Luckily, Limapulo @ Tong Shin Terrace – a Peranakan restaurant winning hearts with its mouth-watering Baba Nyonya dishes – lands firmly in the second camp.
This is the second outpost of Limapulo, which first opened on Jalan Doraisamy in 2015. Step inside Limapulo and you’re instantly transported to the 1930s.
Sitting right in front of the iconic Blue Boy Mansion and just a stone’s throw from Jalan Alor, Limapulo is one of the main occupants of this heritage building which once served, among other things, as a guesthouse – and much of its original character is still intact.
Door frames, stained glass windows, high ceilings, vintage chairs, beams, antique cabinets, and quirky knick-knacks all breathe history.
Add in P. Ramlee classics floating through the air and staff dressed in traditional Peranakan attire, and the illusion is complete. Perfect for that Instagram snapshot.
“We’ve had people who used to live here come back and say this is where they used to eat or play when they were kids. Definitely a lot of nostalgia going on and that’s what we’ve tried to capture, too. We want people to come here and feel like they’re at home,” said Alice Kamal, Limapulo’s manager.
But nostalgia alone isn’t enough. Does Limapulo @ Tong Shin Terrace, which opened in July, weave the same kind of magic as its original restaurant? More importantly, does it deliver on true Peranakan cuisine?
Oh yes, it does. After all, it’s often said that Peranakan cooking is a labour of love – and at Limapulo, you can taste that love in every dish.
FMT Lifestyle started with the quintessential nyonya snack, pai tee. The delicate tart shells were thin, crisp, and didn’t crumble too easily – a big win.
Each little cup was packed with a flavour party of sweet, sour, savoury, and salty, topped with one fresh prawn and fragrant sambal that added just the right kick.
Next up was the star of the show: Nyonya laksa. Unlike the fiery curry laksa you’d find elsewhere, this version leaned into its Peranakan roots with turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, and creamy coconut milk. The result? A big, comforting bowl that’s aromatic, coconutty, and just mildly spicy.
For dessert, the cendol was refreshing with smooth coconut milk and rich, smoky-sweet gula Melaka, while the chilled sago was silky with a touch of saltiness that balanced the sweetness from the same gula Melaka and coconut milk.
But why stop there? You can also order Javanese Nusantara cuisine from Omah Jawa Resto, Limapulo’s sister company that also operates from the Tong Shin Terrace and is cooked by the same kitchen.
The gado-gado, an Indonesian salad, turned out to be a real flavour bomb. The peanut sauce had a fiery kick with just the right touch of sweetness, making it totally addictive. Paired with a mix of boiled vegetables, tempeh, and hard boiled egg, every bite had a satisfying crunch and a balance of textures.
Then came the rawon komplit, a comforting beef stew from East Java. The broth was herbal and earthy – not bold, but deeply soulful. Served with rice, sambal, and salted egg on the side, everything came together into a hearty, well-rounded meal. The only drawback? The beef could’ve been more tender.
Ultimately, whether you come for the nostalgia, or the hearty Peranakan flavours, Limapulo @ Tong Shin Terrace delivers more than just a meal. It’s a place where history lingers on the walls, comfort fills every bowl, and diners leave with both stomachs and hearts full.
Limapulo @ Tong Shin Terrace
27, Jalan Tong Shin,
Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours:
11.30am-8pm (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday)
11.30am-9pm (Friday, Saturday)
(Closed on Monday)
Contact: 010-383 3238
For location, click here.
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