Remember that trippy scene in the Walt Disney animation ‘Dumbo’? The part where Dumbo dreams of pink elephants on parade? Entering Gajah Tiga for the first time feels almost as surreal, largely due to the colourful murals of cartoonish elephants splashed on the walls. A vintage Volkswagen parked inside the café nicely complements the loud pop art, while recycled Petronas gas tanks provide local flair.
‘Rojak’ in every sense of the word, Gajah Tiga’s menu is primarily printed in English with a smattering of Malay slang. You’ll find a mishmash of local and international favourites. Order the impossibly creamy carbonara, but ask the chef to tone down the heat for the kids as the dish caters to spice-seeking locals. Meanwhile, the Laughing Kambing, a double-patty lamb burger, stands tall and comes with a liberal amount of sweet chilli sauce.
In addition to thirst quenchers such as Cincau Lychee, Sirap Bandung and 3-Layer Tea, take your pick from an enticing selection of sodas and shakes. Slurp on The Local, a concoction of Milo, milk and ice cream, which is much like a glorified Milo Dinosaur with chocolate chips thrown in for good measure. Everything we sampled was of elephantine proportions, so sharing is highly proposed.