Lifestyle
FUIYOH! Here’s What You Can Expect at Uncle Roger’s New Restaurant Located in Pavilion KL
Malaysian-born comedian Nigel Ng, better known by his online alter-ego Uncle Roger, is known for his critical reviews of the works of other chefs, especially those who cook fried rice.
With so many of his videos being based on him giving feedback on how one can improve fried rice, Uncle Roger has finally decided to put his mouth where his wok is with the opening of his first restaurant at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur named Fuiyoh! It’s Uncle Roger.
Fuiyoh! It’s Uncle Roger specialises in wok-fried specialities. One of them is fried rice, the very dish which catapulted Uncle Roger to international stardom following his relentless criticism of BBC Food presenter Hersha Patel’s fried rice. This reaction video now has over 38 million views on Ng’s YouTube channel.
When asked why he chose Malaysia for his restaurant debut, Nigel shared, “Malaysia has the best food in the world, which makes Malaysians the most discerning food critics.”
“A good benchmark to set our standards high. Plus, it gives me a good excuse to return to Malaysia more often,” he added.
We were invited to a special media preview ahead of the restaurant’s public launch on September 11 and here are our thoughts on it.
Very on-brand aesthetics
The restaurant itself is definitely hard to miss, as it is decked out in Uncle Roger’s signature orange.
Besides the brightly coloured interior, other elements, such as a neon-lit rice cooker on the wall, woks as pendant lights, a holographic screen at the entrance as well and several posters featuring some of Uncle Roger’s iconic sayings offer the restaurant a pop of comedic elements which significantly adds to the eatery’s atmosphere and vibe.
Meanwhile, a giant illuminated ceiling motif adorned with a caricature of Uncle Roger boasting ‘The Best Fried Rice in Town!’ gives you the perfect backdrop to all of your IG selfies.
Does the food live up to Uncle Roger’s standards?
A basic serving of Uncle Roger’s Egg Fry Rice starts at RM16, while a dish of Egg Fry Noodles will set you back RM17. These are certainly not cheap for what is essentially just a plate of wok-fried carbs with some egg.
Having tasted Uncle Roger’s Egg Fry Rice, we think it’s just a decent plate of fried rice. It’s certainly not the best, and although one of Uncle Roger’s quirks is his promotion of the use of MSG, we felt that the fried rice could do with a bit more flavour and kick.
The distinct charred wok hei flavour was evident in every bite, while the rice itself was pretty clump-free and didn’t taste or feel too greasy or oily.
If you’re looking for something other than basic fried rice, there are different types available, including Uncle Roger’s Special Fry Rice (RM18), Kimchi Fried Rice (RM18), and Tomato Fried Rice (RM18).
Although we didn’t get to try all the different variations, we enjoyed the Kimchi Fried Rice and preferred it over Uncle Roger’s Egg Fry Rice. The savoury and sour kimchi gave it more of a kick, and it didn’t taste as bland.
In terms of sides, there are plenty of staples available, including their YSoWeak Mala Popcorn Chicken (RM27), Mala Okra Fries (RM18), Walao Fried Dumplings (RM24), Wok Hei White Corn (RM26), King of Flavour Cabbage, and many more.
We didn’t get to try everything, but we did enjoy the Walao Fried Dumplings and Wok Hei White Corn, which were pretty tasty and packed with flavour. On the other hand, we didn’t really enjoy the King of Flavour Cabbage, which was essentially raw marinated cabbage.
If you’re looking to jazz up your fried rice, you can order various toppings for your fried rice, including garlic shrimp, smoked duck breast, chicken, pan-seared salmon, and grilled unagi, all at an additional cost.
Our verdict
Overall, FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger has decent food and drinks. Although it is certainly not the best-tasting nor the most affordable fried rice, it’s an unforgettable experience, especially for fans of Uncle Roger.
We loved the atmosphere and the decor of the eatery much more than the food itself, and we recommend going at least once just so that you can experience it yourself.
Following the restaurant's official launch, Uncle Roger will also attempt a triple Guinness World Record this Saturday (September 14) at the venue.
This includes:
- The Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Uncle Roger,
- The Most Eggs Cracked with One Hand in 30 Seconds
- The Most Fried Rice Tossed and Caught in a Ladle in 30 Seconds
These attempts will be filmed for Uncle Roger's YouTube channel, so if you'd like to get involved, make sure you head down to Pavilion KL this Saturday.
For more information, check out FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger's or Nigel Ng’s Instagram pages.
FUIYOH! It’s Uncle Roger
Address: 7th Floor (Lot 7.102, Pavilion KL, Pavilion Elite, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm daily
Will you be giving it a try? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Nigel Ng | Instagram, Rojak Daily
Featured Image Credit: Nigel Ng | Instagram, Rojak Daily
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