MONSTER AND BEER — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

The beer, let’s start there, is the point. A shockingly vast selection, some brewed right here, some imported, all served with a kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm that makes you want to believe. Fruity aftertastes, bold flavours, crisp lagers for the heat, stouts for the rain. Someone cares deeply about what’s in those glasses, and you can feel it. It pairs beautifully with Malaysia’s unapologetically big, loud, flavourful cuisine. When it’s right, it’s very right.

But food is where the cracks show. The karaage is good, the fried pork sticks worth writing home about. A pork slider that will make you smile. But then you get gyoza that split open like a botched surgery, burgers the size of a child’s fist, and skewers that simply don’t exist because the kitchen is “out of stock” again. One side of the menu feels experimental in a good way, the other like a fever dream where the cooks ran out of patience halfway through.

Service oscillates between warmth and warmth-as-performance. Some nights you’ll be guided by staff who actually know their beers, who smile like they mean it, who will match your mood to a bottle you didn’t know existed. Other nights you’ll walk in, get told it’s full house with the attitude of a surly customs officer, or feel the cold, subtle pressure of being chased out before closing.

And then there’s the vibe. On a good night, it’s a vibrant, slightly unhinged neighbourhood bar: quirky décor, loud music that hits the spot, laughter spilling from tables where strangers become drinking buddies. On a bad night, it’s children screaming, uncle-versus-Gen Z shouting matches, or music so loud you can’t hear the person next to you. You might love it, or it might send you out the door with a migraine.

Monster and Beer is not perfect. It’s not even consistent. Some nights it’s four stars, others it’s a headache with hops. But it’s real. The fried chicken might be burnt, the gyoza might burst, the service might test your patience, but the beer will be cold, the crowd alive, and the night unpredictable. You don’t come here for polish. You come because life’s too short for boring beer and...

Went for a casual drink on friday night 1030pm, bartender told me closing at 11 (in my mind im thinking, friday night 11pm for a bar abit early to close), nvm its ok, then comes the service... asked waiter to recommend me something creamy, beer came, taste was good, sweet and creamy Cassels, immediately shove bill to my face, and it was RM78 for a can of beer. OK i get it, its craft beer n all that award winning blabla, but i wish the bartender was kind enough to tell me the price before serving the beer, nevermind, i guess ill drink a high class beer on a bench it is. worst part was when it came 11 sharp, female bar tender with tatoo hastily came over and blurted "closing at 11" and walked away in a hurry while i had 1/3 left to drink. Ok ur not wrong but if u gonna charge me 78 bucks for a can of beer, atleast wait till i finish the damn pint before chasing me out. U are not wrong, but its an extremely unpleasant experience, almost felt like im forcing u guys to...

Got to know this place thanks to a friend's wedding after party. Place has sufficient space for various groups of customers, not to mention the cooling air conditioners which you will not break a sweat.

The food choices here are really sufficient, from finger food to main servings, there's definitely something for everyone! Of course we ordered the cold noodles and Korean Babi Fries (pork luncheon meat fries). Both are really addictive, flavourful and just keeps you wanting for more!

Previously I've tried their chicken karaage and beef tataki, both are really good! The food goes really well with the huge variety of craft beers available to choose on the shelf, only qualm would be that there's no easy way to filter through them. Thankfully, the great service from staffs will guide or recommend you based on your taste pallete.

A nice joint to chill and hang with mates over a couple of ice cold beer, definitely worth a...