Comprendes Mendes, Petaling Jaya

No comprende? PJ's new Comprendes, Mendes translates Mexico's regional pork traditions into one unique pork taco restaurant.

Start with Cochinita Pibil, rooted in the Yucatán Peninsula: The pork is marinated with achiote, a seasoning of annatto seeds that contributes brick-red colour and peppery earthiness, patiently slow-braised, plump with pickled red onions and habanero salsa for a bright balance of aromatics and acidity.

Al Pastor reflects the char of central Mexico's Puebla, layering caramelised grilled pork with pineapple, salsa roja and cilantro atop the kitchen’s corn tortillas, fragrantly pliable from nixtamalisation, the traditional cooking and soaking of corn kernels before grinding them into flour.

Pozole Rojo de Cerdo is one of Mexico’s most culturally resonant celebratory soups, built on hominy, tenderly swollen corn kernels, in a spicy broth of fatty-fleshy pork with red chillies, cabbage and oregano.

Kaya Kopitiam, Desa Sri Hartamas

Capybara gyoza? Check out these charming cuties at Hartamas’ new Kaya Kopitiam.

These dumplings are diligently handcrafted, stuffed with a blend of shrimp and chicken, extra-succulent with a collagen-rich reduction of chicken feet, coated in cocoa-hued skin.

These capybara gyoza can also be purchased in take-home frozen packages, ready to steam, boil or fry for a family feast. Or have them pan-fried to order here with crispy bottoms, complete with dim sum, Hakka mee, hor fun and other meals.

Curiosité, Kampung Attap

Curiouser and curiouser: Curiosité is Kampung Attap’s hip new hideout for hojicha and shio pan in raw, repurposed rusticity.

Curiosité is currently soft-launched, 12pm-6pm. Meals will come next month.

Taste of Love: New location in Kampung Attap

Taste of Love has launched its new location in Kampung Attap, a lovely two-level venue with event space Gather Be Better upstairs, with charming classic corners to explore.

Asian comforts fuel the kitchen, with soulful influences spanning Taiwan to Thailand: Lunch on basil pork noodles with chilli-ginger century eggs and milk coolers creamily layered with house-blended yam. 

Jinrui Ramen, Damansara Perdana

Officially opening 5 August in Damansara Perdana, Jinrui Ramen marks the Malaysian debut of one of Osaka’s most influential modern ramen brands.

Built on lightly briny clam stock infused in chicken shoyu broth, fragrantly marine with scallop oil, Jinrui’s ramen is meticulously made. Even the water for the broth is refined with a Japanese North Water filtration system to recreate the chemistry of pristine mountain spring water.

Noodles are crafted on site, rippled with a medium-thick, full-bodied chew, fusing Japanese wheat flour with Malaysian wholemeal, enriched with fresh eggs for a balance of substance and suppleness.

True to founder Takahiro Matsumura’s tenet of bringing people together through ramen, Jinrui Ramen is pork-free in Malaysia, with wholesome skinless chicken chashu, ajitama eggs marinated in halal-certified Japanese Yokoi vinegar and Malaysian soy sauce, and red radish sprouts.

Tallsmolcafe, Taman Taynton View

Tallsmolcafe is Taman Taynton View's new stop for matcha coconut coolers and other caffeinated creations, tucked in the spacious, sunlit HUSTLR Pickleball & Social Club.

Fun fact: Tallsmolcafe's name refers to the contrasting heights of its founders, Ryan and  Rachel. Expect Rachel's own bakes to be served here by next month.