Hungry Bacon — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

UPDATE: Two years on, Hungry Bacon is still my fave restaurant of all time!

Hungry Bacon gets me hungry for more. The food is that good. I was ready for more after the highly appetizing Bacon Wrapped Pumpkin salad. The odd combination of pumpkin, bacon, chickpeas, baby spinach and croutons with white cheese somehow just works with their own vinaigrette dressing. Definitely an appetite stimulant.

Next came the Wild Boar Peratal. This appetizer was hands down the highlight of my lunch. My eyes literally lit up at the first bite of the tender wild boar meat bathe in the flavorful dry Malayalee curry. This dish deserves more recognition. I can eat this as my main meal with a bowl of rice.

My mother loves pumpkin soup so it was a no brainer on the order list. And it did not disappoint. We were basically scooping up pumpkin puree in cream. Love it! My mother approved.

You can't get any more sinful than the next dish, Nasi Kerabu Babi Percik Kembar. A traditional favorite of Malaysians is given a sinful twist by introducing crispy pork lard into the mix. The surprisingly tender and well marinated pork shoulder percik was another twist that uplifts the dish into heavenly status. Another winner!

Can a sides overshadows the mains? This was the case with the Bacon Wrapped Chicken Roulade. The truffle mash potato outshines the chicken roulade with its smooth and buttery texture. My family and I actually finished the mash first. Having said that, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the chicken roulade. With the previous two dishes' complex and strong flavors, it was just a bit subdued. But my mother had no complaints and happily took the largest piece on the plate along with most of the mash.

Another winner in my books has got to be their Pork Shoulder Chop. Generously served with two substantial pieces of pork shoulder steak, this dish wins in taste, meat texture and presentation. The word tender cannot do justice to the tenderness that my teeth and mouth have experience with this cut. An absolute lip smacking experience! The chef was kind enough to explain to us how he achieved such mouth and teeth friendly texture in the meat. And I was impressed.

The only item on the dessert menu is their chocolate lava cake that came with a scoop of artisanal vanilla ice cream. I was really afraid of overly sweet cake with overly sweet ice cream. But the people at Hungry Bacon knew better. I was pleasantly surprised by their restrain when it comes to using sugar for this dessert. And the thin layer of the cake with liquid chocolate contained within it is a nice touch. This is how a chocolate lava cake should be!

Last but definitely not the least, the bill came to just RM181 (the lava cake was complimentary). What more could a happy guy like me ask for? Good quality and tasty food with an affordable price is a rarity for a restaurant of this kind...

Food. Everything was delicious, especially the nasi kerabu and BBQ pork ribs. The pork chop was also juicy and tender but there was nothing uniquely tasty about it to me although the mashed potato was very fine and melted in our mouths. The very tender BBQ ribs were topped with a tasty garlic sauce (just like we selected) and came with additional 3 dipping sauces and a side of fries and coleslaw. The nasi kerabu was spectacular. I'm a huge fan of nasi kerabu and the combination of vegetables, crunchy keropok, percik sauce (as chosen by us), tender pork, salted egg, stuffed chilli etc was very tasty. It is served with one sambal and one fish sauce. The sambal was zesty and definitely whet the appetite.

Service was spectacular, by a Filipino lady server named Carina. She taught us how to mix the nasi kerabu and gave us friendly food recommendations. She also dropped by to wish my father in law Happy Father's Day when she realized it was the reason we had gathered there. Hats off to her! As we were waiting 17 minutes for our chocolate lava cake, we were unexpectedly served with popcorn/cashew nuts on the house. It was the right combination of butter and caramel. Just fantastic service overall. Surprisingly, the chocolate lava cake was also very tasty and well worth the wait. The lava actually spilled out from the centre unlike many cafes that mess this up. 😂 The cake and ice cream were not overly sweet and we were happy to end our dining here with that sweet note.

Atmosphere was okay. There's the smell of food in the air, as the cafe isn't too big but the smell isn't overpowering. The cafe's interior looks quite modern and has a few cute dog posters.

Parking can be an issue but we reached around 1om and still got a spot. Just round the area a couple times and you're bound to find one.

We made a booking in advance. If you're in a larger group eg 4pax or more, I'd recommended you do so as the cafe isn't too big. But it wasn't overly crowded for a Saturday lunch.

Will come back again. The pasta and wild boar peratal that we did not order looked promising.

Update: We came again in Aug 2023 for my father-in-law's birthday, and Carina once again provided fantastic service. She remembered us and recommended our favourite seats. The wild boar peratal was a great appetiser. It was a bit salty but tasty; you definitely need to eat it with the bread or papadoms it is served with. The bacon lollipops was also quite unique and tasty. She got us a free birthday lava cake for my father-in-law as well, once again making the day memorable for us. Thank...

If you are a meat lover who enjoys pairing quality meat with beer, then you have come to the right place.

If you are like us, who are here for the meat, I suggest starting with their refreshing drinks. We tried the Lemonade, Minty Passion (passion fruit), and Assam The Bois. They are not overly sweet, slightly sour, and acidic, which helps balance the richness of the meat. Don't miss the Ginger Pop—it has an earthy and gingery flavor that is quite refreshing.

Pumpkin Salad: This appetizer is excellent. It offers a burst of flavors, with the savory bacon, sweet pumpkin, and sun-dried tomatoes, complemented by a hint of acidity from the balsamic vinegar. The balsamic vinegar pearls added an interesting texture to the salad instead of simply drizzling it over. 👍🏻

Ultimate Nachos: The cheese on the Nachos is simply delightful. They serve it with multiple dipping sauces, allowing you to experience different flavors with every bite. 🤯

Bacon Lollipops: These are chicken drumsticks wrapped with homemade sausage and bacon. They are tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. Definitely one of my favorites! 🤤

BBQ Ribs: Slow-cooked for 5 hours, these ribs are incredibly tender, with the meat practically falling off the bone. I highly recommend sharing this dish! 😍

Mighty Tomahawk: This interesting cut offers a combination of lean meat and some fatty parts. It's a unique experience to try both textures at the same time. I discovered that mixing the gravy with the garlic and mustard creates a surprisingly tasty combination with the pork. 😂

Nasi Kerabu with Wild Boar Peratal: It wasn't exactly to my liking, but it's still worth trying. I prefer a stronger presence of bunga kantan and miss the earthy taste from bean sprouts and the nutty flavor from kerisik. However, this version of Nasi Kerabu has its own twist, with the addition of pork lard and salted fish, offering a new and interesting flavor profile.

Chocolate Lava Cake: Trust me, you must end your dinner with this delectable dessert, and it's best enjoyed all by yourself! 🤩

The owner, who is also the head chef, is very friendly, and it's impressive to see how hands-on he is in ensuring that we are served the best. Despite the bar-like exterior, the interior is beautifully decorated. This humble restaurant is underrated and deserves more...