Lisette’s Mont Kiara – Cafe & Bakery

Lisette’s – Mont Kiara

Words: Han Sen Hau
Photos: Rich Callahan

If you ever had the (mis)fortune to be stuck in traffic at the amazingly narrow main thoroughfare that serves as the primary artery for the populous Mont Kiara community known as Jalan Kiara, especially during rush hours when vehicles unwittingly clog the street, then you know your time deserves better. If you can’t beat the evening crawl home, ditch the drive and make a beeline to Lisette’s newest outlet in Kiara 163 Retail Park for a rewarding dinner instead. 

Lisette’s Café & Bakery, Mont Kiara

Jumping on the successes of its Bangsar and Empire Subang outlets, Lisette’s takes on the notoriously finicky eaters of Mont Kiara headfirst with its proven recipes. Health junkies and connoisseurs alike will find much to love in Lisette’s established menu, and while the original charms of the inaugural Bangsar outlet remain uncontested, the newest establishment banks on location, location, and location to make its mark in this expat-centric neighbourhood. 

Positioned right by the mall’s entrance, Lisette’s steals your attention with an impressive row of cakes and pastries as you walk in, evoking an unquenchable urge to buy everything off the counter just to feed your Instagram feed. The space is bright and beautiful with its rustic décor and large cast iron windows, which stimulates the palate, the need for selfies, and conversations on sustainable living. But aesthetics aside, how does the food fare?

The Ease-In

For starters, we had the bite-sized, vegan Homemade Tacos with Black-Eyed Beans (RM24) that sported creamy avocados, a piquant tomato salsa, and chunky black-eyed beans. The highlight was the beans, which were a little raw, though, that did wonders to balance out the mouthfeel from the creamier components and the crispy shell.

The Second Act

Once the tacos quickly vanished from the table, a salubrious Power Bowl (RM30) took its place and won our hearts with a mélange of ingredients, including quinoa, edamame, avocado, hummus, teriyaki cashews, and sunflower seeds, just to name a few. It is paired with a fabulous balsamic dressing that, honestly, could have been more impactful if the Power Bowl didn’t already overwhelm with its addictive texture and mouthfeel. The best thing about the salad bowl is that it didn’t taste like a salad bowl, and we would definitely return for more of this.

The Healthy Patty

Continuing our vegan streak was the aptly named Vegan Burger (RM30) that towered over everything else. Arguably, the patty doesn’t look like much, but once you slice into that baby and have a mouthful of it with the cashew nut mayo and vegan cheese, you would think you’re eating a savoury carrot cake. The patty is made creamy with the accompanying sliced avocado, and its main appeal is hidden within, where ground quinoa and edamame work hard to hit your daily nutrition quota while tantalising your tastebuds.

The Black Beauty

Following up the vegan threesome was a stunning gluten-free Black Rice Nasi Lemak (RM30), Lisette’s rich interpretation of our beloved national dish. Trading fragrant rice for “forbidden rice” was a fruitful exchange as the latter was chewier and sweeter, thus introducing a new flavour to complement the traditionally savoury profile of nasi lemak. It isn’t a polarising experience like nasi lemak cake that challenges die-hard fans of the original. Still, it does offer diners a fun alternative to enjoy a template that has remained unchanged everywhere else.

The Hot Mess – Lisette’s Mont Kiara

The final main sounded like an internal struggle or a football match between Thailand and Malaysia — Tom Yum Laksa with Konjac Noodles. We had this with seared salmon (RM42) thrown into the mix, which may sound like an odd choice until you realise that Asam Laksa is traditionally prepared with flaked mackerel, and the salmon actually absorbs the spicy broth really well. 

Victory goes to the Thais though, as the tom yum flavours completely engulf the tongue, and the only semblance of laksa you’ll get comes from the Konjac noodles, which is almost as silky as the original laksa noodles, only healthier. The broth is also not too spicy to deter you from eating this before that snazzy interview with the intimidating boss, as long as you’re not wearing white.

The Sweet Finish

Dessert comes in the form of two cakes, the intensely fragrant Pistachio Rose (RM18) and the standard Carrot Cake (RM18). Of the two, the Carrot Cake trumps with its moist texture and balanced mouthfeel from the raisins and walnuts. Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to know that the cafe has an ongoing promotion whereby two coffee or tea plus a cake or pastry can be enjoyed for only RM37. 

The Thirst Quenchers

For drinks, we sampled a nutty Latté (RM12), an intensely verdant Green Juice (RM16), an appetising Zen-Bucha Kombucha (RM16), and a calming Lisette’s Flower Tea (RM15). The Green Juice deserves special mention with its primary notes of green pepper, which could be a deal breaker for some, but it is hands down the most refreshing choice of the lot, especially since bitter gourd is blended into the concoction, and that vegetable alone is the ultimate panacea for a sore throat. 

However, we could enjoy a pot of Lisette’s Flower Tea for hours, and it’s the perfect complement to the rich pastries, so if you’re planning on taking advantage of the aforementioned promotion, we’d heavily recommend this.

Final Thoughts – Lisette’s Mont Kiara

The charms of Lisette’s continue to enthral and are evident in its latest addition. The next time you’re in Mont Kiara looking out for familiar comforts that supercharge your day, just know that Lisette’s is a solid option to rest your weary feet and mind.

Reasons to visit Lisette’s Mont Kiara: Power Bowl; Black Rice Nasi Lemak; a great place to park yourself at for a couple of hours while waiting for traffic to subside; while we didn’t get to explore the full range of pastries and dessert pies available, they definitely merit trips back to the cafe, especially if your goal in life is to conquer every patisserie or bakery in town.

Lisette’s Cafe & Bakery @ 163 Retail Park
GF-18, Ground Floor 163 Retail Park
8, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
+6 03 9775 1727
https://lisettes.com.my

Lisette’s @ Mont Kiara Opening Hours
8:00am – 10:00pm daily

Find Lisette’s takeaway menu and Bangsar outlet here, more of our favourite cafes in Kuala Lumpur here and stay up-to-date with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations for the country here and here.