Yes, you can find quite a few 24-hour food courts in the city and its environs. One that was opened only last August goes by the rather whimsical name of 7ate9 Café.
It’s located in busy Cheras and has been a boon to foodies in the area with its indoor and outdoor dining areas. Furthermore, the service here is swift because there’s a large number of waiters who work quickly and professionally.
The drinks menu is pretty standard, but it’s worth mentioning that the fruit juices are served in extra-large mugs. And since a mug actually holds more juice than ice, it’s worth the RM14 price tag.
While waiting for your drink to arrive, why not walk around the area to see what’s cooking?
The food variety is excellent, with many stalls offering local delights and others specialising in foreign cuisine. Prices range from RM10 to RM15 and that’s great value for money.
From nasi lemak and char kuey teow to Japanese and Korean cuisine, there is something for everyone at any time of the day.
FMT Lifestyle sampled some dishes recently and here are the highlights.
Who can resist a good plate of char kuey teow? Sure, it’s not exactly the healthiest food in the world, but the version served at 7ate9 is undeniably satisfying. You can’t miss the stall; it is among the first you see when you reach the top of the stairs to the court.
Its Penangite owner is not always around, but his workers are certainly more than capable of cooking up a delicious hot plate of noodles.
Smokey and savoury, the kuey teow has the perfect level of moisture and contains plenty of goodies like cockles and bits of duck egg. A worthy treat all around.
At the far end of the court is the Mala Hotpot stall, where you can choose the meats, veggies and noodles you wish to see in your choice of spicy soup. You can also have the meats and veggies served dry (but peppery) with rice.
Then there is the porridge stall, where you can enjoy a piping hot bowl of congee with an assortment of add-ons.
Worth trying is the porridge with century egg, served with ginger and a dash of soy sauce. It’s so full of flavour that even naysayers should give it a try and judge for themselves.
While a little pricey, the portion size more than makes up for the cost. This is a dish worth enjoying with a few dining partners for sure.
Smack on one corner of the court is the Otak-Otak Muar stall, where you can order sticks of the fishy delicacy or its bao bun variant. Either way, it’s a tantalising meal. The otak-otak contains what seems to be the perfect balance of spices.
And then there’s the rojak stall, which serves a mean fruit salad packing quite a punch. The sauce is not overwhelmingly sweet, but it does add a subtle flavour to the keropok and fruits.
So, the next time you wake up at 3am with hunger pangs, consider making a trip out to 7ate9 Café for a real meal.
7ate9 Café
Taman Bukit Segar,
56100 Kuala Lumpur,
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Open 24 hours