GulaiNya is said to be an off-shoot of Little Yum Yum in Kota Damansara, and I’ve been going to the latter since 2012. When I heard GulaiNya was opening in Damansara Heights, I was excited because it’s a lot closer to where I live.
We dropped by on a Sunday night and it was quite a full house – good thing I booked a table. The menu is fairly extensive: a combination of Nyonya flavours from Penang and Melaka, on top of signature dishes like the Yum Yum egg and creamy basil chicken.
Red Snapper Saute Curry
I repeated most of my usual dishes from Little Yum Yum but added on the Itik Tim since it’s new and I love that Nyonya dish in general. The Gulai Tumis Red Snapper (RM48 – small) didn’t disappoint. Fish was fresh and firm, while the gulai gravy was well-balanced, so the spices and tanginess didn’t overpower.
Fat cooking nails
Paku Masak Lemak (RM22 – small) was rich and thick without being too unctuous. The leaves were still crunchy and well complemented by the masak lemak gravy. I’d say the team at GulaiNya executed this well – I actually prefer this to the version from Little Yum Yum.
Signature Egg
The Signature Egg (RM22 – small) packs flavour and it’s comforting to eat. This has been my all-time favourite at Little Yum Yum, and I’m glad they also offer it at GulaiNya. My one issue is the egg doneness – I like my yolk to be runny, but both outlets tend to do it over-medium to well done.
Prawn petai sambal acid
Asam Sambal Petai Prawn (RM28 – small) showcased juicy prawns glazed with sambal. It’s not the fiery, saucy kind, but one that’s flavourful enough to taste the chillies, sweetness, and umami notes. I’m not a fan of petai, but am happy to report it’s tender and hardly stinky.
Creamy Basil Chicken
The Creamy Basil Chicken (RM28 – small) started out as a random creation that I first tried with prawns at Little Yum Yum. I would have preferred the sauce to be thicker so it could better coat the chicken pieces, but flavour-wise, it still delivered.
Team duck
Jien had a bit of a gripe with the Itik Tim (RM38), as he felt the duck flavour wasn’t as pronounced. This was tangy and pleasant (for me at least), but if we’re talking Melaka-style Itik Tim, I feel it doesn’t pass off as a solid one.
Cendol
Sago Sugar Melaka
We shared a Cendol (RM8.90) and Sago Gula Melaka (RM7.90) for dessert. Both are fairly solid, so it boils down to preference. Cendol is rich from the coconut milk, and the gula melaka syrup is nicely caramelised. The sago pudding is lightly chewy and well complemented by the gula melaka.
Overall, I find the dishes at GulaiNya enjoyable. The standard of food is on par with their sister outlet in Kota Damansara, but given how accessible GulaiNya is from where I live, I reckon I’ll frequent this outlet instead.
They also have chicken buk keluak, pongteh and shrimp cooked fat pineapple which I plan to try next.
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Ambiance: 6.5/10
Price: 6.5/10
Food: 7/10 (pork-free)
Verdict: Pretty decent Peranakan dishes from Penang and Melaka. Best to call ahead to book a table as the place isn’t very big.
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The sugar
44-G, Plaza Damansara,
Medan Setia 2 Street,
Bukit Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 014-392 7868
Business hours: 11am till 3pm, 5pm till 9.30pm
(closed Monday)
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