original old heritage building, save for reinstalling beams for architectural support.
There’s even a courtyard bathed in the glow of natural sunlight littered with potted herbs, the very same that the kitchen uses for their dishes. Plants line the walls and floor, granting the restaurant a certain natural and casual air that isn’t usually very common in elevated restaurants like these.
Image Credit: Chocha Foodstore.
All in all, Chocha Foodstore is definitely a must-visit locale, located right on Petaling Street, it’s very easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled for this visually and culinarily stunning restaurant!
Check out Chocha Foodstore’s official website and Instagram here!
Looking to read more about restaurants? Try this article on Halal Smash Burgers in KL!
