LOCATED in a renovated and modernised former railway workshop not that far away from the heart of KL, Tiffin At The Yard is a hip and trendy premium food court. It features a roster of some of the best chefs and restaurateurs, F&B purveyors and culinary talents in the country.
After a two-year hiatus, Tiffin Food Court has reopened at Sentul Depot – once the largest complex of railway engineering workshops in the country with more than a hundred years of history – making it the first F&B concept of its kind in one of the oldest heritage buildings in the country.
Before you smell the food being cooked or hear the pop music booming, you’re greeted by the very impressive look of the place. While there’s a sense of history with the exterior of the depot, the inside has been cleaned up and remade to look more post-industrial, with exposed walls and exposed utilities. The high ceilings make an indoor space seem almost outdoors.
The food court itself is home to more than a dozen shopfronts, as well as a variety of bars for those interested in alcoholic libations. It’s really too much to taste on one visit, which encourages repeat trips to sample what else you might have missed out on.
The mix of food on offer is quite eclectic, with tastes coming from all over the world, as well as twists on local favourites.
There are more established vendors, such as Afro-Caribbean delicacies from Jojo’s by Joloko, to unique ice cream flavours by Licky Chan, bao buns with unique fillings from The Bao Guys, and a fresh seafood bar by Southern Rock Seafood.
There are also a few concepts making their debuts, such as contemporary Chinese food and snacks by Small Shifting Space, burgers and doughnuts by Alta Burger, Malaysian classics with a twist from Red Red Botak Head, and an all-new plant-based concept called Herbivore which features a three-way collaboration between Sala, Con-Fusion Club and Colombian chef Sandra Zuluaga.
There’s also Middle Eastern cuisine at Leen’s, Mexican food (tacos) at Superfine, pizza pop-up Stretch and desserts at Little People.
Maybe it was designed with Covid in mind, but there is plenty of comfortable seating available that’s spread out enough. Tiffin At The Yard is a place that seems inviting to large crowds, with plenty of walking and standing space. Suffice to say, if you’re still cautious about eating out, this might not be the spot for you.
In terms of negatives, they could probably turn the music down a tad bit. It probably fits in with the hip urban food court ambience they want to establish, making the place seem more alive and busier than it otherwise is. Maybe when there’s a full crowd their noise will dominate, either way, this is somewhere to hit up for a quiet night out.
For the future, there are plans for exciting programs such as artisanal food markets, wellness weekends, pop-up dinners and thematic evenings.
On a second level, overlooking the eating areas, is the Beyond Lounge (smokers are welcome), where one can enjoy music and drinks, as well as rotating art installations by local artists. In addition to the lounge, there is also the Wine Bar with a selection of house wines and the Tiger Beer Bar for those more interested in beers.
Tiffin At The Yard is a cashless space (debit, credit cards and all major e-wallets are accepted) and will be open from Thursday to Sunday; 5pm to 12am on Thursday and Friday; 10am to 12am on Saturday and Sunday. – The Vibes, November 10, 2021
