Pretty and delicious accompaniments in a row before the curry rushes in to drown the basmathi rice
By Dr Rahim Said
Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure — alongside Yong Soo Heong, the former GM and Editor-in-Chief of BERNAMA — of discovering what may well be Plaza Damansara’s most charming new dining destination: Cekik.
“Cekik,” in the Melaka Chetti community, simply means “to eat”— but at this vibrant new outlet, the word takes on an entirely more joyful meaning.
Founded by two seasoned F&B entrepreneurs with three successful bar ventures in Damansara and Thailand’s famed Phi Phi Island, Cekik marks their first bold foray into food.
Sensibly, they added a third partner with star power: Priyaa Simmi, the 2025 Miss Malaysia Universe runner-up and winner of the Global Iconic Woman 2023 Award.
Yes — she quite literally lights up the room. Several regulars told us outright that the combination of her and the food is why they keep returning. Honestly, who can argue?
The Banana Leaf that Won Yong’s Heart (and Stomach)
Cekik’s signature banana leaf lunch is already a neighbourhood favourite, drawing office crowds from noon till well past 2pm. When Yong — whose food standards are famously uncompromising — tells you he enjoys something, you know they’re doing it right.
The meal begins with waiters laying out pristine pieces of banana leaf, followed by the arrival of stainless steel pots carrying six Chettiar-style vegetarian dishes, each lovingly prepared with Melaka flavours:
• Deep-fried priya spiced with red pepper
• Long beans with aromatic spices
• Tofu in fiery red chilli sauce
• Velvety mashed pumpkin (my absolute favourite—so good I went back for seconds)
• A refreshing tomato–cucumber–onion–pineapple–carrot salad with tangy vinaigrette
• And a surprise: crispy fried tempe, a unique twist not seen at most banana leaf eateries
Refills? Just raise your hand. Everything — from the vegetables to the fragrant Basmati rice — is replenished generously and without fuss.
At RM14.95, it’s truly one of the best-value lunches in this part of KL.
Some of the hardworking Cekik team members
Sides, Spices and A Satisfied Yong
We tried the fried tenggiri and chicken tikka as add-ons. I found the fish a touch too salty, but Yong, ever the “glutton” in him, ate them with unmistakable gusto. In fact, when I stopped eating, he happily took over my remaining untouched dishes — an endorsement more powerful than any critic’s star rating.
As one diner told us as he left, “If Yong eats this much, the food must be good.”
The Cekik Experience: Good Food & Great Vibes & a Gorgeous Host
Cekik exudes the kind of relaxed, modern comfort that makes banana leaf dining feel upscale yet unpretentious. It’s clean, cool, cheerful — and yes, Priyaa is there behind the counter, greeting customers with a warm smile and somehow an even brighter one when you’re paying.
Yong gave Cekik a solid 8/10, and the customers we spoke to echoed the sentiment.
Final Word
If you love banana leaf rice — or if you simply need a pick-me-up served with beauty, charm, and bold Chetti flavours — make your way to Cekik, located at the end of the block in Plaza Damansara, Medan Setia 1.
Parking is convenient, and valet services at The Republic are just steps away.
Cekik isn’t just a place to eat. It’s a place to return to.
