PETALING JAYA, April 21 — Wonderfu isn’t a great name for a restaurant. It’s far from the worst, but even if you know that it’s a fairly creative phonetic interpretation of "碗得福” — roughly translating to "bowl of blessings” — it doesn’t tell you much about the restaurant.
Wonderfu opened in February, occupying a ground floor lot next to Table & Apron in Damansara Kim.
Describing itself as an "Asian fusion restaurant”, the menu features a full page’s worth of clay pot rice choices and a variety of noodle dishes including a series of beef broth, "fury” curry and dry noodles.
Is a clay pot a bowl? I’m not sure, but these may hold the blessings in Wonderfu’s name.
![The interior at Wonderfu.](https://www.malaymail.com/malaymail/uploads/images/2024/04/21/203748.jpg)
The Wonder pork pot rice (RM23) bears a rough resemblance to Taiwanese lu rou fan, featuring a sizeable helping of braised pork, pickled cucumbers and a runny poached egg over a bed of rice.
One portion can feed about two people, and the clay pot arrives at the table hissing and sizzling, promising a nice bit of scorched fan jiu that awaits your discovery at the bottom.
The braised pork isn’t as fatty or as luscious as one might expect, instead, this was a little chunkier, meatier and more savoury than sweet.
The egg adds a luxurious texture to the finish, balanced out by the crunchy and tart cucumber — truly wonderful.
![The Wonder beef pot rice has an irresistible beef fat crumb.](https://www.malaymail.com/malaymail/uploads/images/2024/04/21/203751.jpg)
Also from the clay pot section was the Wonder beef pot rice (RM38.80), which included slices of grilled striploin, and a most delightful beef fat crumb.
The layering of aromatics and various fats here is more reminiscent of a classic Hong Kong clay pot rice or bo zai fan, though it might have been better if the scorched portion of the rice was allowed to develop further.
![Wonder mix beef broth strongly resembles Taiwanese style beef noodles, featuring an intensely flavourful broth.](https://www.malaymail.com/malaymail/uploads/images/2024/04/21/203749.jpg)
Wonder mix beef broth (RM30) takes many cues from Taiwanese style beef noodles, featuring chunks of beef shank, tendon, a few balls and daikon in a dark and deeply flavourful broth.
Don't let the chilli symbol on the menu alarm you, unless you're particularly sensitive to the mere thought of spice. It's a properly hearty, satisfying bowl of noodles that elicits a sigh of content. A tip: get it with the ramen noodles, as it retains a springy and bouncy texture.
![The sign features some wonderful typography.](https://www.malaymail.com/malaymail/uploads/images/2024/04/21/203750.jpg)
We were far too full for anything else as portions here lean to the larger side, but the BGK chicken (RM12) with black garlic ketchup sounds like a compelling reason to return — and as iffy as I find the name, Wonderfu more than lived up to the moniker.
Wonderfu Restaurant
25, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-9pm
Tel: 019-490 1539
Facebook: @Wonderfu
Instagram: @wonderfu.restaurant
*This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal.
*Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.