‘Smooth like butter’ – that’s how I would describe my recent dining experience at Jibril restaurant in Subang’s SS15.
For starters, an honest review. First, I thought I was at the wrong shop and second, I thought I was gonna get sick over what I’d ordered. But first – talk about a deceiving appearance! Most restaurants have an entrance that is clearly marked and easy to identify. This eatery, on the other hand, made me wonder if I had to run right into the walls – like Platform 9¾! (Potter-heads, you know what I’m talking about!)
Jibril is a “hidden” eatery – and there’s a reason for this. All you have to do is figure out where the hell the door is! Jibril’s secret entrance can be difficult to find, however, the clue lies along the front brick wall. But yeah, this hidden door thing, to me, made it feel like the owner wanted a pure aesthetic vibe going on.
OK, before jumping to their menu, let’s appreciate the decor. Personally, I love the interior design of this restaurant. It has that rustic and retro-style concept and in the blink of an eye, you’re transported back to the 1900s.
The interior is adorned with unique mementos, such as vintage wallpaper, vintage gramophones and old-fashioned telephones. The in-house music, on the other hand, changes with the mood of the patrons. There is fast-paced music on some occasions, and calm jazz on others. Oh, and I had a chance to get a glimpse of dear old Charlie Chaplin on television (after what seemed like an eternity!). It made the room feel more traditional, yet vibrant.
Imran Sheikh is the mastermind behind this secret eatery. Imran used to suffer from migraines all the time when he was younger, and his doctor advised him to spend time in calm, chilly and dark environments. As a result, whenever he visited such locations, he felt instantaneously at ease. He discovered speakeasies in Malaysia, and overseas a few years later. He enjoyed his time at such establishments, and believed in designing things that make you want to be the consumer. And voila, Jibril was born!
OK – fast forward to the menu. Jibril is a fusion of Asian and Western. There are only two things to keep in mind there: their signature salted egg dishes, and their wide range of mocktails. Literally half their Asian menu just states ‘salted egg’ and ‘butter’. I mean, I have tried butter chicken from different places – but what I felt was unique was how they’ve incorporated ‘butter’ into local dishes like ‘nasi lemak’! Like, WHAT?! Can you imagine sambal and butter? I was hesitant to try it, but I’d gotten my arse there, so why not? You can check out their menu at Jibrilss15.com.
First, I tried their regular butter chicken. This signature savoury dish, with salted egg chicken meat, is combined with the creamy sweetness of butter sauce. And if you enjoy seafood, opt for their salted egg butter prawns, squid, or fish. I thought of going beyond the regular and went with their nasi lemak butter chicken. It looks the same as regular butter chicken, only the sauce was slightly reddish and it had anchovies and nuts on the side.
I’ll say this now – and again and again… this dish blew my socks off! Like, dude, the combination of sambal with butter was the best thing I’ve tasted. I could taste the spiciness from the sambal, the sweetness from the butter and the most important thing, the crispiness of the chicken. And the meal was still hot! Consider it my new favourite now. But apart from their signature dish and the nasi lemak butter chicken, there’s also the red butter chicken, coconut butter chicken and butter chicken chop, which are some of the other highlights in their menu.
Next up, we have their beverages. Jibril has a variety of non-alcoholic beverages on offer. Some of their bestsellers are Potter, Monroe, Lisa and Bond. Names sound familiar, don’t they? My personal favourite is Potter. Being a Potter-head, I’ve wanted to try butterbeer and that’s exactly what Potter is! Potter is a non-alcoholic butterbeer inspired by the Harry Potter series. This beverage is best described as a foamy root beer with a strong butterscotch flavour. It is served with sphere-shaped ice and tastes similar to an A&W root beer float – but with a more buttery flavour.
Jibril is definitely a unique place to hang out and dine at. Given how some might believe that having an alcoholic beverage in hand would liven up the mood, it’s wonderful to see how Jibril is defying tradition with their speakeasy bar, which is ideal even for non-drinkers. You get the cozy and lively feel at this speakeasy. You can also check out their other outlets in Bangi and Publika.
Jibril SS15 Restaurant
Address: No. 25, Jalan SS15/4B, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 017 488 4300
Website: http://jibrilss15.com/
More on food? Read this:
https://lipstiq.com/events/192211/yummy-mia-ongoing-eat-healthy-taste-italy-fair-offers-wealth-of-food-produce/
