There isn’t many good quality weekend bubbly champagne Dim Sum brunch in Kuala Lumpur, even so, they may have just earned your merit once and then never fancy your return. YEN, the accomplished Cantonese Restaurant at W Kuala Lumpur can sate the appetite of even the pickiest of palates, together with unlimited serving of French champagne. mylifestylenews writes.
Cantonese food is one of our favourite cuisines and with so much to enjoy, you can be extremely choosy when it comes to deciding where you want to book in order not ruining your craving quota for a real good quality meal, not to mention by indulging yourself in an inspiring vivacious arty ambience with prompt and focused service. As The W hotel brand is renowned for its vibrant and creative dining experience, the recently refurbished YEN Chinese restaurant at W Kuala Lumpur has put in a lot of effort in elevating their already then popular Cantonese cuisine which redefines Cantonese dining by blending rich Chinese culinary heritage with modern sophistication, and this was our second and much anticipated visit since a major interior refresh and grand relaunch in mid-2025.
When you are on a good thing you definitely don’t mess with it, but to improve the experience is certainly the way to go and this is just what YEN at W Kuala Lumpur has done in our estimation. YEN means vibrant and sexy and this seems to have been the playbook with the new interior. This upscale restaurant reopened with reimagined, refreshed interiors featuring intricate dark marble flooring and woodwork with contemporary lighting that features an enticing Oriental charm of antique elements.
Red leather banquettes, designer wall sconce lights and two large paper box lantern lighting structures hanging from the ceiling, a low-rise marble bar with dark marble counter dining seats and velvet upholstered walls, to name a few of the major changes, the new alluring interior adding to that sassy mood for an intimate dining experience.
All of this has created a modern sophisticated vibe that befits the W brand and we were enthralled with the new interior. Spot-lit chic black marble dining tables set with a jazzy red and white branded show plate along with a set of red and black chopsticks, colourful lively Koi fish prints on lazy Susan, all of which with the inclusion of modern oriental elements. There are also four spacious private dining rooms tastefully decorated with royal elements and combining modern furnishing with delicate Chinese details.
With the Executive Chinese Chef Tan Kim Weng helming this refreshed restaurant, he fuses time-honoured flavours, innovative techniques and locally sourced ingredients to elevate classic Cantonese food with modern twists. Just bear in mind that it is halal which is always a big challenge when it comes to Chinese cuisine. Chef Weng had our worries free as his pork free halal menu not only delighted our palate but keeping the authentic Cantonese flavours no less. With the recent launch of the new Imperial Champagne Brunch, they are featuring a weekend and public holiday all-you-can-eat Yum-Cha experience from its delightful crafted menu paired including a hand full of signature dishes with a two hours free-flow of Moët & Chandon French champagne.
This 120-minute bubbly feast delivers value on all fronts and you may also elevate your dining bliss to the next level, an upgrade to Veuve Clicquot is truly a further indulgence while an enjoying the leisurely brunch at your own pace with quality Dim Sum dishes one at a time and it worked a gem. Let the bubbles flow in bliss as the crafted Dim Sum menu is quite extensive and would have been impossible to try one of everything without running out of room. Pace your cravings diligently by savoring some signature and must-have dishes and there was so much to enjoy.
We started with the Daily Chef’s Choice signature Double Boiled Chicken Soup and a Braised Sichuan Hot & Sour Soup, Shredded Chicken, Aged Vinegar and both equally had distinctive flavours to please your palate and consistency in line with expectations, we were instantly relaxed knowing that the start to our brunch was to be enjoyable.
This was followed with a few classic Yum-Cha dishes must-have, from the Steamed Dim Sum Section, we opted for Prawn & Dried Scallop Siu Mai served with Organic Quinoa where the scallop did its justice but not much from the quinoa on the palate which worked more like a garnish instead. Har Gau - the Crystal Prawn Dumpling, Morel Mushrooms is a stand out, with sizable juicy meaty prawns folded and wrapped in light and see-through paste to enjoy in the right bite size and worth the encore.
Mushroom Shape Honey Barbeque Chicken Bun that came in the form and shape of a large Shitake mushroom, but in red veins instead of earthy black tones. Mind the presentation, focus on the taste and the honey glazed chicken works more than just fine with the airy bun. Steam Rice Roll, Barbeque Chicken, Homemade Sambal Paste is another comfort Dim Sum dish for Yum-Cha. The satisfying palate always comes from the savory homemade sauce as every chef has their very own version to make it special to delight your senses.
It can’t go wrong by ordering Braised Phoenix Claws, Peanuts, Abalone Sauce aka Braised Chicken Feet. It is more than just a ritual when you come for a Yum-Cha experience to savour this flavoursome delicacy that is packed with flavours that enlivens your palate. Despite the chicken feet were smaller in size than usual but still won us over with a piquant sauce, lots of collagen and a definite brunch highlight. Absolutely delectable!
Traditional Glutinous Rice with Chicken & Abalone was packed with flavour, sticky and firm rice texture went well with the moist chicken and abalone added that premium flavour. Simply filling and satisfying!
The Steamed Fish Ball, Dried Tangerine Peel, Garlic, Coriander’s presentation may not catch your attention but the firm and springy fish ball texture with a lovely zesty hint of tangerine on the palate will win your heart for its authenticity flavour and another must-order.
We jumped to the Fried & Baked Dim Sum Section and started off with the signature Pan-Fried Bean Curd Roll, Prawn & Water Chestnut that was utterly delicious with chunky prawn meat wrapped and deep-fried with light and flaky bean curd to golden brown. Once you start having the first bite, second is certainly to follow and then you have to remind yourself to pause in order to savour a lot of orders to come. Don’t miss out!
The Crispy Vegetarian Spring Roll abounding in aromatic chive was spot on. With the light and crispy outer shell, moist and fragrant filling that had us craving for more. Sometimes the simple things in life resonate with you the most!
The Crispy Cod Fillet Roll with Cheese has definitely earned the signature dish status. It was perfectly light and crispy and the hand crafted “Dragon Beard Roll” was in a coating of fine wheat vermicelli, shredded spring roll wrappers that was deep-fried to light and fluffy golden brown texture wrapped in moist and juicy cod and cheese inside that really hit more than a spot. Even though the Crispy Yam Dumplings, Cream Mushroom Chicken was not listed as their signature dish, it should be. It was so good and so well executed and sinfully tasty.
Wok Fried Radish Cake, Bean Sprouts, Supreme Chili Sauce, Sakura Shrimps is another delightful craving that sat on a deep-fried edible vermicelli net and topped with the pungent aromatic Sakura shrimp. The colourful fresh ingredients used to made this delectable dish were quite pleasurable.
From the Staple Section, we had the signature Braised Silver Needle Noodle, Kuantan Salted Fish & Minced Chicken Sauce that is one of the local’s all time favorites. It is also known as silver pin noodles or rat tail noodles for its 5cm-ish length and shape as the name suggests that is made from rice flour, soft yet springy and absorbs the entire rich minced chicken sauce and enhanced the palate with the infamous Kuantan salted fish which was simply irresistible. This should not be missed as it was so delicious on every level, and topped with the sinful duck fat crunchy croutons. Simply divine!
The high heat smoky Wok Fried Rice, Diced Chicken, Supreme Chili Sauce is another signature dish that was absolutely on point, so tasty and a delight with every mouthful. Nothing beats a good heart-felt fried rice that is done well.
Every dessert was consistent, extremely tasty and nothing missed a beat in the culinary creation stakes.The Sweet Temptation was offered to end the bubbly feast with Chilled Osmanthus Jelly & Wolf Berries that was soothing and sweet; the flaky custard Baked Portuguese Egg Tart; Milk Pudding, Truffles, Honeycomb & Chilled Aloe Vera giving that creme brulee texture with a touch of truffle; Lemongrass Infused Ai-Yu Jelly, Natural Peach Resin & Yuzu Pearl boasts a unique and somewhat polarizing flavour profile and last but not least the smooth and thick soupy Aged Tangerine Peel Red Bean Soup with Black Sesame Dumpling which is the classic Cantonese dessert retention round up of our sumptuous feast with immense bliss. You certainly need a big appetite to enjoy everything and indulge every moment.
This was an absolute quality and a happy Champagne Dim Sum brunch to remember. Chef Weng created a lot of delicate dishes with delicious flavours and textures that you would expect but nothing is a given and as they say “the proof is in the pudding”. You may be sceptical for halal Dim Sum served in Kuala Lumpur hotels as it is quite common these days to cater for a wider audience and we were not disappointed based on the cross section of menu items we savoured.
Service was very switched on thanks in part to the Assistant Restaurant Manager Andy who looked after us very well. Table clearance was prompt as they attended to every table cautiously to ensure the experience was seamless.The champagne was perfectly chilled and Andy ensured that our glasses did not dry out as well as the cleansing aged Pu-er tea that we required it to be served strong and was delivered orderly. We were not left wanting at just the right moments. Don’t think Dim Sum brunch, but think more like a mini feast with authenticity, this alluring all-you-can-eat Imperial Champagne Brunch is a steal given the quality and the kitchen does not cut corners. YEN at W Kuala Lumpur delivers a delicious array of genuine flavours and great service that will have you booking again.
Tried & Tested:
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 4.5/5
Food & Beverage: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 5/5
Experience: 5/5
Design & Decor: 4.5/5
Food & Beverage: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 5/5
Experience: 5/5
121, Jalan Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur,
Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Tel: +6 03 2786 8888
Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.
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