With nostalgic tunes by Sheila Majid, Anita Sarawak, Freedom & Shuib playing softly in the background, the restaurant takes you back in time while offering a dining experience that feels fresh and modern.
Sunlight streams through the glass walls, filling the space with warmth. Mirrors create the illusion of an endless room, while dark pastel tones lend an air of understated elegance.
The restaurant is a place where tradition meets sophistication, and every detail invites you to stay a little longer. But the real magic isn’t just in its aesthetic quality. It’s in the story behind the restaurant and the incredible food that brings that story to life.
Ibu Ruby’s is more than just a restaurant – it’s a tribute to a woman who inspired its founder, Haji Mohd Imran, to open it.
Imran, a German-born convert to Islam, spent his childhood in Indonesia under the care of Ibu Ruby, a talented family chef who brought Indo-Malay dishes to life.
“I spent a lot of time with her in the kitchen, and she imparted quite a few of her recipes that I carry with me till this day. She was an amazing chef. I loved her cooking so much,” Imran shared with FMT Lifestyle.
The “Jus 3 Rasa” sets the tone for the meal with its vibrant, tangy profile. Inspired by the traditional Malay-style “tiga rasa” cooking, incorporating hot, sweet, and sour flavours, the refreshing sourness, and hint of chilli in the drink, will jolt your senses awake.
Start off with the “nasi lemak ayam Kalasan.” This is a quintessential Malaysian dish with an Indonesian twist.
The “ayam Kalasan,” which is essentially fried chicken topped with crispy bits of fried batter, comes from the vicinity of the Kalasan Temple in Yogyakarta. Golden, crispy, and juicy, the fried chicken is complemented by fragrant coconut basmati rice and spicy sambal. This is a simple meal done right.
The “nasi lemak udang galah” showcases Ibu Ruby’s dedication to quality ingredients and flavour mastery. The fresh river prawns are cooked to perfection, their meat sweet, tender, and succulent, infused with the restaurant’s inhouse chilli lime sauce. The sambal brings the dish to life with its fiery kick, offering a wonderful contrast to the natural sweetness of the prawns.
A standout dish at Ibu Ruby’s is undoubtedly the “nasi ambeng,” a feast of bold and balanced flavours. Rich and coconuty, the dish delivers layers of complexity with every bite. The spiciness is intense yet not overwhelming, blending beautifully with the creamy coconut undertones of the slow-cooked chicken leg.
And what is the popular Javanese meal nasi ambeng without its signature side dishes. At Ibu Ruby’s, it comes in the form of spicy eggplant sambal, fried noodles, kacang botol salad, and crispy fish crackers. This is what you call hearty and satisfying.
Wash it all down with a sweet iced tea called Teh Malaya with its delicate aroma of cinnamon. The balance of flavours makes it feel indulgent yet familiar, a drink that feels like comfort in a glass.
For dessert, dig into “pisang bakar.” This charred banana delivers a sweetness accompanied by a subtle smokiness from the caramelisation. It pairs beautifully with ice cream.
Overall, Ibu Ruby’s isn’t just a place to eat – it’s a place to experience. Whether you’re here for the story, the flavours, or both, Ibu Ruby’s bridges the past and the present, honouring tradition while offering something fresh and exciting.
Ibu Ruby’s
1, Persiaran Ara Kiri,
Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 11am-11pm
Contact: 012-553 5673