Coals & Clouds sounds like a unique name for a restaurant; but founder Boon Yao Tan effectively blends the concept with his other venture, Babel gym. The word “Coal” represents the use of charcoal and the Maillard reaction, essential for achieving that deep, smoky flavour and perfect wok hei, integral to many Asian dishes. Meanwhile, “Clouds” pays homage to rain, purity, and the diversity of natural produce.
Though the restaurant is adjacent to Babel gym, Boon sought to differentiate himself from a restaurant concept that focuses solely on “healthy food”, thus offering a fusion of Asian and European culinary traditions. Even the restaurant’s design reflects its name, with elements inspired by both charcoal and the ethereal beauty of clouds.
The culinary philosophy
Founder Boon shares that he grew up in a home where food was more than simply nutrition; his culinary adventure began with his Hainanese father from Klang and his Hokkien mother from Penang, both of whom instilled in him a love of flavour and texture from an early age. And his concept for Coals & Clouds mirrors his enthusiasm for gastronomy.
So, what do Coals and Clouds have to offer?
Coal
According to Boon, coal represents the use of charcoal and the Maillard reaction, essential for achieving that deep, smoky flavour and perfect wok hei integral to many Asian dishes. Some standout dishes that embody this philosophy include, Tiger Prawn Lobster Bisque Pasta, a chargrilled giant black tiger prawns smothered in a creamy seafood bisque served over fettuccine.
There’s also a Chargrilled Andaman Snapper, which is served with creamy polenta, mushrooms, and a choice of fish bone jus or truffle cream dill sauce. For those who prefer a bot of heavy main, there’s Grass-Fed Ribeye, chargrilled to perfection and paired with asparagus, French onion reduction and homemade herbed butter.
Clouds
Paying homage to rain, purity, and the diversity of natural produce, clouds symbolise the limitless possibilities in cuisine, blending flavours from the forest with European culinary techniques to create unique dishes. This concept is reflected in dishes like Watercress Kerabu Salad with Pickled Jambu, a blend of local gems of Bunga Kantan, pickled daikon, jambu, and mizuna on a bed of watercress kerabu with a sharp citrus dressing.
For adventurous foodies, try the Bunga Kantan Cream Carbonara, a rich and creamy carbonara infused with local bunga kantan, layered with crispy duck bacon served over fettuccine. Then there’s the fan-favourite Heart Warming Bell Pepper Soup is first steamed then chargrilled to ultimate sweetness and infused into a cream soup.
Signature Asian dishes
Like other intimate-concept restaurants, Coal & Clouds’ menu includes a few small dishes with an inventive approach to their preparation. As for its Signature Asian dishes, the menu offers Chicken Karaage Don, a Japanese fried chicken topped with gula melaka and paired with gochujang aioli; Beef Sukiyaki Sandwich, served with a sliced beef chuck with sukiyaki sauce, caramelised onions, and egg yolks in a milk bread sandwich; and Furikake Corn Hob, a milky Cameron corn on the cob, layered with crunchy Japanese furikake – another fan favourite.
Whether you want to satisfy your appetite after a workout at Babel gym or have a relaxed brunch with friends on the weekend, Coals & Clouds – a restaurant that that perfectly blends the taste of Asian and European culinary traditions – is the place to go.
Coal and Clouds is located at Lot LC-G-02-04, Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. The restaurant is positioned in between Chanel and Dior at Ramlee’s Entrance.