East Asian desserts seem destined for dominion in the weeks ahead; here's a short-&-sweet peek at Uncle Tetsu's Cheesecake in 1 Utama, the first Malaysian outpost of the popular Japanese chain ...
... followed by the independent Korean-owned OW:L Espresso, set to become one of Subang Jaya's coolest new hangouts.
At Uncle Tetsu's, you'll find customers constantly clustered around the counter throughout the day, waiting patiently as timers count down the painful minutes until the next set of orders can be taken & the next batch of cakes will be ready. Uncle Tetsu's upside is also its downside: Cakes are baked to order - they taste soft, warm & fresh but need at least 20 minutes to make.
Consequently, these aren't the most convenient cheesecakes; many patrons - including those in China, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines & Thailand - might empathise: We stopped by at 3:05pm & were informed it'd be 25 minutes till our order could even be taken. We couldn't linger, so we came back at 6:30pm, had our order taken immediately & waited 20 minutes for the cake.
But the tale has a happy ending: These cheesecakes - reputedly made with top-flight cream cheese, eggs & milk - are (probably) worth the effort. They're supremely fluffy, almost more of a souffle than cake, with a surprisingly sumptuous, sweet-savoury flavour considering their light texture.
Each 16-centimetre cake costs RM19.90 & can be shared by six people, so it's not especially or excessively expensive.
Next up, OW:L Espresso, a first-floor perch in Menara Rajawali where college students of a feather flock together, right beside Inti International University in SS15 Subang.
Korean 'bingsu' is the star attraction - the renowned Korean shaved ice dessert that's increasingly casting a cold snap over the Klang Valley. OW:L's version is indulgently smooth & well-tuned in flavour. Varieties include Injeolmi with glutinous rice cakes, Milk Fat, Cookies & Cream or Yoghurt & Fruit, but we placed our bet on this unique cross between bingsu & affogato, crowned not only with azuki beans but ice cream, & served with a shot of espresso. RM14 for a 'small' that two can easily share.
No coffee no cry - OW:L Espresso serves Marley Coffee, founded by the son of Bob Marley.
Ice cream toasts are available, fruity with yuja citrus fruit & berries (RM13); hearty, but a better choice of bread might make this more enjoyable.
Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake
LGK-2A, 1 Utama New Wing, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Near Best Denki.
LGK-2A, 1 Utama New Wing, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Near Best Denki.
Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake
LGK-2A, 1 Utama New Wing, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Near Best Denki.
LGK-2A, 1 Utama New Wing, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. Near Best Denki.
OW:L Espresso
Menara Rajawali, Jalan SS15/8, Subang Jaya. Open daily, 10am-midnight
Menara Rajawali, Jalan SS15/8, Subang Jaya. Open daily, 10am-midnight
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