Getting chummy with the locals
Hipster cafés may be a dime a dozen in suburbs like Petaling Jaya but in Cheras, it’s not often that we come across one that’s pleasing to the eye and inviting to the tummy. Chums Café and Dining is one such hidden gem that I discovered quite by chance, and I’ve returned several times for its good food and drinks.

Opened two years ago, Chums is founded by three friends: a barista, a pâtissier and a chef. The owners must have hit on a winning formula as the dining space has now doubled its original size from when I visited last year.

Located upstairs in a commercial shophouse that’s a stone’s throw away from the local wet market in Taman Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Chums doesn’t have a fancy concept like some of the hip cafes you see these days. A simple iron-accented tactile wall art beckons customers at the door while its mellowly lit interior features eye-catching pendant lights and bare concrete walls adorned sporadically with dried floral arrangements and shelves of leafy greens. Warm and cozy, its simple decor is enough to attract coffee aficionados.

Duck Rigatoni.

Since one of the owners is a Melbourne-trained barista, Chums serves freshly brewed coffee using beans imported from Code Black Coffee Roasters in Melbourne, Australia. The specialty drinks list also offers creative concoctions of tea, juices and herbal infusions. I had the thirst-quencher Nice To See You (RM18), a chilled mixture of grapefruit, elderflower and lemon juice, while discerning Japanese tea lovers will find the creamy Uji Matcha (RM16) up to par.

Chums’ menu is anything but ho-hum as you get fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients combined with Aussie-inspired techniques and know-how. Based on my own experience and previous visits, there is always something new and eclectic to sample or existing dishes that have been given fresh tweaks. The dessert selection isn’t an afterthought but a dedicated showcase of the pâtissier’s expertise, conceived to align with local seasonal produce or festive celebration.

Mushroom Mac and Cheese Croquets.

One of the recommended mainstays here is the Mushroom Mac & Cheese Croquettes (RM26). Thoughtful little details such as the use of Geraldton Wax leaves − Western Australia’s version of kaffir lime leaves − bestow a whiff of lemony-pine aroma, while dollops of musky-earthy truffle mayo and sliced cherry tomatoes ensure the ingot-shape croquettes are worth remembering.

Wedges of locally grown honey-sweet figs along with a mix of pesticide-free rocket leaves, cherry tomatoes and roasted hazelnuts make up the deceptively simple Figs Salad (RM28), with its appeal heightened considerably by whipped blue cheese cream and balsamic vinegar dressing.

Mochi Mille Feuille.

Dabu dabu sauce, an Indonesian inspired fiery-hot and savoury blend of chillies, tomatoes, shallot and lime, paired with grilled pineapple and gula Melaka salsa transformed the Balinese Pork Collar (RM68) into a flavoursome show-stopper. Wrapped and roasted in banana leaves, the sizeable serving of juicy pork tasted similar to hot and spicy char siu (barbecued pork).

Balinese Pork Collar.

Cloaked in a milieu of red wine and rosemary-infused tomato sauce and shredded duck then topped with melted cheddar-mozzarella, the Duck Rigatoni (RM34) enticed even the non-pasta fans in our party who found the dish deliciously comforting.

Our notable sweet-enders included Mochi Mille Feuille (RM18), which was a double-decked mille feuille and mochi sandwich roll complemented by jasmine poached pear and vanilla gelato; and the whimsical Nanana Babanana (RM19), a square-shape chocolate “bear” encasing fluffy caramelised banana mousse cake accompanied by vanilla ice cream. Quite the treat, these, and worth stopping by for even if it’s just for coffee and cakes.

Nanana Babanana.

For Cheras folks who want to enjoy good coffee and food without venturing too far afield, Chums would be the perfect outpost.

CHUMS CAFÉ & DINING

16, Jalan Kaskas 3 Taman Cheras Kuala Lumpur

012-370 2972

Business hours:

Sun - Wed: 12pm-9pm

Fri - Sat: 12pm-10pm

Closed on Thursdays
StarExtra
Hipster cafés may be a dime a dozen in suburbs like Petaling Jaya but in Cheras, it’s not often that we come across one that’s pleasing to the eye and inviting to the tummy. Chums Café and Dining is one such hidden gem that I discovered quite by chance, and I’ve returned several times for its good food and drinks.