In a city where restaurants – and entire dining trends – come and go at a dizzying pace, SOULed OUT has built a loyal following by getting the fundamentals right: tasty food, good drinks, welcoming service, and an atmosphere that makes people want to stay awhile.
Kuala Lumpur is a tough city in which to keep a restaurant thriving. New concepts emerge constantly, social media can turn the latest opening into an overnight sensation (that can fade just as quickly), and yesterday’s fashionable dining spot can quickly find itself fighting for attention. So when a restaurant remains a favourite for nearly 30 years, it must be doing something right.
SOULed OUT certainly seems to have found its formula. Founded in 1996 as a small neighbourhood café in the Desa Sri Hartamas/Mont Kiara area (which itself was quite new at the time, having only been established in the early 1990s), the brand has grown into a Malaysian food and beverage institution, with nine outlets under The SOULed OUT Group, which also operates WIP and NOA. Its longevity is impressive, for sure, but what makes the concept work is something we think is exceedingly basic: it understands what people want from a relaxed meal out.
We recently popped in for a breezy Friday night dinner with friends, and found it just as enjoyable as ever.
FOOD FOR EVERY MOOD
SOULed OUT does not set out to be a fine-dining destination in any sense of the word, and that is very much part of its appeal. Instead, the menu offers an eclectic mix of Asian, Western, Indian, and local favourites, with enough variety to keep different tastes and appetites happy around the same table.
Fancy a fresh salad? No problem. Seafood, fried beef noodles, a satisfying Indian dish, or a wood-fired thin-crust pizza? Those are covered, too. (It’s actually now a gas-fired brick oven, but somehow that just doesn’t sound as romantic.) There are familiar crowd-pleasers alongside original creations, with prices that make the restaurant a realistic option for regular visits rather than just special occasions.
Consistency is key here. The food is reliably good, portions and prices generally make sense, and the broad selection means that diners are unlikely to struggle to find something appealing. It is the sort of place that works equally well for a casual lunch, a family dinner, or, as it was for us, an impromptu gathering with friends.
We ordered a variety of dishes, but found particular favour with the Pan-Seared Salmon (RM42) and the Ultimate Club Sandwich (RM36). The Angus Beef Naked Burger (RM58) might seem a bit on the small size for its price, and the name surely seems baffling, as the burger comes with mesclun lettuce, cheese, and tomato. But look closely… it’s a breadless burger! The Angus beef is sandwiched between two large slabs of portabello mushroom, and the flavour is definitely on point. The club sandwich was very good, but the accompanying onion rings – precisely five of them – were straight out of a frozen food bag, not the hand-breaded beauties pictured in the menu.
DRINKS, DEALS, AND GOOD TIMES
The beverage selection is another important part of the SOULed OUT experience. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available in abundance, while promotions and happy-hour pricing provide an extra incentive to linger.
On our visit, the mojitos were being offered at promotional prices if you buy three, with eight flavours to choose from. SOULed OUT makes a confident claim to serving Kuala Lumpur’s best mojitos, and while such a distinction is inevitably subjective, the versions we have tried over several visits have been enjoyable. Some flavours allow the rum to shine through more than others, so it is worth asking the team for a recommendation if you prefer a more spirit-forward drink.
Our one minor quibble? The mojitos could perhaps be a little more generous. The glasses look substantial enough, but once the ice, mint, lime, and other additions are accounted for, the actual drink disappears surprisingly quickly. Then again, perhaps that is a testament to how easily they go down, and why you need to order the “three-for” special.
We also took advantage of ongoing promotional pricing for beers and wines. One thing we can say about SOULed OUT: there will virtually always be some sort of special on drinks going on!
Drinks run the entire gamut, from wine and beer to sangrias and cocktails, as well as detox juices, smoothies, and soft drinks on the non-alcoholic side, so if you can’t find something here that grabs your attention and quenches your thirst, it would be a real surprise.
THE COMFORT OF A FAMILIAR FAVOURITE
Atmosphere completes the picture. SOULed OUT has cultivated a lively, sociable environment that welcomes families, groups of friends, and neighbourhood regulars. There’s an upstairs section, including a spacious area with air conditioning, and the downstairs dining area sprawls over a sizeable space that fully contributes to the good times. Big screens showing major sporting events add to the convivial mood, while the broad menu and accessible pricing make it easy for different generations to find common ground. We love the vibe here, and although the music started getting noticeably louder from about 8pm, it was very much a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.
The brand has also collected industry recognition over the years, including honours at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards. Yet its greatest achievement may be less formal: maintaining a place in the routines of its customers while continuing to attract new ones.
SOULed OUT’s secret is hardly a mystery, truly. Get the food, drinks, service, and atmosphere right, keep the offering accessible, and give people plenty of reasons to return. In Kuala Lumpur’s restless dining scene, we think that is a recipe worth celebrating.
Location and Details
SOULed OUT Kuala Lumpur
20 Jalan 30/70s, Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur
T: 012.200 1955
W: https://www.souledoutgroup.com.my/souled-out/kuala-lumpur
