Eat Drink KL: DéJà Brew Cafe, Damansara Utama

Friday, April 9, 2021

DéJà Brew Cafe, Damansara Utama

 If you love spicy snacks, you might have heard of Takis, the Mexican rolled corn tortilla chips that have thrilled North American heat-seekers for nearly two decades.

Now, you'll find the taste of Takis offered in a one-of-a-kind concept by Damansara Uptown's DéJà Brew Cafe: From burgers and pizzas to chicken wings and mac-and-cheese, all of DéJà Brew Cafe's savoury specialities use imported Takis in fun ways to bring a tantalising twist to familiar favourites. Takis is halal and vegetarian-friendly, without animal fat shortenings, so basically everyone can enjoy it.


Start with the Sloppy Hotness (RM22.90; with fries), DéJà Brew Cafe's hot take on a sloppy Joe.

Nearly everything in the burger is house-made, from the fluffy, soft bun to the textured beef patty and rich, 12-hour-cooked caramelised onions. The diner-style patty, with a craggy fleshiness that testifies to more meat and less filler, is layered with gooey melted cheese and a final flourish - crushed Takis that furnish fast-acting fieriness; no need for chilli-based sauces.

Besides beef, burgers with chicken or vegan patties are available - the latter relies on a starchy, umami-packed potato base, topped with crisp leaves for a relatively wholesome meatless burger.

Promising a liberating rendition of spicy pizzas, DéJà Brew's Slices of Firedom (RM19.90) is baked with the cafe's own dough mix for a thin crust that carries its toppings neatly - your choice of beef pepperoni for carnivores or oyster mushrooms with cherry tomatoes for vegetarians, extra-cheesy with shredded cheddar and stretchy mozzarella, mixed with Fiery Takis for an enlivening flourish. 


The Flaming Oozy Elbows (RM19.90) is mac-and-cheese that's made doubly decadent with al dente macaroni in twice the typical amount of cheddar, lightly browned and bronzed, then balanced and buoyed by a scattering of Flaming Takis crumbs to curb this recipe from turning cloying.


The Messy Chicken Blessings (RM20.90) makes for merry munching - half a dozen chicken wings with a full-bodied juiciness and full-flavoured crunchy coating with a secret weapon: Flaming Takis powder.

This is the dish where Takis make their presence most potently felt, tasting nostalgically like an addictive childhood snack out of a pack, with a zing of spice that's cooled down delectably with the zip and zest of lemon vinaigrette ranch.


Even the side dishes successfully channel the delightful dynamics of Takis.

The Texas Flamin’ Cream Poppers (RM22.90) are breaded mozzarella-stuffed jalapeno peppers with the unmistakable Takis crust that offers a snappy bite, coupled with mustardy mayonnaise, while the Stringy Firey Fries (8.90) is exactly what its name proclaims, a bowl of shoestring fries enhanced with sprinklings of Flaming Takis.

Other items to check out include  DéJà Brew Cafe's own-baked bagel, a worthwhile carb wonderland with a Takis-infused cream cheese filling.


Cakes here are a labour of love by DéJà Brew Cafe's founder Meghann Subramanian, who has been honing her baking for the past few years.

Her signature cake is the Yin & Yang (RM15.90), a no-bake Oreo cheesecake with a beautifully dense body that's not too sweet - proof of her perfecting the recipe without over-relying on sugar. 

The Golden Mudslide (RM15.90) is great for kids of all ages, luscious with layers of chocolate brownie and peanut butter, gold-dusted for a gleaming crown.

Carrorgasm (RM15.90) is a triumphantly textured carrot cake, a treat with candied carrots, chopped walnuts and cream cheese meringue. 

Tira Miss U (RM15.90) is a spin on tiramisu with a certified coffee kick, irresistibly creamy on top with a delicate cake base.

With a name like DéJà Brew, the cafe also delivers on caffeination beyond the Tira Miss U - expect everything a barista can make, from double espressos to caramel macchiatos to vanilla hazelnut lattes.

Smoothies are also available, from the health-focused Greenology with cucumber, lime, kale, spinach, celery and ginger to the Peanut Butter Delight, indulgent with peanut butter, banana and coconut milk.

BYOB is allowed, with corkage at RM25 per crate of beer, RM50 per bottle of wine, and RM75 per bottle of other liquors.


Step into DéJà Brew Cafe and you'll savour a meal with scenes of world landmarks for your backdrop, from Santorini in Greece to the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, from India's Taj Mahal to the Netherlands' windmills.

Many thanks to DéJà Brew Cafe for having us here.

DéJà Brew Cafe

33, Jalan SS 21/56b, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-9pm; Sunday, 10am-4pm. Tel: 03-77312101

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com