Roots Bistro: Vegan Food in Bangsar, Malaysia | Honest Review

Roots Bistro is a meatless restaurant serving vegetarian and vegan food. They have two outlets in Malaysia: one in Johor Bharu and one in Kuala Lumpur. In August 2024, they opened the Kuala Lumpur outlet in Bangsar and I got the chance to try some of their dishes. They have an interesting range of Asian and Western fusion food that are nutritious and delicious. This is also a Muslim-friendly restaurant as they do not use alcohol in any of their food or drinks. You may view their menu and reserve a table here.

First Impressions: Fancy, Classy Vibes

You won’t miss it — strategically located at a corner lot, you can see the big “R” sign. Finally, a wealthy investor keen on promoting healthy vegetarian and vegan food has set up a restaurant smack in the middle of Jalan Telawi in Bangsar. It’s known for being a busy and happening area, so say your prayers before your arrival so you may get a parking spot!

Stepping into Roots Bistro, you immediately feel like you’re transported to a 1920s style bistro. The colour combination (blue & yellow) with the warm glow from the recessed lights make the place feel luxurious.

Browsing the menu, I could tell that it was very well curated. Each dish was clearly labeled whether it contains egg, dairy, gluten and nuts, and if it’s spicy. The pictures looked beautiful, and yes — from my experience so far, the reality met the expectation.

Note that most (if not all) the dishes I describe in this article were ordered during an invited dinner party organised by Veg-Hub Malaysia. So some of us tried each other’s dishes and I feature them below.

Vegan Appetizers and Salads

If you’re an appetizer kind of person or just not very hungry, there’s an array of appetizers and salads to choose from.

Trio Bruschetta

It’s originally with cheese but you can ask without or wait til they can source decent vegan cheese. You could ask for olive oil and balsamic vinegar for extra oomph. I only got to try one of the trio and it was about a palm size. I’d say it’s great if you’re in that munchy mode.

King Oyster “Scallop” with Laksa Mashed Potato

This was an interesting combo! I didn’t know it was mashed potato but I could definitely taste it. Definitely worth a try!

Root’s Signature Pumpkin Salad

This was so nourishing for the body and soul. If you need some carbs in your salad, this is the best choice.

Crispy Radish Cake

I really liked the sauce that came with it. And the radish cake itself was just the right density. Unlike the previous two appetizers mentioned, this was the most affordable.

Mains: Hearty Healthy Vegan Food

If you could only visit Roots Bistro and eat one of the main dishes, rest assured you will feel full. All of their main dishes so far are medium to big portions. If you can’t stomach a lot in one go, it’s worth sharing with another person or bring a container to takeaway. But in any case, it will be worth your money!

Signature Nasi Lemak Risotto

Yes, you read that right. It’s not your typical Malaysian Nasi Lemak. Roots Bistro decided to fuse the local dish with Italian risotto style. The result? Blue-coloured risotto with coconut cream. If you’re not a fan of coconut, this might not be for you but I LOVE coconut. When mixed with the mushroom sambal, it actually tasted pretty good. I think that another crunchy texture (besides the peanut) like fried tempeh would take this dish to the next level. Right now, there’s no vegan substitute for the original vegetarian version with egg — they just omit the egg for the vegan version.

Trio Plant-based Meat

Or as I like to call it — Vegan Chicken Rice (without the chicken). This brought back memories of pre-vegan days eating at The Chicken Rice Shop with family almost every weekend. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t miss the animal meat, but I did miss the taste! So this dish was a trip down nostalgia lane. The “char siu” was my favourite and the roasted tofu meat was alright. The steamed one didn’t taste like anything so I’d just be as happy without it (but with more char siu). The soy sauce, chilli paste and ginger combination made up for the lack of taste of the steamed protein.

Signature Laksa Angel Hair

Vegan by default, this Laksa hit the tastebuds just right! It’s mixed with wild mushrooms, some textured protein, and vegetables. A classic comfort food for the healthy Malaysians.

Refreshing Drinks: Mocktail, Fresh Juice, Coffee, Tea

Roots Bistro Bangsar has a range of drinks from fermented (kombucha) and fresh juices to the classic coffee and tea selection. They do not serve any alcoholic drinks so the restaurant is most certainly Muslim-friendly.

I’d highly recommend the Smoked Blackberry Mocktail — it tasted luxurious.

Desserts: Ice Cream, Cakes and Pastries

Not all of their desserts are vegan. Most of their ice cream are vegan (sourced from Negative12degrees). Some of their cakes are vegan (sourced from Wownana). None of their pastries are vegan (sadly). I hope that Roots Bistro will eventually include more vegan pastries and cakes.

I had the chance to try the Wownana Carrot Cake but it was not to my taste. The icing was too sweet and did not have that taste that I remember eating non-vegan carrot cake before. And the cake itself was too crumbly and had that banana cake after taste. I hope they’ll improve the recipe. Otherwise, it’s just a beautiful looking cake.

Worth Dining at Roots Bistro Bangsar

If you are in Bangsar, I’d highly recommend that you step into the 1920s looking restaurant and enjoy their unique dishes. Some of the dishes might be a bit pricey but others, like the Laksa, are reasonably KL priced.

I’m so grateful that there’s a new restaurant in town that has more than three vegan options. I’ve also met with the owner and they are very friendly and passionate about introducing more meatless plant-based food in Malaysia. I hope that they continue to thrive and experiment with more unique vegan dishes!