Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur

Don Julio KL – Argentinian Italian Restaurant

Don Julio KL – Argentinian & Italian Steakhouse

Monica Tindall

It might sound hard to believe, but new restaurants continue to open in Kuala Lumpur. Case in point, Don Julio KL, an Argentinian and Italian steakhouse, opened its kitchen in Mont Kiara today! With doors still closed but grill hot and smokin’, their soft launch menu is purely delivery. 

Don Julio KL – Argentinian Steakhouse and Italian Restaurant Mont Kiara

Specializing in “parrilla,” a traditional Argentinian grill, Don Julio brings South American flavours to KL with the Argentine chef Ramiro Moya heading the kitchen. Italian cuisine supports the barbecue with pasta and pizza ready to satisfy carb cravings. The restaurant is awaiting its liquor license, but I’ll be one of the first to order a smooth Tempranillo or bold Malbec as accompaniment when it comes through.

The restaurant carries a range of premium steaks, but your focus should definitely be on Argentinian meat cuts. Beef from this part of the world is known for being clean due to organic feeding and free from hormones and antibiotics. The team at Don Julio KL uses corn-fed Black Angus beef producing a sweet and tender steak and grass-fed Angus beef. 

Working directly with the Devesa beef company, Don Julio is awarded unique cuts that are usually only obtained in Argentina for use in local restaurants. Additionally, dine-in customers can look forward to individual “braseros” (grills) and steak cutlery hailing from different regions from Argentina. For now, we have a sneak peek at their delivery menu.

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Sirloin and Ribeye

Don Julio KL Menu 

An Italian Beginning 

We get a taste of the restaurant’s Italian recipes with some starters. Parmigiana di Melazane (RM 35) features thin slices of Cameron Highlands black eggplant layered with basil, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. A rich tomato sauce binds the sheets together.

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Parmigiana di Melazane

For meatier layers, you can’t go past the Bolognese Lasagna (RM 40). Beef, bechamel sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese go one over the other with al dente sheets of pasta holding up the frame. Again, a rich tomato sauce is the foundation intertwining the other ingredients. 

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Bolognese Lasagna

I always feel healthy eating my greens, so the Broccoli Orecchiette (RM 38) is a welcome preamble before the barbecued meat. Orecchiette, or little ear-shaped pasta, are well coated with pecorino cheese, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes and broccoli.

Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur
Broccoli Orecchiette

The last of our Italian selection is a Pizza Margherita (RM 32) on a dough rested for 72 hours before baking. Classic toppings of pomodoro sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil complement the thin, slightly chewy, slightly crunchy base.

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Pizza Margherita

Argentinian Tradition

While the Italian recipes are delicious, you could easily skip any starters and head straight to the grill. The sides with the meat are certainly enough to make a complete meal. However, before you do, it would be wise to at least put in an order for a half-dozen Empanadas (RM 50). These baked half-moon shaped pastries are some of the best we’ve had in KL (maybe even Argentina). The pastry is just the right thickness, golden with a subtle crunch and stuffed to the brim with minced beef, caramelized onion, egg, fresh oregano and beef jus.

Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur
Empanadas

Parilla – Grill

So, the lead up to the mains was excellent, but if you want to get to the core of what Don Julio KL is all about, head straight to the parilla. Cattle were first introduced to Argentina by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s. Due to ideal conditions in the Pampas (a large expanse of fertile lowlands), the cattle flourished. The gauchos (cowboys) who rounded up the animals and the asado (barbecue) are now national icons. In honour of this tradition, when we are allowed to dine-in once again, guests will be treated to a special presentation of their meal on a charcoal-heated brasero (pictured further down holding the steak).

An excellent introduction is the Parrilla Mixta (RM 330, 1.5 kg). A common meal in Argentina, the platter is composed of short ribs, a half spring chicken, sweetbread (thymus and pancreas gland – rich and creamy), chinchulin (small intestine), and beef vacio. Vacio is one of those cuts mentioned earlier that are popular in Argentinian steakhouses. It’s situated bellowed the loin and next to the cow’s belly, protecting the muscle with layers of fat. The chinchulin is another speciality. It must be cooked until crisp to be enjoyable – no one wants medium-rare intestines here. Another trick is a squeeze of lemon for the best experience. When we were in Argentina, parilla mixta was always served on a large wooden chopping board. In my opinion, it’s enough meat for at least a month, yet it seemed a regular meal for many nationals. 

Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur
Parrilla Mixta

Don Julio has both grass-fed and corn-fed beef on the menu. Grass-fed cuts tend to be leaner and offer variability in flavour, while the latter are often fattier and have a more consistent taste. Chef Ramiro sent us both the Pure Corn-fed Argentinian BA Ribeye (RM 165, 350 g) and the Pure Corn-fed Argentinian BA Sirloin (RM 115, 350g). Both sported a fantastically charred coat and middle that was done medium. We think simple salt and pepper seasoning is more than enough to appreciate these quality cuts but sauces are included (more on those below) if you prefer.

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Sirloin – Don Julio KL
Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Ribeye

Side Dishes & Sauces

Steak Fries (RM 20), Sauteed Broccoli (RM 15), Sauteed Asparagus (RM 25) and Mashed Potatoes (yum) (RM 16) all make excellent sides. With the carnivore’s feast we have, we thought it best to back it up with some veg, hence the order of every side dish on the menu.

A trio of sauces – chimichurri, green peppercorn jus or beef jus – are for the picking. Both the beef and the peppercorn jus are expertly prepared, but if you want a taste of Argentina, pick the chimichurri. Chef Ramiro has spiked the base of parsley, garlic, lemon and olive oil with a punch of red chilli, which is sure to delight heat lovers.

Don Julio KL Argentinian Restaurant
Sides and Sauces

Place your orders for an Argentinian meat fiesta from Don Julio KL via WhatsApp +6016 303 7150 and make a note of the below address for when dine-in is once again allowed.

Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur
Starters & Mains
Steakhouse Kuala Lumpur
Grill, Sides & Pizza

Don Julio – Argentinian Steakhouse & Italian Restaurant KL
Verve Shops 5, Jalan Kiara
50480 Mont Kiara
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operational Hours

Daily (times change depending on current SOPs)

Find more steak restaurants here and stay up to date with the happenings around Malaysia here and here.

4 Comments

  1. The Italian food has my eye 🙂

  2. Spoilt for choice! Everything looks so good! Sirloin and ribeye are perfectly done!

  3. I do like them Argentinian beef! Sometimes there’s a bit too much emphasis with “marbling” these days, I do appreciate proper beef once in a while.

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