“Food is what unites both the Western and Eastern cultures as there are similarities in what we eat daily such as bread and noodles. Hence, the name, ‘Buns & Noodles’,” café founder, Quah Jit Hu, told FMT Lifestyle.
So, if you’ve ever shuddered at the thought of planning a meal for a large group with diverse tastes, this café has you covered.
It offers pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, burgers and Asian favourites like char siew chicken rice and Melaka nyonya fish.
The menu is the brainchild of Quah, who was trained at the Lycée Hôtel-Restaurant d’Occitanie in Toulouse, France. The 36-year-old has also worked at Fouquet’s in Toulouse and Le Pré Catelan in Paris, a three Michelin Star restaurant.
“I wanted to make simple food with fresh ingredients and local flavours without having my customers making a hole in their wallets. So, I hope customers will come, taste and enjoy my food,” he said.
For this writer, the highlight of the meal was the fish and chips. The perch fillet was generously sized, with delightfully soft flesh encased in a light and crispy batter.
Quah recommended spraying a dash of apple cider vinegar on the fish before taking a bite and indeed, the vinegar did wonders in enhancing the flavour of the fish.
The Margherita pizza was also heavenly. The pairing of pomodoro (tomato) sauce with hot, oozing cheese – a combination of parmesan and mozzarella – was simple but worked wonderfully.
The thin crust pizza was not too heavy on the stomach too, making it ideal for those looking for lighter fare or a quick bite shared with others.
Wishing to offer dishes that people of all races can enjoy, Quah introduced the char siew chicken rice.
The chicken is marinated for 72 hours with char siew sauce, resulting in tender and juicy meat. Served with fermented chilli bean paste made in-house and pickled cucumbers, this was yet another scrumptious dish.
And now for something “East meets West” – Quah’s green curry spaghetti. Simple yet tasty and wonderfully executed, the green curry paste, made in house, lent a piquant flavour to the dish, especially the tender chunks of chicken.
Biting into the lemongrass chicken croissant can get slightly messy, but you won’t regret it. The buttery, flaky croissant with its flavourful chicken filling makes for a light but satisfying meal.
The croissant, Quah shared, comes all the way from France while the lemongrass marinade is made in-house.
Complement your meals with interesting drinks such as the immunity booster. Made from avocados and a combination of fresh and condensed milk, it is thick and creamy and not too sweet. In fact, it tastes so good you may find yourself ordering seconds.
Alternatively, try the watermelon lychee spritzer. For this beverage, lychee puree is mixed with fresh watermelon ice cubes for a truly refreshing beverage.
Overall, with its homey and hearty food, patrons may just find themselves planning a second trip back even before they’re done with their meal.
Buns & Noodles
13-G, Jalan Sungai Burung W32/W
Bukit Rimau
40460 Shah Alam
Selangor
Contact: 03-5131 1576
Business hours: Closed on Tuesday
11am–3pm; 6pm–9pm: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
12pm–3pm; 6pm–10pm: Saturday and Sunday