The very name Lulu’s Deli has a certain whimsical charm to it. It is almost like the name of an eatery found only in a fairytale. Yet, if that is indeed the case, I must have been visiting fairyland when I decided to have a meal at this restaurant located in Kota Damansara.
It took me some convincing that I was in the right place, because Lulu’s Deli happens to be in a rather quiet part of town. Warehouses and factories are commonplace along this stretch of road, but Waze could never be wrong, could it?
As it turns out, Lulu’s Deli is indeed the occupant of one of the shop lots located on the ground floor of the EmHub business centre. Without a large signboard announcing its location, it can appear rather discreet. Perhaps that is just how it is intended to be?
A simple restaurant with jovial owners
Once I stepped through the door, though, the smells were anything but subtle. Do you know the smell of freshly baked bread? That was definitely in the air, as well as the sound of chatter and laughter.
This one of Lulu’s Deli’s three outlets has probably the smallest dining space. That also makes it the cosiest one of them all. Furnishings are simple, with baking books stocked on the shelves and pretty cakes paraded atop the wooden bar.
Oftentimes found behind said bar is a curly-haired lady with a smile to match her jovial personality. This is Wee Tee Teh, the showrunner of the restaurant herself. And when I called her Miss Wee, she was happy to ask me to call her Aunty Wee instead.
As it turns out, Aunty Wee has not always been in the food industry. However, her passion for cooking called out to her after years of white collar work. “I decided I had had enough of corporate life, so I wanted to do my own business,” she explained to me.
Coincidentally (or thankfully), she is wedded to William Ragonneau, a Franco-Italian chef with over a decade of experience beneath his belt. So, while Queen Wee runs the show outside the kitchen, within the kitchen, King William rules.
Freshly baked sourdough
So, what’s cooking in the kitchen? Well, if you love sourdough as much as I do, you are in for a treat. Lulu’s Deli prides itself on its homemade sourdough buns, which are used for delicious burgers. Not only that, but the pizzas here have sourdough crusts as well.
I was actually allowed in the kitchen to see how the magic happens. The sourdough baking process is a long one, but Chef William makes sure that it is all done correctly. And to ensure the quality of the sourdough, he uses premium ingredients imported from Europe.
Needless to say, after leaving the kitchen, I was excited to try everything on Lulu’s Deli’s menu. The place reminds me a little of an American diner, with how the menu is dominated by burgers, pizzas and pastas. Like any good Malaysian, I wanted to try a bit of everything.
Soulful Seoul Burger
The Seoul Burger was quick to catch my attention. What can I say? I’m still riding that K-wave! But while the kimchi and gochujang-soaked chicken burger were delicious in their own right, what I want to talk about is the sourdough bun itself!
There are so many places out there selling sourdough that fail to put the sour in the dough. Lulu’s Deli does not disappoint, though, with the burger bun being soft, fluffy while tasting tangy and slightly sweet. The golden brown crust was also crispy, a perfect contrast to the soft insides.
The King’s burger
When suggesting what other burger I should try, Auntie Wee was quick to point out the Nashville Burger. “It’s Elvis Presley’s favourite,” she said, and that certainly caught my attention. Surely, the King of Rock & Roll would have a good sense of taste, right?
Admittedly, the thought of a beef burger with peanut butter inside sounds extremely strange. However, when I took my first bite, it made sense to me. The creamy peanut butter was sweet and salty, adding to the juices of the beef patty itself. Needless to say, it was sin personified.
A sinfully good pizza
As much as I would have liked to try all the burgers on the menu, there were pizzas to be savoured. The Beef Ragu Pizza caught my eye quickly, as I had been informed Lulu’s Deli makes its own beef ragu.
Sure enough, the meaty pizza did not disappoint. Rich, savoury and umami are just some of the words that best describe the ragu. The pizza, on the other hand, was made with sourdough prepared two days beforehand. Chewy pizza crust, my first love…
Worth turning vegan for?
I can hardly be called a vegetarian, but sometimes, the meat-free options can still surprise me. This was the case for the Mushroom Truffle Pizza. Generous with mushrooms, the pizza slices were coated with a truffle sauce that gave them that delectable aroma I know well.
Sweet, rich and all things right
It is not just the sourdough burgers and pizzas that are made in-house, though. Even the lasagne is too! Hence, it only made sense for me to check out the Handmade Fresh Lasagne with Salad.
Lasagne is a typically filling dish, but I had no apprehensions in devouring this one whole. It was just that good, with the layers of tender pasta separating the flavourful meat sauce. Sweet tomatoes and rich cheese just came together in a perfect marriage through this dish.
Spaghetti, but where the meatballs at?
While the Chicken Bolognese may not be as fancy as its lasagne cousin, it was still a well-made dish. The pasta had been cooked to al dente perfection, with the bolognese managing to walk the fine line between sweet and sour. Would have loved to have some meatballs, though!
Finishing up with cake
To wash down such a heavy meal, I chugged down a zesty Rose Ojusu Kombucha. My companion had an Ojusu Cold Brew Coffee, which certainly woke him up after a long day of work. For desserts, we treated ourselves to a slice of Burnt Cheesecake and Carrot Cake.
Worth your time?
While restaurants selling burgers, pizzas, and pastas are plentiful in Malaysia, I will say that the fare at Lulu’s Delis is a notch above the rest. This is due to the love and care that goes into each dish, all of which have something worth talking about. Needless to say, I will be back for more of that scrumptious lasagne.
Lulu’s Deli
Address: A-G-05 Emhub, Emhub, Persiaran Surian, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | Closed on weekends
Contact: 010-2815155
Halal Status: Pork-free
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