Kuya Asian Restaurant — Restaurant in Saint Julian's

This is a deeply average Asian restaurant. They do many things from across Asia, but not authentically. How this place has been recommended in the Michelin guide is completely beyond me. Here’s a breakdown of our experience:

To be fair, a great drinks menu. Wide range of craft beer and wine. If you value drink more than food, then you will like this place.

BUT the food is below par. The takoyaki is pathetic - it is not authentic in the slightest (I’ve been to Japan several times, so I know what it’s supposed to be like) and is CLEARLY store bought from frozen and heated up. I would be curious to see a response from management confirming or denying this, because I cannot believe for a second this is freshly made in-house. Rendang is acceptable (but not wow), and the adobo is good - easily the nicest thing we had. Overall, the food is just average.

Service is reasonably friendly, but depends on the server. Entirely Asian staff, some of whom don’t speak English that well, which creates confusion. For example, I asked for a draught craft beer (as advertised on the menu) and was presented with a can of Cisk (the local cheap standard beer). I asked about this and it seemed there was a lot of confusion until a more senior member of staff intervened and sorted it out.

There is a general sense that they want smaller tables in and out quickly. We had starters and mains and were out in 50 minutes. The starters came (too!) quickly and barely 5 minutes had passed until we were served mains. This also raises suspicion about the freshness of food - as mentioned earlier, I strongly suspect that at least some of the dishes are just frozen and reheated, the takoyaki for sure.

Overall, I wouldn’t return. Many reviews seem satisfied and praise the authenticity of the place, but I doubt many of these have actually tried the food in the countries themselves, because this is a place catered to Westernised perceptions of Asian food, and is pretty generic as a result. If you want authentic Asian food,...

Maybe we came on an off-night; but both food and service were an absolute mess :(

We discovered the place online as they advertised to serve authentic Asian flavors AND are mentioned in the michelin guide; but are still very confused how this can even come close to a Michelin guide mention;

Stating they have authentic Asian dishes really makes no sense; we ordered drunken noodles (didn’t come close to the actual dish; wasn’t warm, bland flavors) and the Korean Bibimbap (nothing even close to Korean tastes or ingredients; they stated it came with Kimchi: it didn’t. It was made with boiled basmati rice and poke bowl ingredients 🥲, furthest thing I’ve ever tasted from Korean food unfortunately, very much lacking in flavors not to even mention the missing/wrong ingredients)

The 2 girls serving us were super sweet but also messed-up our (very simple order). We first ordered drinks and some starters (gyoza, spring rolls etc) and when they brought our drinks we ordered our mains (bibimbap and noodles). After 30 minutes they only brought us both our mains… When we mentioned we also ordered starters they went back to the kitchen and also brought our starters 10mins after our mains… Obviously we didn’t want these anymore (since we clearly ordered them as starters; as described on their menu). Then, when receiving our, very bland, mains, my partner asked for an extra side of sauce (his noodles were dry) and also this arrived 10 mins after we finished our meals (and was still charged…)

Needless to say we were very disappointed by the whole experience and we truly hope the chef/team had an off night. (The restaurant wasn’t full, so pretty sure it wasn’t too busy either).

Please do better and when you advertise you “travelled all around Asia to create an authentic Asian experience” at least use the correct ingredients or...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had the pleasure of visiting Kuya Malta for dinner, and I must say, it was an exquisite experience from start to finish. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, which perfectly complemented the unique and mouth-watering dishes served.

Starting off with their drinks, I was introduced to the East Coast IPA from the Nordics. This well-crafted brew was refreshing, offering a delightful blend of flavors and a pleasant, lingering aftertaste. It was the ideal beverage to accompany the meal and set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The food, however, truly stole the show. The Bang Bang Chicken, which features grilled chicken breast drizzled with coriander and Kuya Malta's signature peanut and sweet chili sauce, was nothing short of a culinary masterpiece. The tender, juicy chicken was cooked to perfection, and the blend of flavors in the sauce created an incredible symphony of tastes. The sweetness of the chili sauce and the creaminess of the peanut sauce were a match made in heaven. This dish was an absolute delight and left me craving for more.

To complement the main course, I ordered their Kale Fries. I was pleasantly surprised by this unique twist on a classic side dish. The kale was crispy and well-seasoned, providing a healthier alternative to traditional fries without sacrificing taste. They were simply addictive, and I found myself finishing the entire portion with ease.

In conclusion, my visit to Kuya Malta was an unforgettable dining experience. The exceptional quality of the food, coupled with the fantastic atmosphere and attentive service, made it a night to remember. I cannot recommend Kuya Malta enough, and I'm already looking forward to...