Taman Tun Dr Ismail or TTDI is an upmarket Malay suburb in the outskirts of KL, known for its proliferation of eateries, including Michelin-listed ones. TTDI’s often regarded as a veritable test-bed for the dining trends and tastes of KL’s affluent upper-middle-class Malay-Muslim market. What works in TTDI for this market can then be replicated in the rest of Kuala Lumpur.
One of the shining stars in this burgeoning dining precinct has to be Michelin-selected Thai eatery, Gai by Darren Chin, which is co-owned by Darren Chin of 1-Michelin star DC by Darren Chin and his Chiang Mai-born wife, Khun Pachsita “Nana” Kitikornchalowemwong. Opened in April 2022, Gai by Darren Chin (“gai” means “chicken” in Thai) has just recently opened a more casual noodle eatery - Gai Express - on the ground floor of its 2-storey location. The two eateries operate separately, but we were able to cross-order from Gai Express’ its signature khao soi (Northern Thai curried noodles) when we were dining at sister-outlet Gai by Darren Chin last weekend.
Gai Express offers two versions - the more common chicken one, and a more complex-flavored beef version, which we opted for.
Darren Chin himself was manning the kitchen, and he produced an absolutely amazing rendition - with its multi-layered flavors and perfectly textured meat and noodles.
We’d started off our meal with some 𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘮 (wild betel leaf) wraps. Rama V Thai restaurant in Jalan Ampang was the first to introduce this dish to KL-lites back in 1995. Now, every Thai restaurant in town has to have it on their menu. Fabulous version here.
One of the must-haves here is their Thai iced milk tea (Thai: ชาเย็น / 𝘤𝘩𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘯) - milky, fragrant and sweet.
Gai tod Hat Yai - 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯-𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 (city of 𝘏𝘢𝘵 𝘠𝘢𝘪) 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯.
The signature crabmeat fried rice (Thai: ข้าวผัดปู /𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘶) here is simply must-order - wok-hei and full of flavours. Absolutely delicious.
Accompanying crabmeat omelette was fluffy and delicious.
Desserts:
Thai pandan-flavored custard with coconut cream:
Red rubies dessert (Thai: ทับทิมกรอบ/𝘵𝘶𝘣 𝘵𝘪𝘮 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘣)
Mango with sticky rice (Thai: ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง / 𝘬𝘩𝘢𝘰 𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨)
Absolutely fantastic meal. Wished I live in KL, so I can come here more often.
Address
Gai by Darren Chin
1st Floor, 26A, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-7732 4406
Operating hours: 12noon-3pm, 6pm-11pm Tue to Sun. Closed on Mondays.
Gai Express
Ground Floor, 26, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60377324406
Operating hours: 12 noon - 7pm, Tue to Sun. Closed on Mondays.
