Cover A page from Girl Dinner, a cookbook from Alejandra Diaz-Imlah and Jamison Diaz-Imlah that showcases all the different sweet and savoury snack plates that are oh so girl coded (Image: Isabel's Place)
A page from Girl Dinner, a cookbook from Alejandra Diaz-Imlah and Jamison Diaz-Imlah that showcases all the different sweet and savoury snack plates that are oh so girl coded (Image: Isabel's Place)
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The snack-slash-meal that is the girl dinner hasn’t gone away, and instead, the term itself is expanding. Find out where our favourite spots are for the best bites with your girls
A love letter to small plates comes in the form of girl dinner. What constitutes a girl dinner? Some say it’s a snack made into a meal, or it might be something that’s intrinsically girly—a caesar salad and fries come to mind.
“DIY charcuterie, dips, or anything to do with olives,” says Aria, a private chef who has had her fair share of creating and catering many girl dinners since the trend blew up in 2023.
Although in the troughs of its popularity, it has seemed to become a mainstay in popular culture, and canonised within Gen Z’s language repertoire.
Other things that scream girl dinner include that green goddess salad, a protein-less pasta (think cacio e pepe, vodka pasta), or seasoned heirloom tomatoes—made even better and more girl dinner-fied with some pickled element.
Although to some, girl dinners might seem like a haphazardly curated snack plate, but many have evolved into hitting many of the basic flavour elements in one bite. In the example of a snack plate, the modularity of flavours can be combined in any way with their many components, including sweet, salty, sour, and umami.
It also doesn’t have to be Instagram-perfect, but rather, the beauty lies within the curation. Grazing through your meal, and honouring the craving that your body is giving you when you want seventeen small things instead of one big thing.
For the ultimate girl dinner and small plates, we’ve found a couple spots around the Klang Valley that will give you and your girls the best vibes and the best plates.
In case you missed it: The 10 hottest wine bars in the Klang Valley
Chocha Foodstore
One of the OG spots in KL for a girl dinner before girl dinner is Chocha. Focused on Malaysian flavours, they showcase the best of local ingredients and the breadth of our local cuisine.
Powered by local produce, sharing is encouraged and designed into their menu offering. Every visit will be different, with a rotating menu that caters to the seasons.
Chocha Foodstore, 156, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, +603 2022 1100
O.rang
Above Heirloom beefsteak tomato laab (Image: @o.rang__kl)
Above Grilled saba with orange salsa (Image: @o.rang__kl)
Heirloom beefsteak tomato laab (Image: @o.rang__kl)
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Thoroughly loved and certified girl dinner spot, O.rang serves comforting small plates in their eclectic spot in TTDI. Ran by couple Dean and Schmita, they serve up dishes that are reflective of the local terroir, but with a creative spin on it. Mingling is encouraged in their space, so if you’re lucky enough, you might just make some new friends too.
Following a massive cult formed with Schmita’s banana pudding, their main dishes also carry massive punches. A menu that rotates with the seasons, you’ll find everything at the peak of its quality, prepared to perfection. And obviously, if their banana pudding is on their menu, we’d highly suggest you get it.
O.rang, 13B, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, +6017 994 1210
Esca
Above Shima-Aji Tataki with a Sauce Vierge and Kimchi emulsion (Image: @esca.kl)
Above (Image: @esca.kl)
Shima-Aji Tataki with a Sauce Vierge and Kimchi emulsion (Image: @esca.kl)
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From the same people who brought you Terra Dining, Esca is the fun, eclectic, cool older sister. No rules are the rules in their space, offering a cross-cuisine menu filled with fun sharing plates that bring different flavour realms each time.
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, you’ll be right in the middle of all the action, ready to go after an army of small plates.
Esca, 135G, Jalan Petaling, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, +6017 982 5753
Olea Dining
Olea might just be the pinnacle of girl dinner, this Mediterranean inspired restaurant in the middle of Chow Kit with a beautiful interior, and a great menu of mains or smaller plates.
Unmissable menu items include their whipped feta, calamari and whitebait, and of course, their olives. For a larger plate of sharing plates, their signature seafood orzo is always a crowd pleaser, and so is their chargrilled octopus, and grilled aubergine.
After being taken care of by their wonderful staff, step outside and be greeted by the most picturesque views of the twin towers, which makes for a great photoshoot.
Olea Dining, No.32, Jalan Doraisamy, Kuala Lumpur 50300, @oleadining
Vermut
Above (Image: @vermut.kl)
Above Satisfy your tapas cravings with their many options to choose from (Image: @vermut.kl)
(Image: @vermut.kl)
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This tapas bar is everything you need for a girls night out. Get classic sharing dishes, such as patatas bravas, their heirloom tomatoes, and marinated olives for the table.
The drinks menu obviously stuns with a selection of cocktails and of course, sangria. Around the corner packs eventful bars and clubs, perfect for continuing your night should that be what you fancy.
Vermut, 17, Jln Mesui, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, +6010 450 9280
Otoba
Otoba is the cool, moody, izakaya spot to be at with small plates that hit every savoury spot. Expect yakitori, kushiyaki, small bites, robatayaki, gyozas, and even donburis, all paired with their great selection of drinks.
With an open kitchen concept, this place is not only beautiful, but is fitted out with a top of the class ventilation system, so you won’t have to worry about smelling after. Also an audio bar, Otoba frequently holds fun events, so keep an eye out on their Instagram for their next takeover or DJ!
Otoba, E-2-03, Block E, The Five KPD, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur 50490, @otobaizakaya
Keandra's expertise lies within writing deep dives into the culture and anthropology of food, sometimes with a philosophical twist. With a background in London's F&B consultancy scene, she's excited to be back in Kuala Lumpur to champion the local dining scene.
Reach her at keandra.hing@tatlerasia.com, @keandruh
