Kechara Oasis Jaya One, nestled in the busy uptown hub of Petaling Jaya, is a new age vegetarian restaurant that serves natural, delicious and healthy cuisines inspired by Chinese, Tibetan, Nepali, Vietnamese and Western cuisines. We were there with Vkeong, Aiwei and Jason a few weeks ago to sample some of their mouth watering dishes.
VIP dining area
Tara, the “mother of liberation” greets all who walk in
The interior design reveals a strong Tibetan influences
Tibetan Butter Tea (RM12.80). Known as pho cha, it is made of tea leaves, yak butter and salt. It is consumed to provide energy in higher altitude places. Listed as number two on Lonely Planet’s “Top Ten Worst Experiences in Tibet” , it wasn’t that bad actually. It was warm, salty and greasy, very much like black tea added with heavy cream and salt.
The first sipping of butter tea gave me a shock, yet the second is filled with the beautiful aroma of butter and the third is soothing to the throat.
Kechara Salad (RM 38 – regular portion). The crunchy vegetables and citrusty dressing reminds me of Lou Sang for Chinese New Year.
5 Mandala of Prosperity (RM 58 – small portion) consists of butter mushroom, Vietnamese spring roll, barbecued “pork”, luncheon “meat” and stir fried lotus root with lily bulbs.
Tibetan Vegetable Momo (RM 21.00). Momos are traditional delicacies in Tibet and Nepal and there are different varieties of momos. In Kechara Oasis, these dumplings were pan fried after being steamed. Though the dumplings were well cooked and very juicy, but suffered from lack of salt and flavor.
Kechara Oasis Fried Chicken (KOC) RM17. “Our fried chicken is better than K*C!”, according to the restaurant manager. No doubt we are not able to tell the differences while blind folded. It has both taste and texture of chicken. Isn’t it amazing?
Yu Xiang Egg Plant (RM20 – regular portion). This is one of my favorite eggplant dishes. It is dense, savory, and highly flavored with chili paste, minced garlic and spring onions.
Fish Head Meehoon (RM20). According to the restaurant manager, the sour taste in the Fish Head Bihun comes from sour plum whereas if you go to hawkers or elsewhere the sourness comes from cheap vinegar which is a much cheaper food costing. As much as it resembles the real deal, I still think that the vegetarian version lacks the “oomph”.
Vietnamese Spring Roll (RM13.80). Though fresh and crispy, the spring rolls were nothing to shout about.
Golden Pocket with Broccoli (RM 40 – regular portion). A crowd pleasing dish; the minced “meat” fillings encased in the golden pockets were so juicy and flavorful.
Red Bean Banana Roll (RM 10). Dusted with icing sugar, the roll itself is good, not overly sweet plus the red bean + banana layer is extra thin.
Crystal Fruit Dessert (RM 10). These beautiful delicate looking desserts looks better than it tastes. I could be biased because I don’t really fancy custard filling.
In Kechara Oasis, the vegetable dishes were executed with elegant simplicity, allowing the natural flavors and textures of the main ingredients to shine. The price may seem steep, but it is a good place to eat out for special occasions, for someone’s birthday or for family gatherings.
Do you know that you are eating for a good cause too? All proceeds will go to Kechara House, a Buddhist Centre founded in 2000 by His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Apart from that, Kechara Soup Kitchen is a program dedicated to provide sustenance and basic medical care for the homeless and urban poor in Kuala Lumpur. Do contact the project coordinator Justin Cheah at 012 209 3813 or at justin.cheah@kechara.com if you wish to lend a helping hand (donations, voluntary work, etc)
Kechara Oasis
Unit 19-LG1, Level B1 Block D Jaya One,
No. 72A Jalan University,
46200 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Tel: +603 7968 1818
Fax: +603 7968 8118
nice nice nice write up with all the great photos!
opps… i think i really need to speed up liao. hehe
had a great time with you guys that day 🙂
I don’t mind having the desserts! Ha ha ha!
indeed, the fried chickens looked so much like the real deal.
though coming from your review, the overall experience was nothing much to shout about, wasnt it?
Thanks for your great review… nice photos.
wow…. really good fried “chicken”? I’ll go check it out! Been there once before to have the nasi lemak… that’s really good stuff, the rendang rocks!
fried chicken?? taste-wise might be better but can it provide the real texture of chicken meat? i wonder
Hey I just posted on my friend’s amateur efforts on Momo too after her visit to the Tibetan refuge in India, Dharamsala! Previously I’d been less than impressed seeing posts of Kechara from other blogs but after hearing all about her trip, I’m more inclined to give it a go!
I must say that the set up looked very nice and the fact that all the proceeds go to Buddhist centre makes eating there for a good cause!
the vegetarian dishes looks so ‘real’! haha… looked like the real meat 🙂
deco looks great too 🙂
“Yu Xiang Egg Plant (RM20 – regular portion). This is one of my favorite eggplant dishes. It is dense, savory, and highly flavored with chili paste, minced garlic and spring onions.”
are you sure they use garlic and spring onion?? vegetarians don’t take these…
i thought that it has garlic in it, but i’ll check with the management and do the amendments if necessary. thanks for the reminder though 🙂
I been to this restaurant before, because it is just in front of my university, the food is delicious, the environment is blissful.
In response to query about garlic and spring onion. Most vegetarians have no problems with this. Its vegetables and not meat.
As a vegetarian (for ethical reasons ie against the killing of animals)so i don’t eat meat or seafood but i do take onions and garlic.
Only certain groups will not take it due to religious beliefs. So when they do eat there they just need to inform beforehand i guess, so that its not added in.
Waiting to try out this place this weekend for a birthday treat for a friend. Thanks for all the info shared.
thanks prima 🙂