The wait was worth it: After many months of ardent anticipation, Burnin' Pit is finally firing up its grills, bringing sultry Texas-style barbecue to the heart of Hartamas, smoked and sliced in a suave space that's raring to fan the flames of our appetites.
This is merely a teaser of Burnin' Pit's current test run, but it's clear that the restaurant means serious business when it comes to low-and-slow barbecue. The highlight is the premium wagyu brisket, cooked for no fewer than 14 hours, initially over a base of rubberwood, then with the wood of Pahang-cultivated tropical fruit trees, including jackfruit, mango and rambutan trees.
Seasoned simply with kosher salt to let the beef shine, the result is meat made for passionate carnivores, with a clean but memorably resonant richness of flavour that lingers pleasurably on the palate, sumptuously fleshy to the bite, satisfyingly tender to the chew. It'll be no problem polishing off a full plate of this top-notch protein; kudos to Burnin' Pit's founding chef Kok Fung and his team for blazing a fresh trail with their expert execution.
While the Japanese beef is the probable standout (seasonal price; currently RM80 per 100 grams), there's plenty of smoked meat to go around the table. The soft-launch selection also showcases halal-certified BBQ Aussie beef brisket (RM20 for 100 grams), beef ribs (RM30 for 100 grams) and pulled lamb (RM21 for 100 grams). House-blended Peach BBQ and Gula Melaka sauces complement the meat without being overpowering.
Burnin' Pit also puts a local spin on some of its signatures, so in addition to Jamaican jerk chicken, you'll find Malaysian percik-inspired chicken too, plus a brisket fried rice that should be mighty tempting.
House-made sausages are also available, alongside meaty burgers, sliders and hot dogs, as well as hearty-sounding sides that span mac-and-cheese to corn with coconut milk and plantain chips with pulled lamb, plus sweet treats like beignets and chocolate Oreo sundaes. We'll be back for those.
A cosy den upstairs, lit with bulbs encased in whiskey bottles, complete with a faux fireplace, beckons customers for drinks after dinner, with an alfresco terrace that overlooks the neighbourhood.
Burnin' Pit
24, Jalan 24/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Open daily; BBQ available 11am-2pm, 6pm till sold out. The rest of the menu is available all day long.
Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits. Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link: https://confirmsubscription.
