Taking a switch from the in-trend cafe design, Shan Mu Cafe – the new face in Taman Connaught, Cheras Kuala Lumpur is set to make a difference with its wabi-sabi inspired interior, that looks pretty unique right from the shop front.
Dark color, rustic wooden & rocky elements are used throughout the cafe, from tables and chairs to windows and ornaments. We tried to move the stool we were seated at to make ourselves more comfortable for eating, but to no avail. Out of curiosity, we asked the staffs if these furniture being installed to the ground, they said no, just heavy. They are proudly made from kayu chengal and resak, very good quality and need 3 persons to move a chair. Amazing.
Shan Mu isn’t a bright, natural light filled cafe. Different from many cafes in KL, but very comfortable and relaxing. Feels like we have been transported to a calm, aesthetic oasis within the bustling city, just as its name implies. We had a quick search online about what is wabi-sabi, and learnt that it is referring to “traditional Japanese aesthetics, sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete” in nature” – as in Wikipedia.
As Shan Mu Cafe is still in soft launch period, menu might be expanded in near future but for now, you can enjoy simple items like Spam and Egg Sandwich, Kaya Coffee Butter with Sourdough, Sourdough Bread Platter, Peanut Butter, Caramelized Pear, Mix Berries Jam with Sourdough; or more hot food like Chicken Ochazuke Rice Bowl, Salmon Rice Ochazuke, Sambal Udang Rice Bowl. Beverage covers from usual espresso-based drink, chocolate, matcha, genmaicha, hojicha latte, as well as house-crafted mocktails.
Had Chicken Ochazuke as lunch, along with hot latte (MYR13) and matcha latte (MYR13). Chicken Ochazuke (MYR25) is quite ok. Comfort food that put together Teriyaki Chikken Thigh, Bonito Flakes, Seaweed, Soft Boiled Egg, Pickled Daikon, rice; poured over with Japanese sencha. While for our latte, still with room of improvement as for the price of RM13, we expect a better version could be served. But perhaps it is still new, we believe they will improve over the time.
Service is friendly, and we love the overall concept and ambience. We don’t mind returning for the rice bowl, and hope to sip on a improved coffee in next visit.
Shan Mu Cafe
Address:
28, Jalan Cerdik, Taman Connaught,
56000 Kuala Lumpur.
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
