At Taberu, a new eatery in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, you can partake in both these pleasures. This automated self-service shop offers over 70 varieties of instant ramen from all over Asia, which customers can cook themselves and enjoy in a fun anime-themed space.
Why pay a visit here, when you can just eat instant noodles at home? Managing partner Vincent Aw said it was all about the experience.
“In some ways, this is like a convenience store, where you have a wide selection of food. But those usually don’t have an area where people can sit down and enjoy the experience of cooking it, while hanging out with friends,” Aw told FMT Lifestyle.
“The idea here is that people can come and go, sit down and chit-chat, or just have a good time. That’s the Taberu experience.”
Aw added that he and his partners were avid anime fans, sharing comic books and manga when they were young. Going into a business related to Japanese animation, therefore, seemed like a natural idea.
As a result, the walls of Taberu (its name means “eat” in Japanese) are plastered with images from popular series such as “Naruto” and “Spy Family.”
Diners can enjoy meals while listening to popular anime soundtracks: somehow, listening to Neon Genesis Evangelion’s “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” makes flavours more intense.
The venue also features several eye-catching displays, like the really nice “Spirited Away” one). If you’re feeling lucky, try out the “gachapon” machine.
Upon entering Taberu, you first choose from the wide selection of instant noodle varieties displayed on the wall. Flavours from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as Malaysia, are all available.
Unsure of what to order? The eatery often lists a few recommended brands to try: salted egg and spicy chicken flavoured ramen are popular choices.
If you’re still stumped, ask a friendly staff member for help. Whether you like spicy or savoury, soupy or dry, there’s an instant noodle pack out there with your name on it.
Once you’ve made your choice, you can enhance your meal. Taberu has a nice selection of add-ons, such as cheese slices, fried beancurd, chicken sausages, beef meatballs and more, all frozen for preservation and hygiene purposes.
You can also spice up your meal with a vast variety of sauces, or garnish it with kimchi, spring onion or pickled ginger. And if that’s still not enough, order the Hanjuku Tamago, or soft-boiled egg.
Cooking instant noodles is already a simple process, but Taberu aims to make it even simpler. After making your selection, heat up your meals and get it ready through a special machine from China.
These machines are easy to use, and instruction pamphlets are provided for first-time users. All this results in a simple and straightforward dining experience.
Meals cooked here are hearty and satisfying: thanks to the wide variety of available selections, it is possible to try something different every time you visit. Or you can just stick to your favourites – the choice is up to you.
Aw said that there were many restaurants in Japan and Korea already using Taberu’s concept. Most of them, however, were completely self-service, with no one around to help customers. Their venue, on the other hand, has staff on standby to give things a human touch.
He added that Taberu was having conversations with local influencers in the anime scene, and there were plans for collaboration. Aw said Taberu could be an ideal venue for anime and cosplay events and gatherings.
“Ultimately, we just hope to provide a great space where anyone, especially anime lovers, can have a great time,” he concluded.
Taberu
10, Jln Radin Bagus 7
Bandar Baru Sri Petaling
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Business Hours: 11am–12am (Closed on Tuesday)