Bali Sand Restaurant 百里鲜宴会厅酒家 — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

A Meal That Left a Bitter Taste – and It Wasn’t the Food

We chose this restaurant simply because it was nearby. Located close to Nirvana, we thought it’d be easier for everyone, especially with elderly relatives in tow. We weren’t looking for anything fancy—just a decent meal after a heavy day. But what we walked into wasn’t just a restaurant. It felt like a trap, carefully laid out for the grieving.

The first red flag came when we asked for a menu. The manager, without a hint of patience, told us, “No menu.” I paused. No menu? In what world does a restaurant operate without one? How are we supposed to know what to order, or more importantly, how much anything costs?

She didn’t offer suggestions either. Her attitude was cold, curt, and dismissive. When we mentioned seeing Hokkien Mee on Google, she snapped back, “No Hokkien Mee here,” as if we had offended her by even asking.

Still, we stayed—perhaps out of fatigue, perhaps out of not wanting to make things harder than they already were.

Then came the food. Dishes kept arriving, one after another, and every single one was in large portions. Not once were we asked if we wanted medium or small. To be fair, we didn’t ask either—but isn’t it standard practice for the staff to clarify? It felt careless at best, manipulative at worst.

Now, to be honest, the food wasn’t bad. It was actually quite nice. But here’s the thing—it wasn’t extraordinary. Not “worth the mystery bill” kind of nice. And that’s where the final blow came in: we only found out the price when the bill arrived. No warning, no breakdown, just a number that made our stomachs turn more than the food ever could.

Sure, I would’ve been okay with the price if you had mentioned it beforehand. But the fact that everything was kept vague, and the way things were handled—I just couldn’t shake the feeling of being taken advantage of. Like our grief made us easy to exploit.

To those thinking of dining here after visiting Nirvana—please don’t. Grief is hard enough. You shouldn’t have to leave dinner feeling like you’ve been...

A once-in-a-while dine & wine gathering was mooted by a dear friend - as I haven't been to Bali Sand before, I readily agreed as it didn't clash with my work schedule. I had to hangout nearby in the city centre earlier as I didn't want to be late.

Located inside Wisma KTC which technically right next to Nirvana and Kwong Tong cemetery, I don't really have any pantang la.. also it didn't feel creepy also. We got ourselves a private room to enjoy our food and wines!

◾Complimentary keropok was simple yet satisfying - so nice to snack on while sipping bubbly and waiting for our dishes to be served! ◾Platter of fermented beancurd fried pork belly & deep fried century egg that everyone couldn't stop munching. ◾Soup which I kinda forgot what it was but all I can say - the soup was packed with good quality ingredients. ◾Stir fried egg with bitter gourd - oh my god! Never thought that I'd find another version cooked like this.. think of a perfect scrambled egg with still runny texture filled with bittergourd, drizzled with sweet and savoury soy sauce. ◾Soon Hock with all the spare part goodness - the liver, roe and other edible parts were plated separately while the whole soon hock fish steamed to perfection. ◾Soon Hock fish fillet on a bed of truffle mushrooms - smooth slippery and effortlessly glide down the throat, with the lovely aroma of truffle complemented the fish. ◾Stir fried roast pork with leek was normal.. overshadowed by the mighty dishes thatw e had. ◾Claypot pork ribs - thick and flavourful sauce covering every inch of the fall-off-the-bone meat.

Food was good but not spectacular but the camaraderie + wines made...

The location near the cemetery may put some people off, but if you put your apprehensions aside, you’ll be rewarded with some pretty good food.

Their signature Flaming Crispy Chicken comes with a truly crispy chicken skin. I doubt if the flaming at the table adds to the crispiness, but the chicken is certainly crispy outside and moist and juicy inside. The chicken paired very nicely with the flavourful Chicken Rice. This combination is Highly Recommended.

Another signature dish that is Highly Recommended here is the Bitter Gourd with Egg. The eggs are unbelievably silky and smooth and the bitter gourd is mild but crunchy. It’s a very well executed dish especially the timing of cooking of the eggs.

The Sea Cucumber with Spring Onions is another dish to pair with rice. The plump and juicy sea cucumbers had soaked up the seasonings and paired very well with the spring onions and garlic. Highly Recommended.

Pork Stomach Pepper Soup; Stir Fried Fish Slices with Various Mushrooms; Kailan with Garlic and Fried Fish Head with Black Fungus were all above average. My only complaint was that we had ordered too many dishes and could not finish quite a bit of it. Serving portions were generous too and sufficient for a table of 10.

Do come with a big appetite and I’m sure you’ll...