Red House’s veggie fare will leave you wanting seconds

Fancy fried rice cooked with dragon fruit? Despite how strange this sounds, it’s surprisingly delicious. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR:

Despite vegetarian food being nutritious and leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the environment, many still prefer tucking into meat alternatives when sitting down to a meal.

The perception that vegetarian food lacks flavour or variety also makes this an unexciting option despite its many health benefits. After all, how can a humble green salad measure up to a piece of deep-fried chicken, right?

However, one restaurant operating from inside a house tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood is about to change all that by showing you just how exciting and tasty a full-on vegetarian meal can be.

Red House can be easily mistaken for an ordinary residence. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Upon stepping into the restaurant, you’ll find yourself feeling quite at home, quite literally, given the cosy interior. Alternatively, you can make yourself comfortable outside, as there’s alfresco seating too.

Like many vegetarian restaurants, Red House too has a little “fun” with their vegetarian fare, giving them names like Hainanese Chicken Rice and Asam Laksa, both being meat-based Malaysian favourites. But rest assured, these are all 100% vegetarian-based and just as delicious.

The restaurant’s interior is homely and comfortable. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Also, instead of the common white or brown rice, this restaurant only serves embryo rice. It has all the nutritional benefits of brown rice, but the texture and softness of white rice – offering you the best of both worlds, so to speak.

It’s a great option for folks looking out for their sugar level, as it has a low glycaemic index and helps reduce cholesterol.

Now, for the actual vegetarian dishes.

The light and juicy Vietnamese Rolls make for a great starter, stuffed as it is with a medley of turnip, carrots and purple cabbage. It comes with a sweet chilli dip for a spicy kick.

Light but tasty, the Vietnamese rolls are best enjoyed with the sweet chilli dip. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Want to give your Instagram followers something to make their eyes pop? Post a picture of the Red House Signature Dragonfruit Fried Rice before you dig into it.

Bright red-pink thanks to the bits of dragon fruit within, this dish has hints of sweetness that surprisingly complements the familiar taste of traditional fried rice.

Admittedly, it does look strange to a first-timer, but if you love dragon fruit, you will very likely love this dish too.

The Unagi Rice is a bestseller here and for good reason. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Next up is the ever-popular Unagi Rice. In place of eel flesh, there’s well-crafted bean curd slices that pass off remarkably well as unagi, complete with soft texture and sweet taste. With a generous serving of pumpkin floss atop the rice, it is not surprising why this dish is as popular as it is.

Need something hot and spicy to tickle your tastebuds? The Asam Laksa is ready and waiting for the job, with its rich and fiery flavours.

Despite the absence of the mandatory fish, this version is still uncannily similar in taste to its non-vegetarian counterpart.

No fish? No problem! The Asam Laksa here is every bit as tasty as its non-vegetarian counterpart. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Perhaps it has something to do with the combination of pineapple, cucumber, mint leaves and natural spices. One thing’s for sure, you’ll enjoy this dish down to the last slurp.

Now for the aforementioned Hainanese Chicken Rice. The bean curd that passes off as chicken is surprisingly good, with a texture almost similar to meat.

However, the chilli paste served with the chicken rice should be given the spotlight, as its spiciness adds to the variety of flavour already present in the dish.

Come for the Hainanese Chicken Rice, stay for the spicy chilli paste that will singe your tastebuds. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Got a nagging sweet tooth? Satisfy your cravings with a variety of cheesecakes – Pandan Coconut, Chocolate Yuzu, Matcha and French Lemon Meringue.

To complement your dessert, try their selection of fruit and herbal teas – there’s Blue Mojito and Passionfruit-Grapefruit Tea, among others.

The cheesecakes at Red House are truly mouthwatering. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Speaking to FMT, manager Jacqueline Wong said that Red House was opened in late 2020 and has become known as a hideaway café or secret restaurant, where people can meet for a private meal in a cosy setting with good food.

“When our customers come here, we want them to feel like they are coming home to enjoy a meal of good and healthy food.”

Check out Red House’s tasty meals on Instagram and Facebook.