Fans of Yellow Brick Road – the Bangsar cafe heavyweight known for its delightful brunches and specialty coffee – rejoice, as the brand has opened a second outlet in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant Chinatown district.

Tucked within Four Points by Sheraton Chinatown, the cafe boasts bright and airy interiors, with leafy plants complementing earthy tones and natural textures of wood. There is a small corner selling YBR merchandise. Solo travellers can sidle up to the counter where floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the street. Meanwhile, the larger tables in the middle are perfect for convivial gatherings.

The food is mostly Asian-Western fusion, spanning brunch offerings, pastas, burgers, and rice, as well as YBR’s famous cakes and pancakes. You’ll find familiar favourites like the Pulled Beef Benedict, Salted Egg Squid Pasta, and Lavish Legumes, as well as outlet-specific dishes that you won’t find at YBR The Five.

The Salmon Mentaiko Pasta (RM39) was served with thick, fatty cuts of salmon atop a bed of creamy tagliatelle, tobiko, baby spinach, and shiitake mushrooms.

The noodles were done al dente, and the sauce was not cloying, but I wish they had gone heavier with the seasoning as the mentaiko taste was minimal. Overall, it was an okay plate of pasta with generous portions, but flavours could have been better.

For those who prefer something filling but healthy, the Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl (RM33) is colourfully presented, with a heaping of edamame, a slab of pan fried salmon, seaweed, and pickled radish over Japanese rice.

To share, we got the Crispy Oyster Mushroom (RM12) with a side of Thai chilli sauce for dipping. The mushrooms were crispy and nicely battered, but the oil used didn’t seem fresh as there was a bitter aftertaste.

YBR is popular for its desserts, so the YBR Tiramisu (RM27), at least, did not disappoint. The price may seem rather steep but it is well worth the money as it uses mascarpone cream, espresso-soaked ladyfinger, cocoa powder, and a YBR-blend espresso mascarpone cream sauce. The result is a light and fluffy treat that is close to an authentic Italian tiramisu, rather than the bastardised, cream-heavy versions that have been tweaked to local tastes.

There were some hits and misses with the mains, but the dessert and the setting makes up for the experience. If you’re wandering Chinatown ,especially in the afternoons, Yellow Brick Road offers a cosy spot to cool down with drinks, bites, and coffee.

YELLOW BRICK ROAD (CHINATOWN)

Four Points by Sheraton Hotel KL, G-01-A, Ground Floor, 2, Jalan Balai Polis, Chinatown, 50000 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 830AM – 930PM (daily)

Phone: 019-672 7008

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