Ole Ole Bali, Empire - Klang Valley, Malaysia

Bali conjures images of sultry seasides, the lingering aroma of Keretek (cloves) and a place where time moves at its own pace. The air is humid tropical, the food is spicy and the living can be easy. One wakes up wrapped in a  sarung, that delightful wardrobe that does allow air to flow through. One views the moon in the evening through different eyes. Bob took me to the Empire one evening in early June outside Kuala Lumpur, near the suburb of Subang Jaya, where amidst the shops in a modern shopping mall, a restaurant called Ole Ole Bali beckoned. Ole with the same spelling has been used by J.K. Rowlings and Mark Twain.  It is also the expression used by Spanish bullfighters in the bullring.

I was not disappointed by the saffron coloured rice, the centerpiece in my dinner set chosen. (picture above) Surrounding this were a variety of concoctions and a generous serve of marinated chicken. There were crispy bites of crackers, bits of fresh red chili, a sambal sauce, deep fried garlic, fresh shallot garnishings, beans, stir-fried local spinach (kangkong) and a Hainan -inlfuenced condiment, all laid on fresh banana leaves.  The restaurant was full of diners on this Friday evening and we sat outside.  We both had fruity and refreshing drinks served with fresh mint leaves. I noted nearby tables had deep fried wings as part of their cumi cumi goreng ( fried snacks like calamari).   Another dish that caught my eye was the nasi kambing bumbu, a combination set like what I had in the pictures shown here, but served with goat meat or lamb cutlets. 

The prices asked are above average but the menu does provide variety.  There are standard dishes like soup buntut (oxtail) and the es campur (ice shavings with sweet shredded cocount strips, honeydew bites, jackfruit, sago and banana blends),  but do try the sate lilit, which is seafood on a lemon grass flavoured skewer, accompanied by two types of sambal.  Surprisingly, Ole Ole Bali also offers Western styled meals, including pasta, which echoes the predominance of tourists for many years back on the island itself.  For dessert, they also  have the interesting combination of ice jelly with the flesh of the rambutan fruit.

The same chain has outlets in Sunway Pyramid, Solaris Mont Kiara and Mutiara Tropicana in the Klang Valley of Selangor.  My impressions of the visit to Ole Ole Bali at the Empire Shopping Centre, Subang Jaya, are:

Atmosphere:  Crowded, suburban.

Location:  Shopping centre

Taste:  Interesting, not quite Sumatra or Java.

Service:  Quick

People Engagement:  Acceptable

Fav Dish Experienced: Nasi ayam bumbu.

Best Time to Visit:  Early dinner.

Would I Return?:  Yes.