RasaNya Steamboat, Pavilion Elite

RasaNya Steamboat – Bukit Bintang

Words: Amanda Chin
Photos: Richard Callahan

I could never say no to steamboat food, so when Monica asked me to try RasaNya Steamboat, it was a yes. More than just your typical steamboat restaurant, it’s a powerful combination of Nyonya food, Malay cuisine and beautiful Peranakan aesthetics. We were told the owner is a huge fan of Peranakan food and hotpot, so why not put two and two together? This adds that extra flavour to your typical steamboat meal and elevates it with sambals, sauces, and the rich Peranakan heritage, which blends Chinese, Malay and Western influences. We were also told the intricate detailing inside was done by a Singaporean and truly transports you to Malacca through tiles, traditions, and tones. Even the sauce bowls were works of art. 

RasaNya Steamboat @ Pavilion Elite

Take the lift just opposite % Arabica at The Connection of Pavilion to the eighth floor. You’ll find yourself a stone’s-throw away from RasaNya Steamboat. Greeted at the entrance by a friendly hostess, I was immediately shown to our table, which was semi-private. I walked in with my mouth ajar from all the “wows” and “ohs” I was saying. 

The steamboat restaurants I’m used to going to are pretty much nothing compared to this. Someone really took the definition of bougie and made this place. With a dark green tone and beautiful tiling everywhere, attention to detail comes down to even the chopsticks. The sauce station was undoubtedly quite the challenge as you want to try all homemade potions. If you are stuck like me, a friendly staff member will help you concoct one up, depending on your spice level. 

Then, we took a little walk around the restaurant and saw plush velvet sofas and walls decorated with Nyonya ceramics and carvings – striking. What’s even more impressive were the two private rooms our hostess couldn’t wait to show us. One room fits 10 people and has a minimum spend of RM1,500, while the bigger one fits 12 and has a minimum spend of RM3,000. Both of these rooms have individual steamboat heaters, meaning you cook your food right in front of your own self, and you get to pick the soup of your choice. 

The bigger VIP room was certainly the centrepiece and what you would say to be la creme de la creme of RasaNya. Armed with a karaoke machine, there’s a large marble table with individual settings for steamboat, and there’s an area to sit down and relax from all the eating you’ll be doing. The best part? You also get your own en suite bathroom that’s as stunning as the room. If you’re wondering where to host your next dinner event, I recommend this place. 

I know you’re wondering about the food so let’s get straight down to business. 

RasaNya Steamboat Food Menu

While our steamboat feast was being prepared, we got little entrees of pickled vegetables and fried tofu which were both very tasty. Then, the waiter came with three soup bases for us. The Kak Nya’s Signature Black Truffle (RM40) came with additional truffle paste. It was obviously the high-end bestseller that tasted like one too. Next to it was the Winter Melon & Herbs (RM40), which was light and refreshing and in the middle, we had the Harimau In The Laut (RM20), which was a prawn soup base stewed with garlic and chillies – an extravaganza. 

We first had the Veggie & Mushroom Platter (RM42) to start filling our soup bases. It was a delightful plate of lotus root, pumpkin, okra, mushrooms, corn and greens. You can’t do steamboat without the famous bean curd skin, so the Kak Nya Ring Rolls (RM12) did just the trick in lapping up the sauce in my bowl. In a preemptive attempt to subtly bring in a feast before the feast, we had the Golden Fried Stuffed Taufu (RM16), which was fried tofu stuffed with cucumber and a scrumptious Kacang sauce and the Nya Pai Tee (RM16), which is a very typical Nyonya dish. What made it even more fun was that it was a build-your-own, so we started with dishing the bamboo shoots and turnip sauce into the cup, topped it off with a prawn and drizzled it with a flavourful chilli sauce. 

The waiter brought us a basket of the Satay Platter (RM38), which, again, was a work of art. If Malaysia did anything right, it was satay! Here we enjoyed flame-grilled lamb, beef and chicken skewers served with a Javanese rice cake and a creamy peanut sauce. Then, our last platter came out, and it was the Seafood Platter, which was impressively substantial and easily feeds four people. The platter had scallops, white clams, fish balls, squid ink balls, white fish balls and tiger prawns (which the waiter kindly helped us peel) – and was all very appetising – I enjoyed them most in the prawn soup base. 

You Look So Hot Pot!

If you’re wondering, beyond the ultimate aesthetics dripping in rich Peranakan heritage, if the food is good? Yes! Flavour bombs in every mouthful and a large menu with options for all sorts of eaters to choose from. Price-wise, you can rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth and feel full to the brim. I know I need to go back with a bunch of friends to make good use of the VIP room because what’s better than steamboat when you can belt out karaoke tunes as well?

Reasons to visit RasaNya Steamboat: the charming interior, the friendly staff, great service bonuses (it’s the prawn-peeling for me), and flavoursome food.

RasaNya Steamboat
Level 8, Lot 8.105.00, Pavilion Elite, Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Instagram @rasanyasteamboat
· pork-free

RasaNya Steamboat Opening Hours
Daily: 10 am – 10 pm

Find more restaurants in Bukit Bintang here and stay up to date with the latest gourmet happenings around Malaysia here and here.