Step outside the glimmering Petronas Twin Towers and the overflow of tourists at the metropolis Kuala Lumpur and enter the zestful hilly area of Damansara. Its namesake was derived from the Damansara River which flows nearby; in Sanskirt, “Daman” means “foothills” while “Sara” is either “a mansion of wealth” or “water”.
Getting in and to Damansara is relatively convenient as several public buses and LRT stations connect and bring you to Damansara - and of course, Grab cars. Multiple highways elevating to the sky and on the fertile land are available as well. Its accessibility and proximity have earned "Golden Triangle of Petaling Jaya” status. This sub-branch of KL’s city centre is notable for its endless shopping malls and entertainment hubs (One Utama Shopping Mall, The Curve, IPC, etc.) and houses the Malaysian branch of several multinational companies on a commercial aspect .
Spend a Day in Damansara as a Local
Damansara may have grown jam-packed in recent years, yet it embodies a genuine local way of life. I’ve always wondered about the hype behind Damansara after growing up in KL. I never found the “zest” as an adolescent who spent most weekends roaming around Bukit Bintang and Mont Kiara. Some locals choose to spend most of their waking hours in Damansara, whereas others unexpectedly found themselves morphing into a local resident.
This sought-out area marvellously encapsulates one’s needs to eat, breathe, live, work, learn, and play. But as a curious outsider, I continue to ponder, “What can I do in Damansara?”
I asked several friends this question and they gave me a long list. I googled and I found heaps of to-dos. “What if I intend only to spend a day in Damansara?” I followed up. Again, the list went on. “Okay, how about through your lens, as a local?” Finally, a shortlist was composed.
MORNING KICK AT PASAR BESAR TTDI
The morning market in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) isn’t precisely in Damansara, but its vicinity is a stone’s away (a 15-minute drive, give or take). Pasar Besar TTDI is a wet market where you can get mostly everything for your fridge and pantry; from all types of meats, vegetables, and fruits to dry ingredients. Not to mention, ample covered and open-air parking spaces, cashless payment options, and a great variety of eateries on the first floor feature the likes of roti canai, nasi lemak, and more are prevalent.
Breakfast
Chanai & Chaya is a trusty breakfast option. They’ve been serving appam, thosai, and roti canai for almost four decades!
Order the sour and light thosai. The fermented batter solidifies and crisps up going through seconds of circular motions. Slather it with chutney, dal, chicken curry or sambal. Let your tastebuds run wild. The food stall alternates the chutney flavours daily; from red chilli, coconut, and green chilli to onion. Also, get appam; a sweet treat that’s paper-thin around the edges yet pillowy soft and sugary in the centre drowned in coconut milk.
Morning coffee
The next stop on your Pasar Besar TTDI voyage is coffee. A mini coffee bar is hidden on the top floor, called ASOF Coffee. Follow the A-board up the escalator, which should be in the last row on the right. Or simply let your senses take control swiveling through the smell of roasting beans and the sound of funky jazz. It’s cosy indoors, reminiscent of one of your friends who owns a collection of vinyl records in their living room.
Explore Malaysian spices
Do you smell that rich scent? Are your eyes watered in striking colour? You just stumbled upon Malaysian spices.
An aunty is normally seen busy chit-chatting in front of mountains of spices, skilfully scooping a tablespoon of this and that to best suit a customer’s blate (a wide, shallow, rounded vessel for food that’s a combination of a bowl and a plate) of the day. That aunty is at the two-decade-long stall, Liza’s Chilli & Curry Spice Shop. You can get all sorts of spices from this stall, which is open from 7 AM to 3 PM except for Mondays. Even if you’re an amateur, clueless cook when it comes to the exact spices to use or their proportions, you simply tell the aunty of the dish in mind.
The spread of spices right in front of you is fascinating. There are wet and dry spices, and grounded spices in various shades of orange, brown and red. Ready-made pastes of various concoctions like beef rendang, chicken kurma, prawn mee, spicy laksa, etc. are available as well. You can even preorder packets of various concoctions to be sent overseas.
AFTERNOON BALANCE OF ADRENALINE AND ZEN
Culinary, check! Now, head to Damansara for some indoor fun.
Get competitive on a go-kart track
On your mark, get set, go!! Race into action at Formula Karting’s indoor go-kart track on Level 5 of Encorp Strand Mall, Kota Damansara. Experience the thrill of speed and adrenaline as you unleash your inner racer as you drift through a total of 22 corners on their latest track. Make unforgettable memories on the track from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of pax you’re coming with.
Go on a shopping spree
Elevate the ideals of shopping at 1 Utama Shopping Centre. They’re not bluffing with their slogan, “A shopping mall that is truly all in one.” This shopping mall is massive - it’s one of the largest in Malaysia and the seventh-largest in the world up to 2022. Wander around even if you have nothing in particular on your shopping list. There are over 800 stores that suit all ages, needs, and wants to shop, eat, and play. You might spot some sort of an exhibition during your visit.
Mix wellness into your day
To the wellness affectionate, especially those desiring zen to rest and recharge, be prepared to sweat, burn, and shake at The Flow Studio nestled on Level 2 within The Five, Damansara Heights with their fun group class, or a private pilates or yoga session. Don’t fret, this wellness centre caters to walk-ins as long as you download their app to book a class.
“Enter the flow, leave the outside world behind, and immerse yourself in our sanctuary of good vibes,” is how they emphasise your experience. The Flow Studio is a yoga and pilates space that seeks to maximise your results whilst prioritising your comfort adorned with minimalist aesthetics and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver both the practicality and functionality of a workout.
Their yoga classes come in various styles, catering to all levels of experience led by instructors trained in subtle cueing, intelligent sequencing, and hands-on adjustments. Moreover, their signature Reformer Pilates method is a dynamic full-body workout, designed to activate fat-burning muscle fibres.
BEFORE CALLING IT A DAY
Two options seem intriguing to call it a day. One is sticking to an innovative Malaysian dish for dinner. Another is smothering in ooey-gooey cheese of classic American delights.
Char Kuey Teow - but with a twist
Since when do Char Kuey Teows have duck eggs and smoked duck, you wonder? If it isn’t for Quackteow, you might never have this gastronomical innovation.
Head to Kota Damansara (or TTDI again) for a plate of the smokey, fragrant, and succulent Duck Egg Char Kuey Teow between noon and 11 PM. Quackteow sticks to the basics by following the traditional method of frying Char Kuey Teow with charcoal fire. Usual trimmings of prawns, fishcakes, and beansprouts are found alongside duck eggs, drenched in Quackteow’s secret special sauce. It has a slightly grainier texture and more eggs in a mouthful.
American-style meal
Hidden in a corner of a shop lot in Mutiara Damansara, Mean Mince offers a range of mouthwatering gourmet burgers, pizzas, sliders, and indulgent milkshakes. The American-themed restaurant is home to the Deep Fried Burger and is the titleholder of the 2019 BurgerFest Championship. Open between noon and 10 PM except for Wednesdays, no vegetables are found here except for onions and mushrooms.
The menu features a variety of juicy burgers. Their signature MM Deep Fried Burger comprises a 125g MM medium-rare beef patty wrapped in a crispy yet fluffy bread stacked with caramelised onions and melty mozzarella cheese. Drool over the satisfying cheese pull amidst their succulent, in-house minced beef patty once you cut through the burger and pull the two halves apart. Each bite is a harmony of crunchiness and juiciness.
You’ll need to make an advance booking for the Chicago-style Deep Dish Pizza because it requires 45 minutes to prep. This cheesy masterpiece has a thick, buttery crust loaded with a bed of fresh tomato sauce topped with beef sausage, mushrooms, and/or pepperoni. Lastly, get the creamy and refreshing Peanut Butter Milkshake for an extra kick to your night.