Tuck into halal Chinese dumplings in Setapak

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 — When it comes to authentic Chinese dumplings in Kuala Lumpur, it’s incredibly hard to find ones that hit the spot.

For three years, Sunny Garden in Setapak has been my all-time favourite to get my fix for these juicy stuffed morsels. Strangely enough, this halal eatery has remained completely under the food radar so many don’t know that this humble, little place even exists!

Located in Setapak’s bustling PV128 commercial building, the eatery is owned by a Chinese Muslim expatriate. The place even has its own surau. Ordering here is best done via the menu with pictures since some items are unfamiliar to us.

Located in Setapak, you can spot this place easily with its banners proclaiming it sells dumplings.

Language tends to be an issue here since they don’t really speak English so it’s best to communicate with Mandarin. Since many people are unaware of what they serve here, they also call themselves Dumpling House Chinese Muslim Food.

Zoom in on their dumplings or jiaozi in Chinese, as these plump morsels totally outrank those served at the bigger restaurants in the city. Served fried, boiled, steamed or with soup, the dumplings can be stuffed with a variety of fillings.

Choose from egg and chives, sam xin chicken, beef and spring onions, mutton and spring onions or prawns. Our picks are the fried or steamed variants. Usually, we order the mutton or chicken fillings, as they’re the tastiest.

You get 16 dumplings in one order that will fill you up sufficiently. Prices range from RM9 to RM20.

We guarantee you won’t be able to stop eating these Chinese chives pancakes shaped like curry puffs!

What I love about their dumplings is how they tick all the right boxes. Thin skin, check. Generous juicy filling, check. You can enjoy the dumplings on their own or dipped in their chilli sauce. There is also vinegar available on the table, if you prefer.

Occasionally, you get to see how they make your dumplings at their open kitchen.

You can also order the steamed dumplings, like these ones stuffed with chicken.

An unsung menu item is their Chinese chive pancakes (RM12 for three pieces). You may expect flat pancakes but these look more like curry puffs! Bite into the each golden pocket to discover a juicy, fragrant filling of fluffy scrambled eggs and aromatic chopped Chinese chives. It’s love at first bite!

Their noodle dishes are also a draw here. What makes their hand-pulled noodles exceptionally delicious is how the strands have a nice, slightly chewy texture. Select from a choice of beef soup, cold noodles or my favourite — the fried noodles.

Slurp up these stir fried handmade noodles with a choice of beef or chicken.

This simple dish, fried with a reddish paste that is not overly spicy, makes a delicious tummy filler. The portions can be quite substantial especially if you’re ordered the dumplings so make sure you share with a friend.

The eatery also offers cooked dishes like sweet and sour chicken, garlic lamb, spicy seabass, and the list goes on. One of their unusual items is mutton cakes. They don’t resemble our conventional cake but it’s actually deep fried crunchy layers of popiah-like skins stuffed with minced meat. You can also order the braised beef version.

The eatery attracts a crowd of Malay and Chinese customers.

Sunny Garden
G-06, PV128
Jalan Genting Klang
Setapak
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-41311278
Open: 11am to 11pm