If you know your history, this Bangkung address has housed some excellent neighbourhood eateries over the years, from seafood sanctum Four Seas to mod-Oz haven Madisons (plus Tasting Room by Wine Cellar, if you count the space upstairs). Lucky Bo, reputedly named in honour of the beloved dog of the outlet's owner, preserves that tradition; if we're fortunate, this 'community cafe' (more on that a bit later) will enjoy a more enduring presence than its predecessors.
Lucky Bo takes familiar favourites & puts its personal spin on them; expect both Western & Asian offerings, with 'The Boger' (RM18 - it's 'a booger in your nose & a Boger in your mouth') featured prominently on the menu - a serving of two sliders, stuffed with tender & flavoursome seared sirloin beef (a nice change from processed patties), tomatoes & lettuce. From this alone, it seems clear that the restaurant makes a genuine effort to serve feel-good food with an honest quality - the accompanying fries taste fresh & are not an afterthought, while even the side salad is more deliciously dressed than expected.
High marks for the nasi lemak (RM12.50) too, with creamy, satisfyingly fragrant rice matched with all the essential components (each irreproachable), including a choice of prawn sambal (our pick), beef rendang or chicken curry. If it's available, ask for a side serving of Bernie Chan's sambal ikan bilis, a terrific concoction with a beautiful balance of sweet-savoury dimensions (bonus points: it's not too spicy). Other Eastern temptations here include Siamese laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, Hong Kong macaroni beef soup, Mee Siam, fried wantan noodles, yee tau mai fun & kai see hor fan, costing between RM9.80 & RM18.
There's a sense that Lucky Bo's founders appreciate food & have been cooking for a long time - the spaghetti tuak vongole (RM22), loaded wonderfully with clams & cooked with rice wine for a slightly more robust flavour than your regular white-wine variety, feels like the successful result of experimentation in someone's home kitchen. The only dish that wasn't up to mark was the grilled chicken (RM24) - the meat bore the off-flavour of a potential storage issue, but the sides of guacamole, roasted potatoes & rocket were all fine. And a bottle of red, reasonably priced at RM120, made the evening all the more enjoyable.
The 'community cafe' factor is showcased on the shelves - patrons can purchase wide-ranging independently made products, from royal jelly honey & peanut butter for pets to CDs & children's books, many of which seem to emphasise a sense of being Malaysian, a trait that may already have been apparent if you spotted the miniature national flags on the Bogers. Lucky Bo was an oasis of calm on a recent Tuesday night, but expect this to become a crowd magnet soon. Service is warm & efficient.
Lucky Bo
65 Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 12pm-10pm. Tel: 03-2092-1222
This restaurant is available for bookings under TABLEAPP, which enables customers to make instant reservations at Malaysia's top restaurants, while saving time and money in the process. Reserve your table at this restaurant by clicking here.
The Eat Drink KL mobile app is now available, connecting restaurants & customers to promote a positive spirit of community.
Every restaurant on this app rewards users with a 6 percent discount, instantly & conveniently, everyday, all day long.
In return, users share photos of their experiences at these eateries, creating a new community of restaurant lovers.
For every transaction, at least RM0.20 will be channelled to a charity of the month.
Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits.
Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link:
Note to subscribers on Gmail: The newsletter will be in the Promotions folder of your inbox.
Check out the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favourites, with 100 recommended restaurants for May-August 2015. This eBook is available to read or download at this link: http://eatdrinkkl.cld.bz/2015
Buckle your seatbelts: Eat Drink KL is partnering with Uber to take restaurant lovers on new adventures across KL & Selangor!
If you haven't used Uber yet, it's time to begin! For new users, just follow the steps below to redeem free rides:
1. Download the Uber app from the App Store, Play Store or Windows Store - and register your Uber account.
2. Apply the code EATDRINKKL as your first promotional code & you'll receive 2 Free Rides worth RM30 each.
3. Request a ride through the app and ride for free to any destination (with two ride values of up to RM30 each).
