Eat Drink KL: Good Friends Cafe @ SS15 Subang

Friday, July 15, 2016

Good Friends Cafe @ SS15 Subang

As a restaurant, Good Friends Cafe illustrates many of the characteristics of a good friend - warm & reliable, genuine & fun, this feels like an easy choice for a pleasant meal in Subang. Chef-owner BH Lee & his team take real pride in their work, eager to ensure that customers enjoy thoughtfully executed comfort food in a feel-great setting.

The extensive menu runs the gamut from East to West, an impressive accomplishment for accountant-turned-chef BH, who initially learned to cook from his mom. One of the most popular dishes is the Premium Good Nasi (RM24), a wholesome reinterpretation of nasi lemak, without coconut milk, combining pandan-infused brown rice with grilled ayam berempah, poached egg, sweet potatoes, cashew nuts, house-made sambal & caramelised onions. The rice itself may be a little less flavoursome than regular nasi lemak, but consumed with everything else, it remains a worthwhile experience that conveys many of the pleasures of a nasi lemak platter, but notably with Good Friends' own distinctive ingredients, heartily portioned.

Rice enthusiasts can also check out Mom's Ginger Chicken (RM22), inspired by a family recipe - the fluffy brown rice is partnered with produce that exhibits how Good Friends makes the extra effort in sourcing its food, particularly from local suppliers - this free-range chicken is pasture-raised in a Raub farm, braised with ginger from Bentong & organic soy sauce.

Another recommended creation that attests to honest, home-cooked traditions: Clear fish soup glass noodles, filled with the sweetness of sea bass chunks in a light broth constructed with sea bass bones, complemented with celery & egg (RM22). 

Moving on to a different side of the menu: For customers who relish playing with their food, try the bruschetta platter (RM32), empowering you to assemble your own antipasto, with toppings of smoked duck & salmon (pretty good-quality fowl & fish) to pair with sauteed mushrooms, tomato chermoula & balsamic vinegar with olive oil on grilled bread for punchy combinations.

Salads & sandwiches are above-average too: The grilled chicken & cashew nut salad is enlivened by a house-made tangy lemongrass sauce (RM21), while sandwiches like the classic club with sesame mayo (RM23.90) showcase Good Friends' own-baked bread - foccacia, brioches & whole bread, hand-made with ingredients like unbleached flour, black olives, fresh rosemary, real butter, garlic & extra virgin olive oil.

 Other temptations include the PET 2.0, an attractive melange of potatoes, egg & tomatoes (RM19), respectable pastas like spaghetti with a robust kitchen-made pesto sauce (RM15.90; add on smoked salmon & mixed vegetables for even more texture & taste for RM14); & addictive side orders like roasted organic sweet potatoes (RM7, cultivated in a Klang micro-lot).

For steak devotees, it may be challenging to resist the Aussie rib-eye (RM59), offered in tender slabs totalling 280 grammes, in a few-frills presentation that puts the spotlight on the beef, with a bit of help from pan-fried potatoes, Bario salt & mustard.

Back in 2013, when Good Friends was in its original location in Ara Damansara, we had a memorable encounter with its French Toast - the cafe's hefty version today is stronger than ever, showered with fruits & nuts, flavoured with natural vanilla & a sauce laced with orange juice (RM22 with ice cream), but what we love even more now is the Gula Melaka creme brulee, beautifully straddling the balance between soft & thick, compellingly rich, crowned with a ripe banana & Gula Melaka brulee - easily one of the most delectable creme brulees we've had this year (RM12). 

The beverage selection is wide-ranging as well, ranging from salted caramel milk to cranberry fruit vinegar to a Bentong old ginger honey drink. Coffee fans are more than taken care of; besides all the espresso-based & hand-drip variants, one of the interesting enticements is coffee tinged lusciously with Malacca-origin rice wine (RM16.90). Craft beer pairings are also available for many of Good Friends' offerings; the cafe's knowledgeable staff is easily approachable for recommendations. Many thanks to the Good Friends team for having us here.

Good Friends Cafe
15 & 17, Jalan SS15/8A, Subang Jaya, Selangor. Mon-Sat, 830am-10pm; Sun, 830am-6pm. Tel: 03-5613-1415

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