Ever since Ruyi & Lyn opened its door to the masses back in June 2015, it sure has gotten people talking. I’m sure some of you might have seen their signature Nasi Lemak sushi which is essentially miniature nasi lemak served as a sushi. Yes, this provides a glimpse of what this place is about. The innovation of traditional food with a touch of fusion.

Yet, as you step into the place, you get a little disoriented at the sheer size of it. The red carpet, soaring ceiling with dancing light, met with a large stage and a DJ console. Is it a restaurant, a club, a lounge? Turns out it’s all of them. There are also private areas for more intimate affairs, as well as a cigar lounge, a balcony terrace and a sizable bar. The overall ambiance is classy, yet casual enough for all kinds of events.

RUYI represents a heartfelt desire of the good life. LYN is not only the name of the pretty owner, but also an acronym for Link Your Network: our dream of bringing people together – of all races, gender, religion, social backgrounds, and nationalities. Kinda reminds me very much of GEM Tang’s Get Everyone Moving.

The menu here is crafted by Executive Chef James Ho, a returning Malaysian with dreams of innovating the Malaysian food industry with his Pan Asian creations. He’s honed his skills in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and Japan for the past 20 years. His skills are impeccable and his dishes are definitely photogenic, channeling a well of creativity.

We started our dinner with a Thai inspired Morning Glory Tempura (RM28), a savoury and sweet treat with its sesame sauce. Unlike the usual Thai version that’s encased in a thick batter, this one is super delicate. A good accompaniment to some alcoholic drinks.

Speaking of alcoholic drinks, Ruyi & Lyn has some impressive cocktails. We sampled a Bloody Mary that comes attached with a side of very tasty Ribbon pasta in Tomato sauce and capsicum. Talk about perfect food pairing!

The French Fries Soda is a cocktail made with Southern Comfort and I tasted hint of Apple and Cinnamon in this. This one is especially pleasing to the girls.

It is indeed creative to serve Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab in a form of Rojak (RM58), though this is probably the priciest rojak I’ve ever encountered. The crab is delicious though, covered in a sauce spiked with Ginger flower.

The Hot Chick (RM43) is basically Szechuan style chicken popcorn laced with dried chilies. I didn’t try it because I don’t eat Chicken to protect my throat, rest of them gobbled these up though.

The Dancing Fish (RM28) is part of their Ocean’s 8 promotion for May. The fish is fried to a crisp, then paired with a Patong Curry dipping sauce which is piquant and spicy, which is rather appetizing. I couldn’t resist taking the fish head which can be eaten as a whole, even.

Also part of the Ocean’s 8 Seafood promotion is the Indonesia Curry Prawn (RM28), served with Toasted Sesame Mantau. This is super fabulous, with a great depth of flavours. The mantau dipped in gravy is just divine. RM28 is a steal, so get this promotion before the month ends.

We also tried the Shanghai Fried Nian Gao (RM38), which was fried with eggs, crabmeat and XO sauce. The XO Sauce added a lovely umami taste to the dish and this was very comforting indeed with an extra decadent feel.

The last of our savoury course was this very impressive looking tray of Crab Curry Fried Rice (RM68). The curry sauce is incredibly rich, in fact, I couldn’t stomach much of it because it’s just a little too creamy for me. Apart from crab (obviously), there are also scallops and prawns in the mix.

We ordered some desserts though, and I have to say this Pistachio creme brulee is quite textbook, with the signature crust to crack, and the creamy custard that’s delightful to eat.

More cocktails! The Dancing Jim features whole Passionfruit, a slice of peach, and is a mixure of fruity sweet and sour. Good stuff.

Thank you Ruyi & Lyn for your hospitality! We even got to bring home a pack of these super addictive snack: Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken Skin!

That’s right, fried chicken skin is already delicious on its own but combined with salted egg yolk for that extra umaminess, this is a winner! Best yet, a pack of this is priced at only RM6. Although I think you best buy a few of them because one is definitely not enough. Hurry before offer ends!

Ruyi & Lyn
4th Floor Annexe
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Jalan Maarof
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2083-0288

Opening hours:
Lounge
12.00noon-2.00am Mondays to Sundays

Restaurant
Lunch: 12.00noon-3.00pm (last order at 2.30pm)
Dinner: 6.00pm-2.00am (last order at 11.00pm)

Tapas are available at both Restaurant and Lounge:
12.00pm-12.00am from Sundays to Wednesdays (last order)
12.00pm-12.30am on Thursdays to Saturdays (last order)