Grumpy Bagels in KL
Grumpy Bagels gave a formerly abandoned, single-storey house a new identity: a bakery cafe with a love for bagels. The fusion of old and modern elements was set to make it a hit among foodies.
And that it has.
The cafe went viral online as soon as it launched. If you drop by just before it closes, you’ll find yourself faced with an almost empty bread counter.
But as with anything that receives a lot of attention, there have been mixed reviews about the bagels from Grumpy Bagels. So, we decided to drop by to bring you this unbiased review.
Ambience at Grumpy Bagels
We visited Grumpy Bagels on a Wednesday morning, in hopes we wouldn’t be faced with a queue. And luckily for us, we were seated right away.
This is thanks to the cafe’s spaciousness. There are plenty of tables set out, so patrons don’t have to squeeze themselves in their seats. But the coveted spot has to be the leather couch next to the antique-filled shelf – it features in almost every Instagram post about the cafe.
But onto what we were here for – the bagels, which are priced from RM7.90 each.
Food at Grumpy Bagels
A bagel house usually has the classics: Plain, Everything, and Sesame bagels. Grumpy Bagels has all these and more. Its non-classic options of Matcha Red Bean Mochi and Berry Crumble were the standout unique flavours.
While you won’t get cream cheese (from RM8) served with your order of bagel as it is served separately, there are all sorts of options – from Plain, to sweet Maple Walnut and savoury Garlic Herb.
Garlic Cream Cheese Bagel
Bagels are always better when eaten with our hands, even if it means getting them glistening in grease. That was the risk we took with the cafe’s Garlic Cream Cheese Bagel (RM14.90).
The bagel is scored into segments, making it look like a flower bud. This helps to create “grooves” so the ample amount of cream cheese can comfortably seep into it.
The combination of garlic butter and cream cheese was sinful enough to warrant an immediate gym session afterwards. But it was a flavour bomb we willingly succumbed to – the bagel was super cheesy and garlicky.
Matcha Mochi Red Bean Bagel
That isn’t the only decadent evil on the menu.
We also tried their sweet Matcha Mochi Red Bean Bagel (RM14.90). While matcha and red bean have always been a no-brainer tasty duo, we were still sold.
The sweet matcha crust on top was so delicate it deserved a “fragile” sticker. We made sure every bit of crust that fell onto the plate ended up in our stomach.
The cafe also puts just the right amount of red bean and mochi inside the bagel to achieve a balanced flavour and texture.
Signature Satay Bagel Sandwich
Beyond the pick-me-ups, Grumpy Bagel also makes brunch-friendly bagel sandwiches (from RM32). We decided to give the Signature Satay Bagel Sandwich (RM34) a try from the list, as it had the word “signature” in it.
While the buttermilk fried chicken was incredibly juicy, it was also under-seasoned and lacked a strong buttermilk taste. We expected the chicken to be dressed with the cafe’s special peanut mayo, as it is stated on the menu, but we couldn’t taste any nuttiness either.
The coleslaw that was tucked between the bagel was the most flavourful part of it.
The verdict
When it comes to the texture of bagels, we wanted to be wowed by bagels that have a crusty exterior and chewy interior. The bagels at Grumpy Bagels leaned more towards moist and soft, resembling bread.
As for price, some patrons will argue that the bagels here are on the pricier side. But we found the individual bagels reasonably priced for their generous fillings – we’re also taking into account the cafe’s cosy and inviting ambience. However, the bagel sandwiches didn’t live up to its steep price for us.
We would recommend coming here for the individual bagels.
Address: 5, Jalan Kamuning, Off Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, WPKL
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9am-5pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: 011-1113 4985 | Grumpy Bagels’ Instagram
Grumpy Bagels is not a halal-certified eatery.
Also watch our video feature here:
You might also enjoy:
- YODmilk Shop, RM4.80 bagels in Subang Jaya
- Team Udon, unique udon bowls in KL
- Phil’s Pizza, New York-style pizza in KL
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by xinyeegoh.