Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars
Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars
Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars - Detail

Malaysia now boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants

When the first Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang 2023 was released recently, four restaurants received the prestigious awards, marking a first for Malaysia.

Dewakan and DC by Darren Chin are the two restaurants in Kuala Lumpur that have been awarded one Michelin star for their exceptional cooking. Dewakan serves modern Malaysian cuisine featuring indigenous ingredients, while DC by Darren Chin specialises in French classics with an emphasis on regional live seafood and local produce.

Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery, which presents Peranakan food crafted from Chef Auntie Gaik’s secret recipes, and Restaurant au Jardin, which specialises in European cuisine with subtle local elements, are the two Penang restaurants that each received one Michelin star.

Having cooked professionally for 14 years and trained in France for two years, Darren firmly adheres to certain ideas that constitute the basis of his food and creativity.


Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars - Detail

“Even though I have been classically trained in French kitchens, I am a strong believer in 'la Jeune Cuisine' (young cuisine). This philosophy is driven by a new generation of chefs, determined to strip away the unnecessary and redundant. To me, this term denotes a new cuisine, unpretentious, to a certain extent raw, and which presents nature’s bounty in its purest form. The end result is a plate of food that’s unpretentious, natural and of course, delicious!” exclaims the award-winning chef.

Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars - Detail

Dewakan, which means “food from God”, is Chef Darren Teoh’s way of giving thanks to God while also providing diners with an authentically Malaysian meal. 

Each ingredient is acquired locally and responsibly, and even the dinnerware is handcrafted by local artisans. In-house fermented or dry-aged ingredients are included alongside seasonal fruits and herbs. One of Dewakan’s specialties is the shrimp head chocolate petit fours.


Restaurants Awarded Michelin Stars - Detail

Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery evokes a bygone era with its memorabilia-adorned display windows, vintage ceiling fans and 1960s music.

For decades, she has carefully protected her top-secret recipes. Her pie tee and gulai tumis, which has more than eight ingredients in the curry paste and features fresh saffron, are just two examples of the many delights she makes from scratch. 

The modern European cuisine of Restaurant au Jardin is prepared by Chef Kim Hock, who draws inspiration from his culinary experience as well as his travels over the years. His cooking is guided by a love for fresh, locally sourced ingredients that are in season.

Kim’s artisanal menu is designed around a passion for displaying the freshest ingredients via simple yet elegant dishes that represent both culinary heritage and creativity.


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