Low-priced ‘wok hei’ vegetarian fare in Solaris Dutamas

There are about 25 ‘economy rice’ dishes to choose from at Tze Ern Vege Restaurant. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR:

There are quite a few places in the city centre that offer delicious and inexpensive vegan and vegetarian meals.

However, in upmarket areas such as the affluent neighbourhood of Solaris Dutamas, it is next to impossible to find vegan and vegetarian restaurants that don’t charge an arm and a leg for a decent meal.

That is until Tony Chew opened Tze Ern Vege Restaurant in 2015 specifically to cater to the workers in the area.

Located very close to the Publika Shopping Centre, the eatery, which has an unfussy, zen-like white interior, serves a wide array of Chinese food.

“Our founder is a Buddhist teacher who wants to encourage people to eat vegetarian food as it is a blessing,” said restaurant manager, Alice Ng.

Founded in 2015 by Tony Chew, Tze Ern Vege Restaurant is located in Solaris Dutamas. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Those looking for breakfast will enjoy the economy noodles. When paired with the “gao” or strong Hainanese coffee, they’ll definitely be starting the day on a high note.

The mixed rice options are served from 8.30am onwards and are extremely popular, especially since there are about 25 dishes to choose from.

Rice with one vegetable costs just RM5, and if one were to serve four dishes, it’ll cost RM12.

Patrons can also opt for brown rice instead of white at no extra charge.

Dig into the claypot loh shu fun for ‘wok hei’ deliciousness. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

According to Ng, one can also pre-order the mixed rice dishes through the restaurant’s WhatApp group, as unlike the ala carte dishes, these aren’t available on Grab Food.

“We will post the pictures and names of the dishes daily and you can choose to pick it up later or have it delivered via e-hailing,” explained Ng.

For just a few ringgit more, you can complement your meal with a soup, herbal tea or “tong sui”, a sweet, warm dessert soup made specially for the day.

The tasty Cantonese fried sang mee egg gravy is a crowd-favourite. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

All meals are prepared without onions and garlic, and dishes cooked with eggs and dairy are clearly indicated on the menu.

Soy-based products and konjac, which is a root vegetable, are usually used as meat substitutes.

In fact, you can even customise your meals. “Our chefs welcome criticism, as we strive to provide the best service possible,” said Ng.

Curiously, most of their customers are non-vegetarians who work around the area. Given the budget-friendly prices and wide choices, it’s no surprise that so many enjoy their meals here regularly.

In addition, the eatery also sells vegetarian and vegan food products such as condiments, sauces, noodles, and assorted frozen meat substitutes.

The butter abalone mushroom dish is crispy and extremely addictive. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

For first-timers, the claypot loh shu fun comes highly recommended. Full of “wok hei”, also known as the smoky flavour given off by a hot wok during stir frying, the dish is absolutely mouth-watering.

For those who prefer an egg gravy, the Cantonese fried “sang mee” or wanton noodles is a must-try. The noodles are delectably crispy, and comes with a generous serving of vegetables and mushrooms.

The claypot ‘salted fish lamb belly’ has a deliciously ‘meaty’ texture. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

The butter abalone mushroom dish is also quite popular, given its crunchiness and addictive creamy sauce.

As for soy meat dishes, do try the claypot ‘salted fish lamb belly’, which has an extremely chewy, meat-like texture, as well as the BBQ mock meat, which tastes just as good as the regular char siew or barbequed pork.

You can also order their meals via Grab Food. (Muhaimin Marwan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Over the last two years, the restaurant has opened for business every single day of the year. In fact, it stayed open during Chinese New Year, offering special meals for groups of between three to nine.

“It’s our founder’s wish to make vegetarian food available to everyone on all days,” said Ng, adding that they try their best to keep prices as low as possible.

So, if you’re looking for good food with great taste that’s light on the pocket, head over to Tze Ern Vege Restaurant.