Commons KL Is A New Food Hub With Hip Cafes, Restaurants & Bars

Commons KL guide

When we talk about food haunts in Kuala Lumpur, popular areas that pop into our minds are typically Jalan Alor and Chow Kit. In 2022, a new kid quietly joined this culinary circle.

Only a short 5-minute walk from Bukit Bintang MRT, Commons KL is a new food hub in the city centre where cafes, restaurants, and bars gather to serve various cuisines. Here are some exciting eateries that you can find here:

1. The Morning Wood – an array of speciality coffee

Image credit: @weichunnn_125 via Instagram

Morning Wood is a 2-storey cafe with glass walls, wood furnishings, and a dash of green from live plants. Their coffee bar faces outwards, tempting passersby with the aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee – you can also order takeaway drinks from here.

The 1st floor with a plethora of seats can be accessed either from the inside, or by ascending a set of stairs located just next to the coffee counter.

Image adapted from: @i.am.suz via Instagram

From light sandwiches (from RM24) and soups (from RM20) to tummy-filling mains (from RM32) and pasta (from RM25), this cafe is ideal for breakfast and brunch.

But it’s their coffee drinks that are the star of the show. They take their coffee seriously, with beans sourced from around the world – including Brazil, Ethiopia, and Peru. Each blend offers a nuanced flavour profile, so you can pick your preferred beans to craft your brew of choice or ask the helpful baristas for recommendations.

Image adapted from: @i.am.suz via Instagram, @getting.morningwood via Instagram

Some of their unique coffee drinks include Shakerato (RM16), or Italian-style shaken coffee, as well as Coconut Espresso (RM16) and Dirty Spanish Latte (RM15). Non-dairy milk options are available too.

If you prefer tea, they also serve Matcha, Hojicha, Genmaicha, and Wakoucha beverages, which use tea powder from Niko Neko and are priced from RM11 per cup.

The Morning Wood:
Opening hours: 11am-8pm, Daily
Contact: The Morning Wood’s Instagram

2. Simo Potato – pork-free resto-bar serving Spanish cuisine

Image credit: @simopotato_kl via Instagram

Sharing the same space with Morning Wood, Simo Potato is a pork-free resto-bar that lets you enjoy a surf and turf fare with alcoholic drinks.

Dive into the ultimate meaty indulgence with their AUS Black Angus Beef (from RM45/100g), JPN A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Beef (RM180/100g), and Lamb Shanks (RM68). If you prefer seafood – or just want to double up on the proteins – there are delectable options such as Boston Lobster (RM66/100g) and Sicilian Scallops (RM38), or Live Pacific Oysters (from RM20) that are imported from the US.

Image credit: @simopotato_kl via Instagram

For something a little more adventurous, there are Spanish dishes to try such as Paella (RM78) – a flavourful rice dish cooked with seafood and tangy Saporito red sauce – and Albondigas (RM29), which is braised beef meatballs served with toast and mashed potatoes.

Image credit: @simopotato_kl via Instagram

To culminate your culinary experience at this resto-bar, order their Live Oyster Shot (RM40). To shoot down this shot, simply hut the oyster into the vodka, squeeze lemon juice over it, and add a few drops of hot sauce. The clean taste of vodka goes well with the briny tang of oysters – the combined flavour is further accentuated by the spicy Tabasco and zesty lemon juice.

Image adapted from: @simopotato_kl via Instagram

Simo Potato:
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10am-12am | Fri & Sat 10am-1am
Contact: 011-5635 8803 | Simo Potato’s Instagram

3. Pots and Trays – a nature-filled cafe with salted egg pizza

Image credit: @venicekeqian via Instagram

Dining at Pots and Trays will make you feel like you’re dining in a garden. With live plants at almost every corner of the space and wooden furnishings, this cafe gives off a solid botanical vibe – you might just assume they’re a plant shop instead of an eatery upon first sight with their lush nature-filled environment.

Image credit: @pots_and_trays via Instagram

Here, you’ll get to dine on an array of interesting pizzas, such as Salted Egg Pizza (RM36) and Smoked Salmon Jalapeño Pizza (RM36). You can create your own custom concoctions from their pizza menu, by mixing and matching two topping sets on one pizza base.

Image credit: @weichunnn_125 via Instagram

Besides pizzas, they also serve Asian rice dishes such as Braised Chicken (RM28), Teriyaki Saba Fish (RM28), and Nyonya Prawn (RM30). For a cooling respite, order one of their Slow Pressed Juices (from RM13) or Blended And Shake (from RM20).

Pots and Trays:
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Pots and Trays’ Instagram

4. Ao Dee Dee – a Thai restaurant with XL crabs & cockles

Image credit: @commons.kl via Instagram

It’s easy to spot Ao Dee Dee even from afar, thanks to the eye-popping neon lights fixtures that light up their space – but the real star here is the food.

Image credit: @aodeedee via Instagram

When you set foot at this Thai restaurant, make sure you don’t skip on their Thai-style barbecue and steamed seafood. Their Steamed Chilli Lime Fish (from RM50) is a must try, with the chilli lime adding a nice tangy and spicy touch without overpowering the fresh flavour of the fish.

Image credit: @aodeedee via Instagram

Their Udang Galah, or giant freshwater prawns, also guarantees a mouthfeel of freshness. This comes in sizes large (from RM70 for 2 pieces) and extra large (from RM90 for 2 pieces). The same goes for their XL-sized crabs (from RM160 for 2 pieces) and cockles (from RM30) – the latter is as big as a 50 sen coin.

Different seasonings are offered to jazz up the seafood, including buttermilk, salted egg, and kam heong.

Image credit: @aodeedee via Instagram

For classic and authentic Thai dishes, tuck into their Tom Yum Seafood Soup (RM40), Green Curry Seafood Soup (RM40), Pandan Chicken (RM28 for 5 pieces), or Pad Thai (RM13.90). Visit Ao Dee Dee on a weekday between 11.30am and 2.30pm to enjoy these dishes as a lunch set for RM16, which also comes with pandan water.

Ao Dee Dee:
Opening hours: 11.30am-11.30pm, Daily
Contact: 019-409 1917 | Ao Dee Dee’s Instagram

5. The Lokal – local restaurant with asam laksa and ikan bakar

Malaysia is best known for its unique food culture, thanks to its diverse population. Over at The Lokal, their menu pays homage to Malaysia’s rich cuisines with a plethora of local dishes to try.

Image adapted from: @thelokal.commons via Instagram

Aside from the classic kopitiam breakfast trio – butter kaya toast, coffee, and half-boiled eggs – there are other must-try local dishes such as SP Asam Laksa (from RM13) with robust broth, and Malay-style Apek K’s Ikan Bakar (from RM18) with fish grilled to perfection and generously coated in Apek K’s homemade sambal.

Image adapted from: Chan Sow Mei via Google Maps, @commons.kl via Instagram

If you’re yearning for some Chinese wok hei – or the charred and smoky taste acquired from frying ingredients in a wok over high heat – order their “Wok Hei” Char Kuey Teow (RM14.90) or “Wok Hei” Fried Rice (RM14.90).

Image credit: Think Positive via Google Maps

The Lokal:
Opening hours: 11am-8pm, Daily
Contact: 016-717 7889

6. Yamate-Kaya – a Japanese restaurant for fresh sashimi

Image credit: @yamate_kaya via Instagram

You’ll feel like you are in Japan when you step into Yamate-Kaya, with a cute lucky cat figurine welcoming you at the entrance. The restaurant’s entrance is beautifully illuminated in the warm glow of red lanterns, while bamboos flank the seating area where wooden tables, benches, and stools make the whole space feel like a traditional Japanese tavern.

Image credit: @yamate_kaya via Instagram

Satisfy your Japanese cravings with their fresh sashimi, such as Salmon Sashimi (RM18) and Tuna Sashimi (RM21). They also have a wide selection of sushi – from Nigiri Sushi (from RM6) and Maki Roll (from RM16) to Temaki Hand Roll (from RM7).

For something more filling, Don or Soba (from RM18) are good options. You can even top it up with their soft Chawanmushi (from RM7) and smoky Japanese Skewers (from RM3).

Image credit: @yamate_kaya via Instagram

Pair the delicious food with their Sake (from RM55/bottle) and Japanese mixologies such as Ume Highball (RM19) and Yuzushu On Rocks (RM16). They also serve Suntory Kakubin Whisky (RM398) and Tsuruume Yuzu Nigori (RM252) – each comes with four mixers of your choice.

Yamate-Kaya:
Contact: 016-694 7054 | Yamate-Kaya’s Instagram

Guide to cafes & restaurants at Commons KL in Bukit Bintang

Image credit: Ilamaran Ramamoorthy via Google Maps

At Commons KL, you won’t be confined to just dining on a single cuisine – you can be enjoying sashimi at a Japanese restaurant, while also dining on udang galah from a Thai restaurant. So the next time you and your friends just can’t settle on what to eat, consider heading here for a meal.

It’s also easily accessible by public transportation. But if you’re driving here, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking spot – you can park your vehicle at Plaza Low Yat, which is just a stone’s throw from Commons KL.

Address: 55, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, WPKL
Opening hours: 9am-12am, Daily
Contact: 03-2148 3651

For more food recommendations, check out these spots:

Cover image adapted from: @yamate_kaya via Instagram, @aodeedee via Instagram, @weichunnn_125 via Instagram, Chris Sivaprakash Kumanan via Google Maps