Hora Feliz Kitchen & Bar – Empire Damansara
Words: Caroline Lai
Photos: Han Sen Hau
Open for a mere six months, Hora Feliz – Spanish for “Happy Hour” – is an exciting new restaurant co-owned by Chef Tan Kai Hua, affectionately known as Kyle. After a decade working in Singapore, this Teluk Intan native returned home to introduce a unique twist of Latin American and Asian fusion to KL, making Hora Feliz the first of its kind in the heart of Empire Damansara.
The restaurant blends formality with relaxed charm. Well-designed lighting and a sleek interior creates an intimate and attractive atmosphere. The indoor seating features a glass window showcasing the bustling kitchen, allowing guests to witness the action while enjoying their meals without worrying about lingering odours. There’s also a private dining area on the first floor, seating up to 22 guests, with no minimum spend required – subject to availability. In contrast, the covered outdoor patio has a more casual vibe with plenty of natural light and a green outlook. While the food is exceptional at Hora Feliz, the concept is playful, avoiding the stuffy feel of traditional fine dining. Nostalgic hits from artists like Shakira add toe-tapping background music, tempting us to order our first drinks.
Hora Feliz Menu & Prices
Zodiac Cocktails
Hora Feliz’s cocktail menu is inspired by the zodiac. We kicked off with two distinct creations: the Leo (RM40) and Pisces (RM38).
The Leo has a bold and robust character, anchored by a Coding Rosa Tequila base that gives it rich depth. Enhanced with orange bitters and agave syrup, it’s a strong and serious drink—just like its astrological namesake.
In contrast, the Pisces is a striking dark red magenta garnished with a dehydrated slice of red dragonfruit. Grey Goose Vodka is mixed with red dragonfruit and lemon juice – naturally sweet and refreshing. We liked these cocktails so much that we’re already planning a return to explore the rest of the zodiac-inspired menu!
Hora Feliz Food Menu & Prices
Appetisers
The Honey Burrata (RM48) with an add-on Pan Bread (RM10) was a delicious start. The creamy cheese came with heirloom tomatoes, buttery crisp breadsticks, and a delicate Greek honey dressing. A tangle of horseradish and alfalfa sprouts added a spot of colour and green freshness to the creamy recipe.
For Monica, the highlight was the Tuna Tataki Tacos (RM60 for 2) because of the awesome corn tortillas – a rare find in Kuala Lumpur. Lightly torched tuna slices coated in sesame came on a bed of corn salsa. The mango sriracha dip on the side had a fiery kick, just as our attentive server, Amelia, had kindly warned.
We were two-for-two and then three-for-three in a winning trifecta of starters with the Duck Croquettes (RM30 for 3). The crispy, golden spheres, generously sized, were filled with succulent duck confit and topped with shaved parmesan and a scoop of caviar. What looked like a romesco sauce on the side, was actually a unique Lao Gan Ma aioli, infused with the fragrant chilli oil from China – a hit with us all.
Main Courses
Moving on to the main courses, we started with the intriguing Red Bean Curd Risotto (RM48). This vegetarian dish is a rich, creamy risotto made with fermented red bean curd, giving complexity to a sometimes unilateral dish. Sautéed mushrooms, crunchy tempura enoki, and dried tomatoes added earthiness, crunch and a tangy acidity. The rice had just the right amount of bite.
Pescatarians should be happy with the Pan-seared Red Snapper (250gm, RM64). The fish, cooked moist with a nicely crisped skin, sat atop a Café de Paris butter gravy infused with chopped herbs and vegetables – tarragon, sage, Italian parsley, onion, shallots, and a splash of white wine. Charred cauliflower and fresh orange segments made a great side.
Mon picked the Louis Jadot Coteaux Bourguignons Blanc (RM298), a white wine from Burgundy, France, to complement these dishes. This wine is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Aligoté, with an elegant and full-flavoured palate with fruity notes and refreshing acidity. It was fabulous with our seafood dishes.
The meat lovers on our team loved the MB6 Australian Wagyu Picanha Rump Cap (220g, RM168), charred well on the edges and pink in the centre. Tangy chimichurri and charred pineapple salsa were exciting companions. Lightly crisp lotus roots and delicate micro-greens prettified the plate, providing crunch and some Asian influence. This dish is not only wholesome but also remarkably well-priced for the quality of the beef.
Our final main course was a personal favourite of Chef Kyle – the Herb Lamb Rack (300g, RM128). A fragrant blend of Italian parsley and breadcrumbs enveloped the juicy, succulent lamb. The lamb was accompanied by a vibrant yuzu green sauce that added a zesty and invigorating note, with confit tomatoes and tender baby carrots.
To pair with these rich red meats, we enjoyed a bottle of Mouton Cadet Heritage from Bordeaux, France (RM258). This elegant red wine has redcurrant, cherry, and blackberry aromas with subtle notes of spices and herbs. The smooth tannins and refreshing acidity make it an excellent accompaniment to both the wagyu and lamb.
We happily opted for the Grilled Broccoli (RM28) and Charred Baby Corn (RM26) as our sides, especially after learning that the vegetables at Hora Feliz are sourced locally from Cameron Highlands. The grilled broccoli was elevated with a sage vinaigrette, navel orange segments, and cashew sour cream, topped with Japanese rice pearls known as “Bubu Arare”, which added a nice crunch to each bite. The charred baby corn was expertly prepared, showcasing a fragrant, smoky char that perfectly balanced its natural sweetness. Garnished with bonito flakes, the dish received just the right hint of saltiness, enhancing the corn’s flavours.
Dessert
We left just enough room to indulge in the Orange Tres Leches (RM30). An elevated version of the classic three-milk dessert, this was artfully presented with crisp feuilletine flakes that added a lovely texture, along with tangy calamansi curd and sweet mandarin orange segments. This dessert was the ideal closing to our truly satisfying meal.
Reasons to visit Hora Feliz Kitchen & Bar: an exciting and expertly crafted Latin American-inspired menu; a good-looking setting – both the indoors and the covered patio are very pleasant places to dine; great craft cocktails; several delicious wines by the bottle; must-order the Honey Burrata, Tuna Tataki Tacos, Duck Croquettes; can’t go wrong with any of the mains.
Hora Feliz Kitchen & Bar
G-13, Heritage Retail, Empire Damansara
Jalan PJU 8/8A, Damansara Perdana
47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
@horafeliz_kl
+6011 2618 7796
Link to Hora Feliz on Google Maps
*Covered parking in the mall
**Street and mall entrance – easy to find from both sides
***Pork-free
****Vegetarian options
Hora Feliz Kitchen & Bar Opening Hours
Tuesday – Thursday: 5 pm – 11:30 pm
Friday – Sunday: 11:30 am – 3 pm & 5 pm – 11.30 pm
Find more restaurants for special occasions in Kuala Lumpur here and stay updated with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations with The Yum List on Facebook here