Pejam Mata Cafe — Restaurant in Kajang Municipal Council

Trying to open up a new hipster cafe in this current climate is a very hard thing to do. Imagine choosing a good name, a good logo, making good food, and spending money to have a good interior. And you need to stand out albeit all these other cafes, all while trying to fight off the more familiar franchises. I don't envy these guys one bit except for one thing: passion.

It's probably the only thing that drives these small owners (although this cafe is actually under another famous restaurant in Bangi). So enough about that short anecdote about hipster cafes. And on to the review.

I actually went here and ordered based on my colleague's suggestion: the beef fried rice. And from what I gather around my friends food, I can tell you this:

Their local dish is better than the Western ones. Way, way better. The beef fried rice and the char kuey teow is definitely the stand out dish for me. So probably order those more than the others.

Unfortunately I didn't try any of their coffees or teas. I only gargled on the apple juice. Which is fine. It's not bad by my high standards. So can't really comment on the other ones.

The probably downsides of the place is once the place is packed, you're probably ended up waiting for quite a while for your food. So make sure to either arrive earlier than expected. Or, you know have a little bit patience.

The other thing is probably that the food quality can vary from person to person. For instance, my friend said that her beef fried rice is saltier than mine. I didn't taste her plate, but she did mine. So I'm just gonna trust her word for it.

The place isn't big, but not small either. I'd say it's sufficient. You can bring together a small group of friends, or families. Just probably no bigger than 15 people. Oh and the table is a little smaller too.

Overall, it's a very good cafe. Me and my friends did enjoyed our time there But of course there's room for improvement. Which I hope to see...

A spinoff of an already established cafe in the commercial area of Bangi, Pejam Mata sits like a shiny new thing in an old residential neighbourhood.

Decorated in contemporary design language appealing to urban Malaysian cafe goers, it promises, and to a limited extent, delivers. However, as with any teething food outlet, it has its pros and cons.

In the heat of the current El Niño, we were asked to sit under their airconditioned glass roof section which they promised to be "not hot". Initially the bright direct glaring sun was tolerable... until it wasn't. Perhaps a light tint or some kind of retractable cover on the glass roof instead of a sparse line of plastic plants can better filter the direct noon sunlight. Also, this glass roof section sits sunken in a parking lot, so perhaps some hedge plants outside the glass wall at road level can cover the sight of parked cars.

The menu was familiar as per their original cafe but refreshed with new items. I particularly liked the new lempeng dish which came rather quickly, followed by soto ayam, portion of which was generous. Their beef fried rice came way too late (while piercing heat became increasingly unbearable) and was too oily for me. Latte was decent.

No doubt this cafe will become viral, aided by their socmed campaign with the allure of urban hipsterism. However, food, atmosphere and service definitely have room for...

Pejam Mata Café in Bangi presents a visually appealing and premium-looking ambiance, giving off a sophisticated and modern vibe. The interior design is carefully curated, and the setting makes it an Instagram-worthy spot. However, while the aesthetic impresses, the dining experience left room for improvement.

Food Review Sirloin Steak • The presentation was decent, but the taste and texture fell short. The steak was tough, making it less enjoyable to eat. The portion of the steak felt small, with fries taking up most of the plate. For a dish at this price point, the balance between the main protein and sides could be better. Salted Egg Rice • The dish came with a buttery texture, but the butter seemed overly diluted. The overall flavor profile felt slightly off, and the accompanying vegetables were overly salty, which overwhelmed the dish. Green Tea • Despite its promising name, the green tea was underwhelming in flavor. It lacked the richness and depth expected, making it just average compared to its presentation.

Overall Impression

Pejam Mata Café excels in ambiance and design but seems to fall short in terms of food quality and taste. While it’s a nice place to hang out for its aesthetic, the dining experience didn’t quite match the premium atmosphere.

Rating: 4/10 Verdict: A great spot for photos, but the food needs improvement to align with its...