Founded by husband-and-wife team Richard Phua, 67, and Sharon Khor, 57, Café Thirty Seconds is a cozy establishment in Bandar Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, that offers a range of scrumptious food, desserts, and beverages.
Its specialty is its ketogenic and low-carb menu, making it ideal for those who adhere to the diet – some would call it a lifestyle – where carbohydrates are kept to a minimum, with moderate servings of protein and high amounts of healthy fats.
They opened the café in 2014 but it wasn’t until 2018 – when Khor, who is diabetic, realised these foods were suitable for her – that they expanded their menu to include keto and low-carb fare.
As such, they are a unique eatery in that they have three different menus: keto, low-carb, and “normal”, for the everyday diner. The ketogenic items contain higher amounts of healthy fats and fewer carbohydrates compared with those of the low-carb menu.
“People tend to think low-carb or keto meals are not delicious,” Khor told FMT. “I hope that when they try our food and desserts, it will change this perception because these meals are not just healthy, they are also tasty.”
The coffee, in particular, is a highlight here. After all, the couple’s 28-year-old son Aaron, who trains the staff at the café, was the Malaysian Barista Champion in 2019.
Aaron also operates Fifty Tales Noodle Bar, a restaurant serving a variety of homemade noodles, located just a few doors down. Meanwhile, their older son, 32-year-old Eric, operates Music Dojo right next door, where he teachers guitar, drums and vocals.
The music studio shares its premises with the family’s laundromat business, The Wash Shop.
Tasting notes
The Keto Big Breakie, which is available all day, is a delightful platter of eggs – choose from scrambled, omelette, or sunny-side-up – crispy beef bacon or turkey ham, and juicy diced chicken.
It comes with a tangy mixed salad and fresh mushrooms, so if you’re looking for the perfect meal to kickstart your day (or at any time, really), dig in and enjoy this gastronomical delight!
The Keto Baked Eggs is an exquisite dish made up of two eggs, tender chicken chunks, bell peppers, and mushrooms baked in piquant curry and topped off with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese. It comes with a side of mixed salad drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil.
The curry, which is the highlight of the dish, is aromatic and not overly spicy, lending a creaminess to the already flavoursome dish.
All items on the keto menu come with a choice of either long black, tea, lemon juice, or – the pièce de résistance! – bulletproof coffee. More on this below.
The Nasi Lemak Cauli Rice, off the low-carb menu, is an aesthetically pleasing dish that’s impressively authentic in taste.
Although diced cauliflower is used as a substitute for rice, it has a similar texture to the everyday grain, so much so that some might even mistake it for the real thing if they didn’t know about the switch!
The milder flavour of the cauli rice is the perfect complement to the scrumptious, mouth-searing homemade sambal and juicy fried chicken. The dish is served with a perfectly fried egg, crispy anchovies, and fresh cucumber.
Another item from the low-carb menu that is not to be missed is the Pesto Chicken with Cauli Rice. Made with Khor’s homemade pesto sauce, the creamy chicken is packed with flavour and, again, pairs perfectly with the cauli rice.
This dish, which also comes with a fried egg and fresh cucumber, is simple but delicious.
Then there’s the Curry Konjac Noodles with Chicken Chop, another scrumptious and satisfying low-carb offering using konjac noodles.
Also known as shirataki noodles, this low-carb ingredient is made from glucomannan, a fibre from the root of the konjac plant that grows in Japan, China and other parts of Southeast Asia.
The noodles here are served in a fragrant and absolutely addictive curry with just the right amount of spice. The generously sized chicken chop is tender and perfectly cooked, and the dish is topped with vegetables and a garnish of red chillies – a perfect dish to be enjoyed on a rainy day.
If you’re looking to indulge in guilt-free desserts, how about trying some low-carb cakes? Up for grabs during FMT’s visit were slices of the marble butter, lemon poppyseed butter, and matcha adzuki.
Khor uses almond flour instead of regular flour, and xylitol – a sugar substitute – to create these sweet treats that are just as decadent as your “normal” cakes, with the right look, texture and mouthfeel.
The matcha adzuki, in particular, was packed with the fragrance and flavour of green tea, with delectable pieces of Japanese red bean adorning the top.
Other low-carb dessert options include tiramisu, as well as pandan, mixed berry, and lemon curd cheesecakes – all of which would go down well with a smooth cuppa coffee! Speaking of which…
Bulletproof coffee, also known as butter coffee, is popular among those on keto, and the one served here is a tantalising combination of butter, coconut oil, and strong espresso.
It is a must-try for seasoned drinkers and bulletproof newbies alike. Although it is an acquired taste, especially since it is served without sugar, you just might find yourself warming up to this intriguing and delicious beverage!
All in all, Café Thirty Seconds will please both low-carb and “regular” foodies, and is bound to become a favourite haunt for those following the ketogenic lifestyle.
Learn more about Café Thirty Seconds via its Instagram and Facebook profiles.
Café Thirty Seconds (pork-free)
7-G, Jalan Margosa SD10/4A,
Bandar Sri Damansara,
Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 9am-6pm (closed on Wednesdays)