Note: BAE - Build And Eat is now closed.
Bangsar’s latest eatery Build And Eat (BAE) fills a gap for affordable eateries within the affluent suburb, offering around 16 dishes that go for a wallet-friendly RM2.50 a pop. The catch is that these dishes are served in tapas-like portions, so you’re meant to order in bulk and share it with friends. The restaurant’s easy-going vibe is accented by a simple décor of exposed concrete walls, communal dining tables and bright yellow accents.
Food offerings here are predominantly Southeast Asian but with a slight twist – mains such as nasi lemak, nasi telang and pasta kuah ketam are served as sides (RM2.50 per serving); while dishes such as ayam goreng berempah, satay and beef rendang are served as mains and come in regular-sized portions. The idea here is to get one main dish and have as many sides as you want. If you’re thinking Boat Noodle (which offers small portions of noodles priced from RM2 per serving), you’ll be glad to know that BAE’s portions are slightly bigger than that of Boat Noodle’s so three to four items should have you stuffed; not bad considering you’ll probably be only spending a total of RM7.50.
With 16 side dishes to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice. If you’re craving rice, pick the nasi lemak – although served in a smaller portion compared to a regular nasi lemak bungkus, one serving packs a punch of flavour thanks to its rich and aromatic rice, spicy sambal and ikan bilis. If noodles are what you’re after, we say go for the pasta kuah ketam – a variation of mee kuah where spaghetti is served with a light-tasting crab broth, deep-fried tofu, bean sprouts, a quarter of a hard-boiled egg and sambal.
For those feeling hungry, order a main-sized dish to complete your meal. A crowd favourite here is the ayam goreng berempah (RM13.90) – a whole leg of aromatic fried chicken enveloped in crispy, rempah-laden skin. For an extra hit of spice, tear the skin off and dip it in the sambal jeruk. The chicken thigh satay (RM16.90 for five sticks) is a grilled chicken alternative. Sure, it’s pricey for the amount of skewers you’re getting, but it’s worth it with juicy satay that’s cooked to order and rich peanut sauce.
Sharing the space with BAE is Maerry:Me, which serves up a selection of over-the-top beverages such as Milo T-Rex (a version of Milo Dinosaur with chocolate syrup at the bottom), durian shake, lychee Ribena and more that are served in regular or jumbo-sized cups. And true to its concept of sharing, you can also opt for the ‘Kahwin’ cup, which is partitioned so that you can fill it with two flavours and drink it together with your bae.