Where to buka puasa in The Exchange TRX

If you plan on watching a late-night movie this month, stop by Kissa Café & Diner for a pre-show feast. The eatery situated in Aurum Theatre proves movie theatre food isn’t confined to caramel popcorn. Substantial plates are available here, able to be shared or enjoyed by a particularly hungry individual.

Teetering between Japanese cuisine and 20th-century diner fare, its notable menu highlights include spaghetti with sesame bolognese, smoked duck sando, and crispy chicken katsu burger.

Bringing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine to the city, Café Colombo offers robust plates and an assortment of curries designed to be shared. The restaurant stays true to tradition but houses a few contemporary modifications to the cuisine—its pulled crab tacos paired with kohchi guacamole being one such dish.

Find prawn curry, baked whole fish, and vegan bath mula or Sri Lankan banana leaf rice. Café Colombo is currently offering Iftar specials of lamb or biryani and surf & turf platters. 

While Japanese and Italian cuisine may (literally) be worlds apart, Hokkaido Table marries the two seamlessly. Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques are used interchangeably with those of Italy. For example, it is wagyu beef carpaccio, an Italian dish highlighting Japanese beef or its aglio olio dressed with sea bream and ikura. More conventional dishes of each cuisine are also available—sashimi moriawase and lobster linguine, to name a few—offering undeniable variety to those ending a day of fasting.

Perhaps you’re looking for a quick bite or follow-up to a decadent Iftar meal. Café Kitsune offers an array of pastries and bespoke beverages you can carry around with you while exploring the mall. If you’d prefer a sit-down dessert or sweet treat, the café’s foliage-lined and minimalist interior is the perfect spot for a little bit of respite. 

An open-fire concept that showcases the diversity of Latin American cuisines, Amazonas houses vibrant sharing plates and menus tailored to diners’ needs. Its group dining menus prove perfect for an Iftar meal with family, catering to tables of eight or more. Expect courses of snapper ceviche, Mexican corn esquites, Argentinian Black Angus ribeye, and wild jungle salad. Its raw bar celebrates the coastal fare of the region, offering oyster ceviche and salmon salsa tartar. Don’t miss its signature guacamole—touted as one of the best in the city. 

When craving hawker fare in The Exchange TRX, G’rai is the place to go. The restaurant aims to preserve Malaysia’s diverse food culture, spotlighting both familiar dishes and the cuisine of colonial Malaya. Its menu houses dishes you’ll usually find at neighbourhood eateries from satay kembar to white curry mee.

G’rai will be serving its Iftar specials throughout the month of Ramadan. Break fast with favourites of the season like udang masak lemak or ayam percik. 

Southeast Asian cuisine is the beating heart of Meriah. Its focus is on traditional Malay fare but pays homage to Malaysia’s neighbours, including Thai and Indonesian dishes in its repertoire. The restaurant’s name translates to ‘life’ or ‘lively’, a nod to the celebration of sharing a meal with loved ones.

Dishes from the region's recipe books populate the menu, most of them meant to be shared. The Meriah platter condenses the eatery’s signatures onto a single plate, pairing pandan ginger rice with short rib rendang, ayam goreng berempah, and keripik kentang berlado. Alongside local favourites, you’ll be able to break your fast with roast duck massaman curry, Nusantara-style gado gado, or nasi bebek.

Breaking fast during Iftar is not limited to familiar fare. Spanish cuisine is an excellent option for the season, offering a choice of smaller tapas, dividable paella, or a spread of both. Las Meninas elevates the cuisine while honouring tradition. An impressive selection of tapas and substantial plates will spoil you for choice. We recommend its prawns, served sizzling in olive oil, garlic, chilli, and parsley, and the biggest serving of its paella al marisco. 

This writer can’t think of a cuisine more apt for sharing than Mexico’s. Chica Bonita is one of the city’s most notable Mexican eateries, with The Exchange TRX outlet being its newest. Chica Bonita-Elegante serves both its mainstays and uplifted options.

Share a plate of carne asada tacos with salsa roja or green chilli poppers dressed in lime crema. If you’d prefer a meal to yourself, try its pumpkin enchiladas or pan-fried salmon with mojo orange sauce. For those seeking a bit of adventure, opt for its birria ramen—noodles swimming in slow cooked, spiced lamb broth.