Niko Neko 3.0 in Bukit Damansara, KL
There are desserts that you have after a meal. And then there are the desserts that you have as a meal. You’ll find the latter at Niko Neko’s latest outlet in KL’s Bukit Damansara – here, gelatos and a desserts-only menu take centre stage.
We visited the newly opened Niko Neko 3.0 outlet, so you know what to expect past the snaking queues at the gelato bar.
A new gelato bar from Niko Neko
Niko Neko 3.0 departs from the usual aesthetics of other Niko Neko outlets. While the subtle green in its architecture – a nod to its matcha – is still present, the new outlet trades its signature minimalist whites for an industrial concept with steel dining surfaces and dramatic spot lighting.
The 3.0 outlet is also home to a new gelato bar you won’t find at other branches. Over 20 gelato flavours are on the menu, but you can expect to order from around 15 on any given visit.
They range from untouched Mokuren/Genmaicha and Tsubaki/Houjicha, to creative spins like Kiyone/Matcha with Hokkaido Strawberry and Akane/Houjicha with Calpis. There’s also a selection of gelatos that skip the matcha altogether: Earl Grey, Salted Peanut, and Brown Butter Banana.
A scoop of ice cream is priced between RM12-14, with the option to go for a cup, or with a biscotti cone (+RM2.50) or mochi waffle (+RM10).
The cafe has just over ten sets of low tables and chairs, with queues for a dining spot expected due to the current hype around the new outlet. But you can opt to skip this line and head straight for the gelato bar for takeaway gelato and drinks.
The gelatos
After waiting about 30 minutes to secure a table – you can leave your phone number on a waitlist – we tried the Houjicha Blueberry, Matcha Hokkaido Strawberry, and Salted Peanut gelatos.
The matcha combinations were matcha-heavy in flavour, subtly elevated with bits of blueberry and strawberry for each scoop. The sweet and tangy additions nicely contrasted the satisfying bitterness of the teas, without being tooth-achingly sweet. However, there was more matcha than fruit in the flavours, with some spoonfuls tasting like full-on matcha for us.
Our favourite was the Salted Peanut, which was recommended to us by the friendly gelato server. It checked all the boxes for texture and flavours, with a slightly denser, creamier finish and a nice hit of peanut. Salted peanut typically pairs with caramel, but it held its own in this gelato – you can expect to get exactly what you order.
The desserts
If the gelatos weren’t enough for you, grab a seat and order from Niko Neko 3.0’s menu of over 15 desserts.
Image adapted from: @nikonekomatcha via Instagram
The Garden of Eden (RM38) is one of their most popular orders. The beautiful mess of crunchy vanilla honey granola, soft poached apples, and butter cake cubes was sold out just an hour and a half after the cafe opened its doors on the day we visited.
We went with the Lemon-Chantilly Checkered Pound Cake (RM18) instead, without the cafe’s recommended optional scoop of Matcha (RM31) or Sweet Corn (RM30) gelato.
The cake itself was light and buttery, with a tartness cutting through from the smears of lemon and chantilly cream atop. We reckon that it could’ve been elevated further with the gelato, so if you’re coming by for this, we recommend you plop down to enjoy this cake with an icy scoop.
The Caramelized Pineapple Tarte Tatin stood out to us on the menu. It comes with either Coconut Cream (RM26) or Matcha (RM30) gelato – no opting out of this for this dessert.
The stacked dessert has buttery puff pastry as a base, crowned with a thick slice of fresh caramelised pineapple and a scoop of gelato. The gooey, caramelised bits that clung to the pineapple felt truly indulgent. And the tartness of the pineapple went surprisingly well with the Kiyone matcha that melted into a tantalising mess on our plate.
Niko Neko is now in Bukit Damansara with gelatos
If you like your desserts as mains, a trip to Niko Neko 3.0 is worth it. It’s all things sweet here, with matcha at the core of the gelato bar and menu.
As the cafe just opened to the public, expect queues for a table and also at checkout, where a bottleneck typically forms from the combination of takeaway and dine-in payments. Street parking in the area may be difficult to come by, but you can always opt to park at Plaza Damansara, just a short walk away.
Address: 33-2 & 35-2, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tue-Thu 2pm-6.30pm & 7.30pm-10pm | Fri 6pm-11pm | Sat & Sun 2pm-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 019-298 0351 | Niko Neko Instagram
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Janet, Xinyee.