Dancing Fish – The Campus KL
Words: Joanna Florento
Photos: Han Sen Hau
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a fish to dance, and you feed a happy Yum List crew on a rainy Monday afternoon.
We enter Dancing Fish’s airy, bright new branch at The Campus and are transported to Bali. There are rattan accents, expansive windows overlooking the field, and as much greenery as can be accommodated, with potted plants aplenty. A delicate flower arrangement adorns our table (more on how you get one for free later), and gamelan plays softly in the background. It’s easy to assume that this Malay-Indonesian restaurant’s Michelin-awarded (from 2023 to 2025) reputation precedes it, but we receive a warm welcome typical of Southeast Asian hospitality and an invitation to dine as if we were right at home. From our window seat, we sip on our fresh coconuts and prepare to enjoy a few hours’ worth of a Bali holiday in Ampang.
Dancing Fish Menu – The Campus KL
Appetisers
We ease in with the Appetiser Platter (RM 66.90), with charcoal-grilled chicken satay, pepes goreng sambal matah, salad manga manga, sambal matah, and cumi-cumi goreng. The salad manga manga packs a surprising amount of heat, expertly tempered by its tropical fruitiness, while slivers of sour green mango provide additional respite from the layers of spice. The pipes goreng features lightly fried minced fish and chicken served with herbs and speared with lemongrass, a host of comforting Indonesian flavours that can be enjoyed with one hand. The cumi-cumi goreng (fried squid) is lightly breaded and roasted, pleasantly supplemented by the vibrant sambal matah. The charcoal-grilled chicken satay is mouthwateringly juicy, and we pair it with fragrant cups of steamed white rice and turmeric rice wafting heavenly notes of coconut and pandan.
The Sambal Ijo Petai & Ikan Bilis (RM 27.90) showcases stink beans stir-fried with signature sambal hijau and anchovies. This dish is incredibly aromatic, and the anchovies provide a strong punch that is smoothly rounded out by the soft tempeh. The sambal brings the spice, but we bring our A-game and motivate each other to persist in spite of the mounting heat on our tongues.
Mains Menu
We then kick off our mains with the Bebek Panggang with Sambal Matah Gerkin (RM 68.90), featuring duck that is marinated in herbs, spices, and barbecue sauce for 24 hours before being flame-grilled over charcoal. Each piece of duck is slightly on the dry side, but it’s tasty, and the gherkin and herbs add a tangy element that complements its light smokiness. These plates are designed for sharing, but we consume them so rapidly that we may have to deviate slightly from the original plan.
The Gulai Lemak Pedas (RM 89.90) showcases short ribs marinated for 24 hours and roasted over charcoal. They are paired with a rich, creamy curry studded with beans and okra. The ribs literally fall off the bone as we reach for them, and we spoon them onto our plates with mounting enthusiasm as the aroma of fresh curry envelopes our table – a firm fave.
Finally, the signature Dancing Fish with assorted sambal makes its grand entrance (RM 65.90 to 69.90, depending on the variation). We savour the Ikan Nila, sustainably farmed fried tilapia presented in a beautifully arched configuration with its tail artfully fanned. The Dancing Fish is typically served with only one option of sambal, but we are given a colourful array to taste and report back with our favourites. Jun loves the Sambal Hijau, while Han Sen prefers the Sambal Dabu-Dabu. Monica is partial to the Sambal Kedondong, while I favour the Terrong Sambal. Other offerings include the Sambal Hitam Keluak, Arasam Sauce, and the Sambal Merah. The fish is crispy on the outside but tender inside, and equally engaging to eat by hand as it is to push the bones aside with a fork and knife. While the urge to capture that culinary masterpiece is strong, this dish demands urgency. Snap fast, savour faster—because the best flavours come piping hot.
Afternoon Tea Set
We catch our breath with Dancing Fish’s newly launched Afternoon Tea Set. The Manja Set (RM 65++) is a visual feast, with tahu telur, nasi berempah bakar with beef rendang and cendol served with a glass of tea or Nescafe tarik. We start with the tahu telur, crispy and golden, with the perfect blend of tofu and egg. It’s nestled within assorted cut vegetables, adding an element of freshness to every bite. Underneath, the nasi berempah bakar with beef rendang seamlessly melds the sticky rice with the tender marinated beef. Finally, the cendol boasts all the traditional fixings and a wealth of comfort, with the pandan-flavoured rice flour jelly complementing the coconut milk, red beans, and shaved ice.
Dessert
Like a cool stroke of calm after our spice-filled meal, the Coconut Panna Cotta with Golden Nangka Goreng (RM 21.90) is refreshing and just the right amount of sweet. The panna cotta is slightly gelatinous and tastes deliciously of coconut, bookending our evening with sweet creaminess. Drizzled with toasted coconut flakes and edible flower petals, the soft panna cotta contrasts appealingly with the fried jackfruit. We take great care to get a little bit of both in every bite and wistfully long for seconds after the last crumb is devoured.
Drinks Menu & Wine List
We enjoy our meal with a cool glass of Marqués de Cáceres Rioja 2023 (RM 138), a semi-sweet rosé from Rioja, Spain, that is floral and easy-drinking, a perfect light accompaniment for the strong flavours in our meal.
We also sip from two eye-catching carafes of Asam Boi (RM 18.95 small, RM 32.95 large) and Autumn Pomegranate (RM 20.95 small, RM 38.95 large). When stirred, the Asam Boi is a brilliant blue, featuring basil, coconut, soda, and asam boi, its vibrant hue reminiscent of blue skies over the ocean. The Autumn Pomegranate tastes of lychee, with pomegranate, lemon, mint, Earl Grey tea, and soda to round out the flavours – summer sweetness in a glass.
Dancing Fish The Campus Review
As we wrap up our meal, we feel grateful to have had the opportunity to let our tastebuds tango at Dancing Fish. With a focus on sustainably farmed fish and highlighting local ingredients, Dancing Fish takes us on a comprehensive culinary excursion that prioritises flavour, freshness and fun. The back of their airy dining area also offers beautifully designed options for private events and celebrations, with rattan accents, warm tones and tessellated wooden tiles reminiscent of stylish fish scales lining an accent wall and long tables decorated with vibrant flower arrangements. Cut loose, cut a rug, or cut a slice (or all three!) at Dancing Fish and treat yourself to an Indonesian holiday, if only for a few delectable hours – you deserve it!
Reasons to visit Dancing Fish at The Campus: Beautiful interiors, soft and flavorful Gulai Lemak Pedas that falls off the bone and into delicious curry, photogenic Dancing Fish with sambal pairings, great value afternoon tea set, lovely hospitality (shoutout to Rafael!).
Dancing Fish (The Campus)
G-01, G-02, G-03 & G-01L, The Campus Ampang,
Lot 7706, Jalan Kolam Air Lama, Hulu Kelang,
68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
Link to Dancing Fish on Google Maps
+03-4266 6855
@dancingfish.my
Open-air parking.
Dancing Fish Hours – The Campus
Daily: 11:30 am to 10 pm
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