By Aiman Azri
It’s nice to find eateries that work hard to own their niche. Cafe 5 serves purely two specialities - Belgian-inspired Liege waffles and interesting flavours of handcrafted ice cream - doing both as well as it can.
The waffles here are thick, crunchy, mildly sweet, pleasantly chewy and relatively bready, thanks to the brioche base and long fermentation process. Cafe 5’s entire hot food menu consists of this waffle as a base, so if you like it, you’re in for a good time.
Thirteen different waffle dishes are available with various toppings, from the classic maple syrup and butter all the way to smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese.
Named for the Japanese author, the Murakami (RM15) showcases a waffle stack completely showered in bonito flakes. It has a likable aroma that sets you up for the Japanese mayonnaise, spices and takoyaki sauce infused within. It’s savoury, briny and tangy all at once, best suited for the bolder palates.
Offering a strong contrast, the Tom & Jerry (RM 13) features melted cheddar cheese on the waffles, tempting for both mice and men. Enjoyably simple, akin to ordering a cheeseburger at a burger joint, putting the spotlight on the basic product.
Take a stroll on the sweet side: The PB Bunk (RM 15) is a mini tower layered with chocolate peanut butter and bananas. It’s terrific for peanut butter lovers, well-balanced without being cloying. It was our table’s favourite, or at least it was, until we met …
... the chocolate-loving Willy Wonka (RM 38), meant to be shared by three or four customers, served with a Belgian chocolate fondue, strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows, to be mixed and matched to your heart’s delight. It comes with three scoops of the cafe's own ice cream.
For the distinctive ice cream flavours, we opted for the Salted Egg Yolk with Curry Leaves, the Hojicha with Shredded Dark Chocolate, and D12 Durian. Each scoop was creamy and slow-melting - the crowd-pleaser might be the D12, which genuinely tasted like smooth durian fruit in ice cream form, with the aroma reaching you even before the platter hits your table.
Cafe 5 also serves a variety of coffee, tea and milkshakes. The Ice Cube Coffee (RM 13) is a little nutty, with a luscious texture once it’s blended with milk.
The Japanese Matcha Latte (RM 11) is best served hot to preserve the potent nuances of green tea, while the Mango Milkshake (RM 15) is thick and abundant with the dynamics of tropical fruit.
Cafe 5
No 5, Jalan Lengkongan Brunei, Off Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 12pm–10 pm. Tel: 018–215-9935
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