Douhao, Ara Damansara

Pause and ponder at Ara Damansara’s new Douhao, driven by friendly young founders Gareth and Keng Ho, striving to soothe the senses with well-crafted danishes and drinks.

Bröom, Subang Jaya

Bröom has launched its new secret sanctuary in Subang, lovely like a lofted garden pavilion with Dracaenas reaching to the rafters past timber-trussed ceilings.

Wander into this welcoming retreat for bakes like ceremonial matcha danishes, stay for Subang-exclusive meals infused with European and Asian inspirations, including the Maize Runner (corn scallion fritters with poached eggs, herbed garlic yogurt, chilli butter, sriracha mayo and crispy floss) and Crabby Scramble (crab meat scramble with shrimp, mussels, soft-shell crab, otafuku sauce, bonito and sourdough slices).

MakanHood, Sri Hartamas

MakanHood is Hartamas' cheerful, cosy new hideout for East-to-West comfort fare. Fans of Indian classics, check out the Gongura Chicken, tangy with sorrel leaves, complete with roti, dal, omelette and onion raita.

Khong Kee, Paramount Garden

Paramount Garden's three-decade-old Khong Kee has newly moved to a more comfortable space, remaining within the neighbourhood, still specialising in yong tau foo and porridge.

The kitchen takes pride in yong tau food that's hand-scraped with whole Spanish mackerel, smoothened into springy paste with no flour or preservatives, stuffed and sold fresh everyday in the familiar selection of brinjals, bitter gourd, okra, red chillies, green peppers and more.

The signature porridge is a piping-hot pleasure, tasty and textured with dried-and-diced oysters, shrimp, squid, mushrooms, peanuts and century eggs, creamy and comforting.

Cranky Dodo, Taman Connaught

Cranky Dodo is Cheras' new chilled-out spot for bingsu: Signatures include organic soy milk shaved ice, feathery-snowy with soothing sweetness, crackling with cornflakes for contrast.

Beyond icy indulgence, Cranky Dodo branches from East to West, serving hot meals like Italian creamy zucchini fusilli, Japanese curry rice and Malaysian nasi kerabu in a space that houses rentable rooms for music instruction and creative collaborations.

Slomo Cafe, Cheras

Cheras' new Slomo Cafe beckons for slow snacking and sipping: For fruity fun, pair the citrusy croissant (luscious with lemon curd) and the banana hojicha latte (layered with tender tropical ripeness).

Mana Dining, Chinatown KL

Chinatown’s new Mana Dining on Hang Kasturi Road is where it’s at for a pan-Asian lunch with punch, from pad kra pao gai rice bowls to ramen-style servings of hand-pulled noodles in eight-hour-braised chicken broth.

Evenings turn more elaborate,while still retaining regional flourishes, with highlights like the Angus rib-eye steak with crisp-fried kailan and fermented wasabi. Also indulge in the potato ménage à trois, as smoky espuma, silky-grilled and crackly-fried.