Toh's Daily's chilli flakes can add savoury spice to your noodle bowls (Photo: Toh's Daily)
Cover Toh's Daily's chilli flakes adds savoury spice to your noodle bowls (Photo: Toh's Daily)

These homegrown brands add delicious flavours to your meals

When done right, garnishes can add depth, flavour, and appeal to any dish. A bowl of congee can be transformed into a tangy and spicy meal, a plain salad into a crunchy and nutty nourish bowl, and a lump of egg noodles into a saucy and punchy lunch–the options are endless. 

Luckily for us, we don't have to look very far for these flavour bombs that can bring our meals to the next level. These seven local producers bring the heat, umami, and overall enticement to any dish they're on and we can't get enough.

See also: The best instant noodles and how to elevate them, according to chefs

Hijau: Sambal

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Hijau's nasi kerabu with its sambal tumis (Photo: Hijau)
Above Hijau's nasi kerabu with its sambal tumis (Photo: Hijau)
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Hijau's Sambal Bomb with its sambal tomat (Photo: Hijau)
Above Hijau's Sambal Bomb with its sambal tomat (Photo: Hijau)

Hijau is a local vegan food brand that is stationed in RexKL in Chinatown. The team cooks up a storm, and even makes a variety of plant-based sambal to complement rice and noodle dishes.

Hijau | 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur | +6011 3750 7708 | Monday-Thursday, 12pm-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm; Sunday, 9am-8pm

Toh's Daily: Chilli garlic crisp

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Photo 1 of 4 Toh's Daily's chilli garlic crisp (Photo: Toh's Daily)
Photo 2 of 4 Toh's Daily's extra spicy chilli garlic crisp (Photo: Toh's Daily)
Photo 3 of 4 Toh's Daily's chilli garlic crisp tom yum (Photo: Toh's Daily)
Photo 4 of 4 A teaspoon of Toh's Daily's chilly garlic crisp can bring your avocado toasts to the next level (Photo: Toh's Daily)

Nothing tops off a dish like a generous dose of chilli crisps. Our go-to is Toh’s Daily that strikes the perfect balance between crunchy and spicy. The chilli garlic adds a lovely heat to your rice, noodles, and soups.

Toh's Daily | +6016 334 4758

See also: The spiciest dishes in the Klang Valley

Oloiya: Floss

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Oloiya's chicken floss (Photo: Oloiya)
Above Oloiya's chicken floss (Photo: Oloiya)
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Oloiya's pork floss (Photo: Oloiya)
Above Oloiya's pork floss (Photo: Oloiya)

Chicken floss is extremely versatile and can be enjoyed on top of rice, in a sandwich, or even on its own. Oloiya, recognisable for its chicken logo, is one of the popular brands here.

Oloiya | Multiple locations

Babylon Vertical Farms: Microgreens

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A tray of Babylon Vertical Farms' microgreens (Photo: Babylon Vertical Farms)
Above A tray of Babylon Vertical Farms' microgreens (Photo: Babylon Vertical Farms)
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Carrot sprouts at. Babylon Vertical Farms (Photo: Babylon Vertical Farms)
Above Carrot sprouts at. Babylon Vertical Farms (Photo: Babylon Vertical Farms)

These little young vegetable shoots have been sprucing up the plates at fine dining restaurants. Sometimes known as ‘vegetable confetti’, microgreens are distinct in flavours and bring depth and colour to a dish.

Located in Kota Damansara, Babylon Vertical Farms is a leading provider of pesticide-free microgreens ranging from the reddish-hued dark opal basil and red amaranth to the brighter torenia and pentas.

Babylon Vertical Farms | H-P-1, Level PH, 12, Jalan PJU 5/1 Encorp Strand Garden Offices, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya | +6011 1141 1705 | Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-2pm

See also: For authentic Thai fare with a modern spin, look no further than Nok Yung

The Posh Egg: Kodawari onsen eggs

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Photo 1 of 2 A Posh Egg set comes with sliced scallions and a bottle of dashi for you to enjoy the eggs with (Photo: The Posh Egg)
Photo 2 of 2 How the eggs are best enjoyed (Photo: The Posh Egg)

Slow-cooked, creamy, and rich in flavour, an onsen egg always go well on a bed of rice. When mixed in well, the yolk coats the rice with a glossy sheen, adding a delicious layer in appearance and taste.

The Posh Egg supplies high-quality Kodawari onsen eggs, produced by hens that are fed 100 per cent with natural astaxanthin derived from Japanese sea algae. The yolks are bright and the eggs are flavourful.

The Posh Egg | Whatsapp: +6016 658 8813

Mu Artisan Soy Sauce: Soy sauce

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Mu Artisan Soy Sauce comes in four variations: first draw, organic bean, non-gluten, and gula Melaka (Photo: Mu Artisan Soy Sauce)
Above Mu Artisan Soy Sauce comes in four variations: first draw, organic bean, non-gluten, and gula Melaka (Photo: Mu Artisan Soy Sauce)

Soy sauce is the soul of many Malaysian dishes. Mu Artisan Soy Sauce is carefully crafted in small batches to ensure quality and takes no shortcuts in its production—it contains no preservatives and additives. The soy sauce is “brewed” in clay urns under the Malaysian sun before being bottled.

Mu Artisan Soy Sauce | Whatsapp: +6012 946 8861

See also: 7 must-try Asian condiments: XO sauce, sambal, and more

Baba Beng: Kaya

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Baba Beng's original Nyonya kaya (Photo: Baba Beng)
Above Baba Beng's original Nyonya kaya (Photo: Baba Beng)

Best served on toast with a slab of butter, kaya is a part of the classic Malaysian breakfast. Made with coconut milk, egg and sugar, Baba Beng uses a recipe that has been handed down through generations to create its signature Melaka nyonya kaya. To ensure the best taste, it only uses kampung eggs.

Baba Beng | WhatsApp: +6012 288 7449

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